The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine
Among the most trafficked destination in Rome is The Colosseum, the most prominent structure left by Roman antiquity. As a stadium, the Colosseum is an inspirational model of our modern sports arena, and this structure remains one of the top attractions in Rome.
Based on history, the Colosseum was a place for theatrical performances, festivals, circuses, and games with the Imperial Court and high officials watching from the lowest level, aristocratic Roman families on the second, and the ordinary citizens or people on the third and fourth. More than just an entertainment arena, the Colesseum depicts a place for societal hierarchy, authority, and power.
Besides the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, erected for the emperor’s honor as the liberator of the city and bringer of peace.
Plan your tour and book a knowledgeable guide now. Get ready to learn the historical Rome.
Vatican City
Welcome to the smallest independent state in the world, ruled by the Pope as both the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church and the state itself. No wonder this city is one of the top attractions in Rome.
Enjoy a wonderful experience in the Vatican and witness the inside dotted with St.Peter’s Basilica’s and St.Peter’sSquare’s palace and gardens.
If you recall your arts and humanity subject, many of the classical arts and architecture are in the Vatican city. They are open to your eyes for pleasure and a lifetime experience with your visit. Inside St. Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo’s masterpiece, Pieta. For decades, the Vatican museums always highlighted the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece’s frescoed ceiling.
Take full advantage of your stay in the Vatican by visiting the Vatican Palace. You will have the chance to enter Raphael Rooms, the Borgia Apartments, the Vatican Library, several museums with Picture Gallery, Museum of Secular Art, Etruscan Museum, religious themes, and more.
Purchase your ticket ahead so that you can save time from incredibly long-waiting hours for ticket lines.
The Pantheon
Another best-preserved monument of Roman antiquity is another iconic structure, the Pantheon, a pagan temple for worship before. But Pope Boniface IV dedicated it to the Virgin and Christian martyrs. Since then, it has become a burial place for Italian kings and other famous Italians like the painter Raphael.
The Pantheon stands as a living reminder of Roman builders’ extraordinarily high technical mastery. The 43-meter dome of the structure hangs suspended without visible supports. No wonder the Pantheon tops the list of attractions in Rome.
Reminisce ancient Rome’s excellence and supremacy by appreciating its antiquated design, arts, and architecture. The Pantheon will genuinely amaze you with the Romans’ advanced civilization in the past.
Roman Forum
Step back two millennia into the heart of ancient, one of the top attractions in Rome. Feel the history of the Roman Empire and the Western world when you take your step in the Forum, where Romans centered their political and religious life, along with the courts, markets, and meeting places.
Be impressed with the piece of splendor of the Roman Forum by visiting the standing and fallen columns, its triumphal arches, and the remains of its walls. After all, it is the piece of history of the Roman empire and Western world that is standing before you.
Trevi Fountain
One tradition among tourists is they assure their return to Rome by throwing their coin into the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), a 17th-century work of art that you might have probably seen in films many times. Later on, this spot has become a popular tourist attraction that your visit to Rome may be incomplete without seeing this fountain, a sure recommendation for Rome sightseeing.
The fountain, supplied by an aqueduct, brought water to fill the baths of Agrippa, the great art patron of the first century B.C.
Come and experience the Trevi Fountain, the largest fountain in Rome.
Centro Storico and the Spanish Steps
It is time to take your trip to a different style by spending time to absorb the neighborhood’s atmosphere instead of hopping from one must-see sight to the next. Don’t forget to visit many other art-filled churches, splendid palaces, and lively squares at Centro Storico for Rome sightseeing. Your next stop must also include less well-known churches like Santa Maria del Popolo containing the works of Bernini and Caravaggio.
Also, visit the uneven stairs and landing of the Spanish Steps that lead up to the French church of Trinita Dei Monti. Tourists sit and enjoy their gelato in the summer and hot roasted chestnuts in the winter here.
You can also appreciate the boat-shaped fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps.
Santa Maria Maggiore
On top of tourist attractions in Rome are the majestic churches, including Santa Maria Maggiore, a historic structure since Pope Liberius in the fourth century. Witness the mass celebrated here every day and witness Rome’s fourth-century old mosaics decorated at the upper walls. The church’s floor has a colored stone in the expert 12th-century artisans of the Lake Como region. The coffered ceiling has the gold that reached Rome from the Americas. Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome’s four papal basilicas, where two popes are buried here. This destination is an important place of pilgrimage.
Piazza Navona
Welcome to Rome’s having most characteristics squares in the Baroque style of architecture, one of the tourist attractions in Rome. The outline of the Roman stadium by Emperor Domitian is still prominent here. In history, this place for the square today was for festivals and horse races during the Middle Ages.
See for yourself Piazza Navona and how its façade, campanile, and dome highlight Baroque architecture showcasing convex and concave surfaces, roofs, windows, columns, and piers into a well-blended design together.
When you visit Rome, do not forget to include Piazza Navona in your itinerary and discover why today it is full of Romans, tourists, street artists, souvenir kiosks, cafes.
In December, this place is one of Rome’s best Christmas markets.
Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill, one of the remarkable places in Rome, was one of the palaces of the emperors and great aristocratic families in the ninth century B.C. Come to Palatine Hill to visit Rome and look at the Farnese Gardens, once a pleasure park of terraces, pavilions, lawns, flowerbeds, trees, and fountains as stage-setting for social gatherings.
Today, Palatine Hills highlights the House of Liva, the semi-subterranean Cryptoporticus, Domus Flavia, Domus Augustana, and the Baths of Septimius Severus.
Where can you find a place in Rome with an impressive combination of the park and ruins of ancient Rome? Palatine Hill got it all for you. Add it to your list of the places to visit in Rome.
Villa Borghese Gallery and Gardens
Another largest park and one of the fantastic places in Rome is Borghese Gardens containing impressive attractions, including two museums with Villa Borghese as the prominent one. Its gallery includes paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and reliefs, most from the 15th to the 18th century, and contains works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, and Rubens.
You can also witness the Villa Giulia in the park that was once the summer residence of the 16th-century Pole Julius III. Today, it houses the Etruscan Museum.
Experience the park’s English-style landscape garden with walking paths and ponds to rent rowboats. You can also bike to survey or explore the park.
There are also other attractions appealing to the children. Bioparco di Roma is a zoo for children to explore. There are also playgrounds, weekend pony rides, and occasional puppet shows for children.
Castel Sant’Angelo National Museum
This museum was a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family in AD 135, one of the iconic places in Rome to visit. It is a gigantic drum-shaped structure overlooking the Tiber near the Vatican. As years went by, the Castel Sant’Angelo became the papal residence and a fortress aside from being a National Museum.
The Castel Sant’Angelo was once a mighty fortress that protected the city from barbarian attacks.
Castle Sant’Angelo, at various levels, are prison cells, a substantial collection of weapons, and decorated papal apartments with Renaissance frescoes. Climb to its terrace, and you will see the stunning views of the city.
Do not forget to include Castel Sant’Angelo National Museum as one of the places to visit in Rome.
Baths of Caracalla
This destination was once a complete sports center with hot and cold baths, a swimming pool, dry and steam saunas, gymnastics and sports facilities, social rooms, gardens, libraries, hairdressers, and shops.
The Baths of Caracalla can accommodate 1,500 people at a time. Its floors and walls have marbles, mosaics, and frescoes showing the place’s splendor and structure even in its ruins.
If you are looking for famous places in Rome, add this tourist attraction to your list.
San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica of St. John Lateran)
Are you looking for an impressive church? San Giovanni in Laterano will never fail you. The good thing about this structure is that it retains its original form from the age of Constantine. This is now the world’s oldest Christian baptistery.
The façade of the church is originally a Baroque embellishment. Its ceiling has a beautiful motif of the 16th century.
Add Basilica of St. John Lateran to your list of famous places in Rome.
The Catacombs and Via Appia Antica (Appian Way)
Another attraction in Rome places to visit is the burial places in the Via Appia Antica, having multi-layered networks of passages and chambers carved into the soft tufa. The Catacombs of San Callisto or St. Calixtus has six sacramental chapels having both pagan and early Christian wall paintings.
San Sebastiano is one of the pilgrimage churches in Rome, and it is in the site of old cemeteries and catacombs. The Papal Crypt are the tombs of martyred Popes of the third century. Visitors can explore this along with the foundations of a Constantinian basilica.
The good thing about tomb chambers is their fine paintings, stucco decoration, and inscriptions dating the first century A.D. Evidence of history reveals that these were cemeteries even if many items here were brought for safekeeping. That was not intentionally for hiding places for Christians.
Another catacomb in Via Appia Antica is the Catacombs of Domitilla, one of the largest and most impressive in Rome. The underground chambers span 15 kilometers with passages and a complete underground basilica.
Explore more at the Appian Way. Visit the basilica with more than 80 painted tombs and a second-century fresco of The Last Supper displayed in the galleries.
Visit the Arch of Drusus, the ruins of the aqueducts, and the tomb of Caecilia Matella and her husband.
There are many fine attractions at the Via Appia Antica. Your interest in art, ruins of the past, and history will genuinely have substantial and excellent fuels in this place.
Terme di Diocleziano (Baths of Diocletian National Museum)
The Diocletian’s baths were enormous, with two churches, large parts of a Carthusian monastery, and a significant museum. Michelangelo employed the vast tepidarium as the shell for his Santa Maria degli Angeli church and the Museo Nazionale Romano containing Greek and Roman sculpture, pre-Christian and later sarcophagi, and beautiful mosaics and frescoes.
There is also a late-16th century church of San Bernardo alle terme built in a dome at the corner of the baths.
Learn more about Rome places to visit. Explore more of its museum, including Baths of Diocletian National Museum.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Rome is truly a haven of awe-inspiring history, arts, and culture. That is why there are many things and tourist attractions there that you should not miss.
You may be familiar with the epic battles of gladiators depicted in movies and TV series films. The gladiators fought until their last breath while the rest over them around the arena enjoyed their fate as a sole spectacular entertainment. The living witness of this activity from the past back to 72 A.D. is this epic monument to the gladiatorial battles, the Colosseum, which was capable of holding 50,000 audiences. One thing you can associate with Colosseum is its sight of many gruesome deaths. History buff would love to relive this past by looking at what remains of the Colosseum from the time it was created in 72 A.D. That made it the reason that you should not miss the Colosseum the moment you have set your foot in Rome.
The Pantheon is another historical place and the same architectural marvel you should not miss in Rome, and Emperor Hadrian constructed the Pantheon from 119 to 128 A.D. This tourist destination was initially a monument for ancient deities. However, today it is the resting place for the artist Raphael and Italy’s first president. Amazingly, the building still has its original bronze doors.
Another tourist destination you should not miss in Rome is the Capitoline. The museums are in twin palaces containing the works of the famous Titian, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, Bernini, and Veronese. The collections in the museums are open for the public to view. The Capitoline is the oldest public art display in the world that is why you should not miss it when you are in Rome.
Do not miss to relax after a long day of excitement in the city. There is Villa Borghese Gardens, where you can have a relaxing stroll. You can walk here, children can ride ponies, and both young and adults can feed the many turtles in the pond. Is not it fun and relaxing?
Admire the beauty of the fountain and toss your coin. Tourists do not miss this at Trevi Fountain, where the beautiful cascading water and incredible architecture combined fascinate and relax visitors.
The Forum, located at the center of the city, is another structure in Rome you should not miss. This Roman ruin contains ancient government buildings and temples. You will need a travel guide here to enjoy best and understand what transpired in history. If you like it there at the Colesseum, the Forum will also never fail to amaze you with the rich Roman history.
Do not also miss La Bocca della Verita, which means “the mouth of truth.” You will understand that the legend provides that a liar will have to bite their hands when they insert it in the mouth.
Your visit to Rome is not complete without tasting its famous gelato. Visitors may agree that the best-tasting gelato, suited with the seasons’ change, is at II Gelato di San Crispino. Gelato in Rome always has a taste of the new and delicious, that is why you should never miss it.
Shopping is another vital thing of your travel, and you should not miss in Rome. The famous shopping street in Rome is the via Condotti, which has many historical buildings and boutiques. Begin from the famous Spanish Steps down to the street.
The beautiful bridge of Pont Sant’Angelo is another attraction you should not miss in Rome. Decorated with picturesque angels designed by Bernini, the bridge provides a breathtaking view of the city and water, aside from the fact that it is a living testament to the last work of a remarkable artist.
Never miss the opportunity to visit the oldest market in all of Rome, the Campo de Fiori. There are plenty of flowers, vegetables, and fruits here, especially during the day. At night, visitors get to enjoy a lively restaurant and bar ambiance. However, the vibrant place could hardly remind everyone that the historic site is a witness to the death of many.
Enjoy Tartufo ice cream in Rome. Enjoy it while you are in the home of Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers. The historic buildings were once the ancient Roman venues for races. The piazza provides a beautiful location for sightseeing people.
The top-rated two tourist attractions in Rome are the Colosseum and the Vatican City.
The Colosseum witnessed the epic battles of gladiators. The match was a form of entertainment for the viewers, but it was a matter of life and death to the fighters. Visiting the Colosseum will remind visitors of the Romans’ historical battle or activity.
The Colosseum is an inspirational model of today’s modern sports arena.
The Vatican City has drawn pilgrims and visitors alike for many years, and the Pope acts as both the head of the state and the church here. The city flaunts the richness of history, arts, culture, and religion, a simple reason why it continues to attract people worldwide.
Enjoy a wonderful experience in the Vatican and witness St.Peter’s Basilica’s and St.Peter’sSquare’s palace and gardens.
Many of the classical arts and architecture are in Vatican city, and they are open to your eyes for pleasure and a lifetime experience with your visit. Inside St. Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo’s masterpiece, Pieta. For decades, the Vatican museums always highlighted the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece’s frescoed ceiling.
Maximize your stay in the Vatican by visiting the Vatican Palace. You will have the chance to enter Raphael Rooms, the Borgia Apartments, the Vatican Library, several museums with Picture Gallery, Museum of Secular Art, Etruscan Museum, religious themes, and more.
Three days in Rome seem to be not enough for you to explore the entire Rome and get optimum satisfaction in your visit. However, there are suggested places for you to see within three days in Rome.
The following is your day one itinerary.
Visit the Piazza Navona be there at 9:00 am. Usually, visitors can stay there from 30 minutes to one hour.
Pantheon is next on the list, with a visiting time of up to 20 minutes. The attraction is just a five-minute walk from Piazza Navona.
After visiting the Pantheon, you may proceed to Piazza del Campidoglio of Capitoline Hill. You can stay here for 15 minutes, and this tourist destination is a 13-minute walk from the Pantheon.
A 4-minute walk from Piazza del Campidoglio of Capitoline Hill is Altare della Patria. You can stay here for 45 minutes.
From Altare della Patria, an 18-minute walk from there will reach you to Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. You can stay here for 20 minutes.
After a 19-minute walk from Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, you can reach Fontana di Trevi. You can stay here for as long as 30 minutes.
A 10-minute walk from Trevi Fountain will lead you to Spanish Steps. The recommended visit time here is 30 minutes.
Reach the Galleria Borghese after a 25-minute walk from Spanish Steps. You can stay here for 2 to 3 hours.
You can have a bike ride for10 minutes or a 20-minute walk from Galleria Borghese to reach Terrazza del Pincio. You can stay here for 20 to 30 minutes. Later, you can have your evening walk for 1 to 2 hours in the Historic Center, and that concludes your first day in Rome.
For your second-day itinerary, you will begin from Colosseum and end later at Isola Tiberina.
You should be there at the Colosseum at 8:00 am. You can stay there for 1 to 2 hours.
Reach the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill after a 5-minute walk from the Colosseum. The length of your stay here may span from 1 to 2 hours.
Proceed to Baths of Caracalla after the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You can reach there 20 minutes after walking from the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Usually, visitors stay there for 1 to 2 hours.
Reach Bocca della Verita after a 20-minute walk from Terme di Caracalla. Stay there for 10 to 20 minutes.
Visit Giardino degli Aranci after a 9-minute walk from Bocca della Verita. You can stay there for 20 minutes.
Trastevere and Piazza di Santa Maria is a 21-minute walk from Giardino degli Aranci. Visit time here may last from 1 to 2 hours.
Janiculum Hill is a 15-minute walk from Trastevere and Piazza di Santa Maria. Visitors here usually stay for 30 minutes.
Proceed to Isola Tiberina, just a 22-minute walk from Janiculum Hill. Stay there for 1 to 2 hours, which concludes your second day in Rome.
Welcome to the third day in Rome.
Begin from the Vatican Museum, and Sistine Chapel at 8:30 am. You may stay there and enjoy it for 3 to 4 hours.
Your next stop is a 2-minute walk from Sistine Chapel’s restricted passageway, the St. Peter’s Basilica, and Cupola. Enjoy the place for 1 to 2 hours.
Proceed to Castel Sant’Angelo after a 10-minute walk from St. Peter’s Basilica. Visitors usually stay there for 20 to 30 minutes.
The next on the list is Lungotevere and Ponte Umberto I. It starts right under the Castel Sant’ Angelo, and you may stay there for 20-30 minutes.
Just a 12-minute walk from Ponte Umberto I, you can reach the final destination for the day, the Campo de’ Fiori. Stay here for 4 to 5 hours for your foodie adventure, a perfect way to conclude your three-day visit to Rome.
With more than 4.2 million tourist visits in a year, the Vatican Museums are Rome’s number one tourist attraction. Many things to see at the Vatican Museums, including historical, cultural, and religious. Many can relate to these aspects of humanity.
Adults pay for their admission, and the Colosseum tickets will cost them 12 euros. There is a reduced fee for EU citizens aged between 18 and 25. Teenagers and children under 18 are free, and persons with disabilities and their assistants are also free.
