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Rome
19 Best Things to Do and Visit in Rome
It was founded in 753 BC. Rome is the capital of the world’s 5th visited country. It also remains the largest Italian city. What started as a small village has grown into one of the biggest world empires. “All roads lead to Rome” you may have heard this expression from history books, well, it is still popular today as Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations.
Rome is famous for its great food, culture, history, and architecture. Walking in the streets of the city feels like you are in a big open-air museum.
The foundation of Rome is related to the mythological story of the twin brothers of Romulus and Remus, it is believed that they were born from divine heritage or even Hercules and they were raised by a she-wolf.
Rome is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, it is known by the famous nickname of the Eternal City or the Capital of the World. When visiting Rome, you can literally walk among the ruins of its two and a half thousand years old history.
Here is a list of things you can not miss while in Rome.
1. The Colosseum
Of course, the number one attraction in Rome is the Colosseum, it remains one of the most important Roman attractions. It is considered a great example of ancient Roman engineering. Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty was known to have initiated its construction in 72 AD. In 80 AD, the construction was completed by Titus, his son. Once inside you can almost hear the roar of ancient Rome, this is where Gladiators and wild animals fought to the death, providing the public the great entertainment. It could house more than 60.000 spectators in Roman days.
2. Walk through ruins of the Roman Forum
Roman Forum was a very important site for ancient Rome, this was a place where Romulus and Remus settled. Rome’s temple was built here and this is where all the civic and religious life of ancient Rome came together. When we walk through these ruins, what we see are reminders not only of antiquity, not only of the later medieval, the Renaissance, and the Baroque but also of the interventions of modern archeology. We can visit the Forum of Augustus, the Forum of Cesar, the Forum of Trajan, the Arch of Titus, and the Arch of Constantino, we can admire the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill, and Palatine Hill where the Emperors built their palaces.
3. Visit Capitoline Square
Capitoline Square was designed by Michelangelo and it is one of the most visited places in Rome, admire the must-see She-Wolf statue and the replica of the statue of Marcus Aurelius in the middle of the square, the original one is inside the Capitoline museum next to it.
4. Take a look over the city from Orange Gardens
Don’t miss an opportunity to visit Orange Gardens located near the river Tiber, from here you can have very beautiful views over the city. You can not miss the famous green door with a keyhole in it, it’s called Rome’s Keyhole, if you look into that small tiny keyhole you can have a very unique view of the St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City.
5. The Pantheon
The Pantheon of Rome is one of the most important temples in ancient Rome, the meaning of the word Pantheon is ”all the gods” it was built for the main pagan gods of old times. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was transformed into a church, today it serves as a church of Saint Mary of the Martyrs. Stunning marble walls and columns, a beautiful concrete dome and massive bronze doors will catch your eye.
6. Piazza Navona
I really liked the largest fountain in the square, it is a very famous fountain of the Four Rivers, representing the four large rivers of Nile, Ganges, Daube, and Rio De La Plata. It was constructed in the 17th century, requested by Pope Innocent the Tenth, and designed by Bernini.
There are two other fountains on the plaza, the Moron Fountain and the Neptune Fountain, and a beautiful church of Saint Agnise in Agore.
7. Piazza Venezia
It is one of the largest squares in Rome, filled with white marble structures, from here you can reach every part of the city easily. There are many nice cafes and restaurants on the plaza and it is worth spending some time enjoying the atmosphere.
8. Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
Right in front of the Piazza Venezia, you can see a famous landmark of Rome, a stunningly beautiful building inside and outside, in front of the building you can see the statue of Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s first king. Even though it is a little bit pricy, I suggest you do not miss the opportunity and take the panoramic glass lift to the top of the building to enjoy sweeping views of the Eternal City.
9. Basilica Di Santa Maria Maggiore
There are many beautiful churches in Rome and this one is definitely unique, founded in the fourth century, it is one of the five major ancient basilicas in Rome, and it is the largest of the twenty-six churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
10. Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus is the greatest venue of all time, the original structure was 545 meters large and 80 meters wide, and it would hold up to three hundred thousand spectators. It was once burned by the fire and reconstructed by Emperor Neron.
Chariot racing was the main event, charioteers would go around the temples, shrines, and obelisks that were in the center. A very cool place worth visiting.
11. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain
Emperor Augustus, the first Emperor of Rome built the Aqueduct of Aqua Virgine in 19 BC, the aqueduct that brings water to the fountain until today. it is the only aqueduct from ancient Rome still functioning today. In the Middle Ages when the city of Rome was sacked and all the aqueducts were destroyed, this site was the only source of water in the city. At this very important site, in the 18th century, the Trevi Fountain was built, it is a very beautiful place to see, decorated with many unique statues, each with interesting meaning and history. The main statue in the middle is Oceanus, which represents all the waters of our Terra.
Do not forget to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, just throw it with your right hand over your left shoulder and you’ll be guaranteed to return to Eternal City.
12. Spanish Steps
You can approach the Spanish Steps by the Via Condotti, a famous fashion street in Rome where you can find all the famous brands. The first thing you’ll notice in front of the Spanish Steps is a beautiful sunken ship fountain on the Piazza di Spagna.
Spanish Steps are the widest set of stairs in Europe, the steps are impressive with the building on the top, you must go to the upper terrace of the Spanish Steps to enjoy spectacular views of the city. There are many good restaurants and cafes around, it is a very beautiful area and definitely worth hanging around.
13. Piazza Del Popolo
Another beautiful square in Rome, the meaning of the square is ”the people square” in modern Italian. One of the oldest parts of the Piazza Del Popolo is the gate, ”Porta Del Popolo” which served as the northern entrance to the city.
There are three churches on the square and a large obelisk in the middle. This is an authentic Egyptian obelisk that originally belonged to Ramesses II, and was brought to Rome in 10 BC.
14. Bath of Caracalla
Explore the Baths of Emperor Caracalla. Walk through the ancient pools, steam rooms, gym, and much more to discover one of the favorite hobbies of the Romans of the past! The enormous underground space was used for machinery to heat the water, this is the largest underground space in the city, and a very good opportunity to admire incredible engineering projects and how Romans were able to build such enormous monuments. The largest swimming pool was about 230 meters long and 115 meters wide, the whole complex could accommodate more than 1.500 people at a time. It is still possible to see the rest of the mosaic floors of the bath.
15. Castel Sant’Angelo
Built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian in the early second century, after his death in 138 AD his ashes were buried in the center of the structure. Over centuries it became more and more fortified and it served as a fortress to defend the city, Pops from the Vatican would refuge here during wars. In the 6th century, it was converted into the Castel of Sant’Angelo by Pope Gregory.
It is a very beautiful Castle, decorated with marble structures, located right on the bank of the river Tiber, the bridge is absolutely stunning, and if you go to the top of the building you’ll enjoy amazing views of Rome.
16. Get lost in Trastevere
Trastevere (”beyond the Tiber river”) is a very charming neighborhood and it’s very close to all the major attractions of the city, definitely worth spending some time walking through cobblestone streets and narrow roads, it is full of beautiful houses, cafes, and many small restaurants, there are also some of the best places to eat typical Roman food. It is full of locals and tourists and it can get busy especially in the evenings, getting lost in Trastevere could be one of the best experiences in Rome. I recommend you to check out Piazza Santa Maria with a beautiful basilica next to it, and Piazza Trilussa where many artists, musicians, and street performers gather.
17. Markets of Campo de Fiori
Another nice neighborhood to explore would be Campo de Fiori, it is a beautiful market, they sell flowers, fruits, vegetables, and all kinds of local products, you will see many different bars and restaurants, and many things to do. There are also a few nice squares nearby, like Piazza Farnese, which is surrounded by many nice buildings, museums, and restaurants. On the square you can see two very interesting bathtub fountains, these bathtubs were brought from the Baths of Caracalla.
18. Spend a day in Villa Borghese Park
Get out of the city noise and spend a day wandering in Rome’s most magnificent and largest park. Strolling through the beautiful design garden could be the best experience you can have during your visit to Rome. There are more than 300 figures, and monuments in the garden, you can find busts of almost all famous personalities and writers from all around the world. Including the bust of Shota Rustaveli, the iconic Georgian author, famous for the national epic poem The Knight in the Panther’s Skin.
In the center of the park, there is an amazing lake and a beautiful Temple of Asclepius next to it, which is known as the Temple of the god of medicine, you can rent a boat on the lake and take a closer look at the Temple. The beautiful museum of the wealthy Borghese family can not be missed, it has a great art collection from the 17th century. And, if this is not enough, go to the Borghese Park terrace to enjoy unique views over the city.
19. Admire Roman Aqueduct in Rome
Visit a beautiful Claudian Aqueduct just outside of the city, it is one of the well-preserved aqueducts in Rome, named after Emperor Claudius who finished its construction in 58 AD.
It could be a nice getaway from the city, you can take a metro and exit at Giulio Agricola station and walk a few minutes from there.
Wrapping Up
There are two main airports in Rome, Fiumicino Airport, which is the largest airport in Rome, and Ciampino Airport. There are multiple transportation options from both airports to get to the city, you can choose from Trains, Buses, Private transport, or Taxis. You can easily buy tickets at the airport, there are ticket desks and ticket machines with an English option. When catching a taxi look out for those registered and avoid unofficial taxi drivers. Be aware that licensed taxis usually have fixed rates and you can see them on the doors.
Once in the city, you will have a few options to move around, there are trams, buses, and metro lines, however public transport is not as efficient as in other major European cities. I recommend you find accommodation in the center area so you can easily walk to all the major tourist attractions.
*Important note: Please remember to check for the restrictions or any other changes while planning your trip.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.