Monuments of Rome

The Colosseum and Roman Forum

 

The Roman Colosseum was the most imposing and important amphitheater of the ancient empire. Despite being over 2,000 years old, it is one of the best-preserved constructions. Built by Emperor Vespasian during the Flavian dynasty, it was originally called the “Flavian Amphitheater” and was inaugurated by Emperor Titus in 80 AD.

Next to the Colosseum, you’ll find the Roman Forum, the heart of ancient Roman life. Once an architectural marvel, it featured plazas, columns, and statues.

Booking a guided tour of the Colosseum is the easiest way to explore it, avoiding lines and wasting no time.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

 

At the Vatican Museums, you can admire some of the largest and most impressive art collections in the world. It is one of the must-see visits in the capital of Italy. You’ll find various rooms and galleries containing thousands of works of priceless artistic and historical value.

One of these rooms, surely the most famous, is the Sistine Chapel, which elevated Michelangelo as the most influential artist of the Renaissance thanks to his spectacular frescoes decorating the chapel’s ceiling.

Without a doubt, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are must-visit places in Rome, and the best way to experience them is by booking a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica

 

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the most visited and important historical monuments in Rome, valued for both its artistic and religious significance. It is the Holy See of the Vatican City and one of the four papal basilicas in Rome, alongside St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore, and St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The construction of St. Peter’s Basilica took nearly two centuries, involving renowned artists such as Bramante, Bernini, Giovanni Giocondo, Bernardo Rossellino, Raffaello Sanzio, Giacomo della Porta, Domenico Fontana, and Michelangelo Buonarroti, among others.

The Pantheon of Rome

 

The Pantheon in Rome is the best-preserved ancient building in the city. This is due to the fact that the structure has always had some use throughout its nearly two thousand years of history. In its early days, it served as a place of worship for the ancient Roman gods, until the early 7th century when Pope Boniface IV transformed it into a Catholic temple.

During your visit, you will discover that the most impressive feature of the Pantheon is its dome, which remains the largest dome ever built without the use of reinforced concrete. Explore the interior of this legendary temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided tour of the best of Rome.

Trevi Fountain

 

Incredible as it may seem, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most visited places in Rome, even more so than the Colosseum and the Vatican. This may be because there is no entrance fee or line to get in, or perhaps because everyone wants to toss a couple of coins into the fountain to find love.

Whatever the reason, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most beautiful fountains in the world, not only for its size and design but also for the energy it radiates. It’s a perfect selfie spot in Rome.

Piazza Navona

 

Piazza Navona is one of the most important and beautiful constructions you can appreciate when you travel to the capital of Italy. Piazza Navona occupies the site of the former Stadium of Domitian, which was a huge venue in ancient Rome that could hold 30,000 spectators.

Today, it is one of the most famous squares in Rome, thanks to its history and the vibrant atmosphere that always surrounds it. You can admire the beauty of the Fountain of the Four Rivers, which was built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, or descend to the underground of Piazza Navona to explore the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian.

Castel Sant’Angelo

 

Castel Sant’Angelo is also one of the monuments that should not be missing from the list of the top 10 places to visit in Rome. It is a beautiful building located on the banks of the Tiber River, just a 10-minute walk from St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

The ensemble of its walls and the bridge over the Tiber River creates one of the most stunning images you can see at sunset. This is why we recommend taking this free night tour of Rome, where you can appreciate all the beauty the city offers after sunset.

Originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family in 139 AD, it has served various purposes over time. Today, it is home to one of the best museums in Rome.

The Catacombs of Rome and the Appian Way

 

The catacombs are a network of tunnels excavated outside the walls of ancient Rome where early Christians and Jews buried their dead. Several of these Roman catacombs can be found along the Via Appia, which was one of the major technological advancements of its time. By constructing a paved road, the troops of the ancient Roman Empire could cover large distances quickly and maintain a proper supply chain to reach and consolidate the territories conquered during their military campaigns.

There are so many stories worth knowing about these places that the best option is to book a tour of the Catacombs of Rome, Via Appia, and the basilicas, where you will learn everything and not miss a thing.

Villa Borghese

 

Villa Borghese is the green lung of Rome and one of the most beautiful and expansive parks in all of Europe. Here, you’ll find the Borghese Gallery, which is one of the most important museums in Rome.

Villa Borghese also houses the Bioparco, one of the best zoos worth visiting in Europe, as it was one of the first to integrate animal habitats into the environment, moving away from the typical and unfortunate image of animals confined behind bars in smelly cages.

Villa Borghese is the perfect place to take a break, relax, enjoy the scenery, and forget that your return flight is tomorrow at five.