Those who intend to take a trip to the Italian capital certainly cannot improvise, but, on the contrary, they will do well to have a Guide to visit Rome properly .
Precisely for this reason, today we want to list what, in our opinion, are the main things to see in Rome and absolutely not to be missed!
The beautiful Italian capital is also known as the Eternal City , thanks to its timeless charm, full of history and culture, and thanks to the testimonies left by the many populations who have inhabited it over the centuries.
We are talking about a city theater of myths, legends, stories of wars, of emperors and warriors , of an empire that has expanded enough to reach every known place in those times.
Today, with its 2,873 million inhabitants , it is confirmed as a fascinating, complex and always on the move city, full of treasures.
Thanks goes to Elite Cars by Fabio Petrella, for the information he has provided us with.
Rome what to visit
There is no place in Rome that does not hide some small piece of history, which every tourist is curious to know and discover .
Taking a trip to Rome and walking through its streets, squares and monuments will truly be a journey through time !
How long it takes to visit Rome is difficult to say: whole weeks would not be enough to get to know it and to see every place worthy of a visit.
We have collected for you, however, a list of what to see in Rome regardless of the time available to you.
Museums and monuments in Rome
Colosseum
Symbol of Rome known all over the world, the Colosseum is one of its most significant monuments and certainly one of the best preserved testimonies of the Roman era, despite its “only” 2000 years of history.
Initially known as the Flavian Amphitheater , it took the name of Colosseum from the huge statue of Nero located at the entrance of the Domus Aurea , then destroyed during the famous fire in Rome.
Roman forum
At the time of the ancient Romans, public life and religious life took place in what is now known as the Roman Forum .
The complex was unearthed in the twentieth century and has given new splendor to the elements that compose it, including the temples of Saturn, Venus, Vesta and Romulus , but also the Via Sacra , the main street of the city that connected Piazza del Campidoglio at the Colosseum.
Trevi Fountain
Who hasn’t dreamed ahead on TV watching Federico Fellini ‘s “ La Dolce Vita ” , while imagining himself right here, in this fountain, just like Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg ?
Well, seeing it with your own eyes will be a whole other story!
The marble sculptures make this fountain a work of incredible beauty and elegance.
In addition, it is worth trying to make a wish by throwing a coin into the fountain , but remember that the coin must be thrown strictly from behind, with eyes closed, with the right hand over the left shoulder and paying attention to how many coins you choose to throw. :
- a coin, if you want to return to Rome;
- two coins, if you want to find love;
- three coins, if you want to get married with the person you met!
Pantheon of Agrippina
If you find yourself passing by it, you certainly cannot fail to notice it: we are talking about the Pantheon , the immense building that you will find in front of you as soon as you enter Piazza della Rotonda.
To leave you speechless will be its size, with a diameter exactly equal to the height , ie 43.30 meters.
Once you have made your entrance inside, by raising your head you can admire the oculus in the center of the dome, through which natural light spreads throughout the building, illuminating the tombs that are housed there, among which there is the tomb of Raffaello Sanzio .
Catacombs
A place full of charm and mystery are the Catacombs , once used as a burial place.
They consist of a set of tunnels and underground corridors, built in the Christian era, when the pagan cult of cremating the dead was refused.
In Rome there are 60 catacombs and those that can be visited are:
- the catacombs of San Sebastiano, in via Appia Antica 136 and 12 km long;
- the catacombs of San Callisto, in via Appia Antica 126 with its 20 km of length;
- the catacombs of Priscilla, in via Salaria with its frescoes depicting the first images of the Virgin Mary;
- the catacombs of Domitilla, in via delle Sette Chiese and more than 15 km long;
- the catacombs of Sant’Agnese, in via Nomentana.
Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
This Basilica is the place where the apostle St. Paul is buried and is one of the four major basilicas of the city , second only to St. Peter’s Basilica in size.
After the execution of St. Paul, a sanctuary was erected in this place, later consecrated as a Church, which was demolished to make room for a Basilica in which a beautiful cloister was erected, still well preserved today.
Its atrium, with 150 columns, allows you to admire the outside of the church covered with a huge golden mosaic, which reflects the sunlight, and with a huge statue of St. Paul.
Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano
This was the first church built in Rome , built in honor of San Giovanni Battista and the evangelist San Giovanni, it is the Cathedral of Rome and the most important of the four major basilicas.
It was in this Basilica, until 1870, that all the popes obtained their post.
Borghese Gallery
This Gallery is located within the gardens of Villa Borghese and is one of the most important exhibitions in the world, as it houses the entire artistic production of Caravaggio and Bernini , but also works by artists such as Titian, Botticelli, Rubens and Raphael , and the sculptures of Canova .
On the ground floor, on the other hand, there is an entire section dedicated to classical archeology, in which perfectly preserved mosaics, sculptures and frescoes are visible.
Capitoline Museums
The Capitoline Museums are the first municipal museum in the capital as well as the oldest public museum in the world and are located in Piazza del Campidoglio.
The collection extends between the Palazzo del Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo , connected to each other by the underground passage of the Lapidary Gallery .
The picture gallery contains numerous masterpieces by Titian, Caravaggio, Tintoretto and Rubens , the original sculpture of Luca Capitolina and the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius , a copy of which is exhibited in Piazza del Campidoglio.
Vatican
The Vatican city-state deserves a separate visit , which, with its only 0.44 sq km, is the smallest state in Europe .
Inside, you absolutely cannot miss St. Peter’s Square with its majestic colonnade and its dome that rises to dominate the square, the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel , where you can admire Michelangelo’s masterpiece The Last Judgment , and the St. Peter’s Basilica .
Our advice is to dedicate at least half a day to your visit to the Vatican, so as to fully enjoy everything it has to offer!
Walking around the city
When visiting Rome and moving from one place to another, you cannot help but admire the buildings and squares you will encounter on your way.
Among these, the most famous is undoubtedly Piazza di Spagna , which takes its name from the building of the Spanish Embassy that overlooks it. The 135-step staircase that distinguishes it and that ends in front of the Barcaccia fountain is now famous thanks to the Parade of Women Under the Stars , held every year in mid-July.
Piazza Navona , on the other hand, will strike you with its baroque charm and its three fountains : that of the Four Rivers, that of Neptune and the third of the Moro.
Also particular is Campo de ‘Fior i, a square that was built in the place that previously housed a field of flowers.
It was here that, in 1600, Giordano Bruno was burned alive on charges of heresy and, to commemorate this event, a statue in his honor was erected in 1889.
Today, it is a lively and always lively place and is a meeting point for tourists and Romans.
Do not forget, moreover, also the Arch of Triumph of Constantine , the Vittoriano , also known as Altare della Patria.
Palatine Hill
The Palatine is part of the seven hills of Rome and is the most central of these.
According to legend, it is here that the cave where the she-wolf nursed Romulus and Remus was located .
In these places, today there are numerous remains of ancient buildings, including the House of Livia, the Domus Flavia, the House of Augustus, the Botanical Garden of the Farnesiani Gardens and many others.