Rome has a very long history full of highlights. As a result the city is packed with ruins, tombs, temples, churches and other monuments. Despite Rome's enormous size, the historical center is relatively small and can be explored on foot. The central railway station (Stazione Termini) is a good focus point when exploring the center.
The colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is Rome's major tourist attraction. It is huge and very well preserved. During Roman times the colosseum was used for events, such as fights between gladiators and animals, as well as fights amongst gladiators.
The Forum used to be the driving force of ancient Rome, on which commerce, politics and religion were centered. The Forum consists of a collection of constructions between the Capitoline and the Palatine Hills. Since the temples there were constructed over a period of 900 years, Imperial, as well as Republican building styles are found there. Soon after the collapse of the Roman Empire disintegration of the temples began and the site is one of the world's oldest excavation areas. Diggings have been going on since the 18th century. The entrance to the Forum is from the piazza leading from the colosseum. Temples in the area of the Forum include the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Saturn, the House of the Vestals, the Temple of Antoninus & Faustina and the Arch of Titus.
Just behind the Forum is the Palatine, the hill where the rich and powerful used to have their palaces and temples. In medieval times churches and more dwellings were built on top of the Roman rubble and nowadays excavations have turned the whole area into a landscape of alleyways and caves. Some of the most interesting ruins to visit include the House of Livia, the Domus Augustana, the Palace of the Flavians, the Baths of Septimus Severus and the Circus Maximus, a chariot racetrack that used to hold more than 200,000 spectators. Many of the ruins need a lot of imagination to give an idea of how they were.
Other interesting Roman ruins in Rome include the Pantheon, with its dome and columns. It was originally built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC, but in 120 AD, emperor Hadrian rebuilt it. During the times of Pope Grgory III, the dome used to be gilded with bronze, but that, as well as many other artifacts was later plundered. The tombs of Raphael and Victor Emmanuel I, as well as the Baths of Diocletian are also worth a visit. The baths used to cover 13 hectares and over 3000 people could use them at any time. The Baths of Caracalla could house some 1600 people. They originally covered 10 hectares and included shops, gardens and libraries. Both baths are near the beginning of the Via Appia, the road that used to run along Italy's eastern coast between Rome and Brindisi. Numerous interesting monuments can be found along the road. They include the Circus of Maxentius, Roman tombs, such as the Tomb of Cecilia Metella and many kilometers of catacombs. The tunnels were hewn out of the volcanic rock and used as burial places and as meeting places for refugees.
The Pont Sant' Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, but in the 6th century AD it was converted into a papal fortress. The strange circular building is linked with the palaces of the Vatican by underground passages that were used by several popes to escape threats. Normal visitors can reach it by a beautiful bridge. Nowadays, the Castel Sant' Angelo houses an interesting museum.
The hilltop resort of Tivoli has long been a popular place to visit during the summer for Rome's happy few. Emperor Hadrian used to have his summer villa there. Its ruins can be visited, as well as the Imperial palace with its piazza of gold, and the ruins of a bath complex.
Also at the Tivoli is the Villa d'Este, which was built for the grandson of Pope Alexander VI, Cardinal Ippolito d'Este. It is a beautiful Renaissance building, surrounded by lush gardens with fountains and pools.
The Piazza del Campidoglio was designed by Michelangelo in 1538. There are three palaces on the piazza (square). The Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo are home to the Museo Capitolino, where you can see numerous classic statues. The third palace on the square is the Palazzo dei Senatori. The Capitoline overlooks the Forum.
There are numerous beautiful piazzas (squares) scattered throughout the city. They are great places to have are rest after walking along the long avenues.
The Piazza Navona is a large square that was laid out on top of the ruins of Domitian's stadium. It has three fountains, one of which is Bernini's famous Fountain of the Rivers. There are marvelous Baroque buildings around it. During the Renaissance, the Piazza Navona was flooded several times a year, to stage mock naval battles during festivities.
The Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps is a very popular place for tourists to hang out. This square was decorated by one of Bernini's fountains as well. The boat-shaped fountain is called Barcaccia. The Via Condotti is a busy shopping street that ends at the square. On the Piazza di Spagna you can find Rome's oldest café, Caffè Greco and nearby is the Keats-Shelley Memorial House. Be careful as there are many pickpockets active around this square.
Piazza del Quirinale is situated in a higher part of Rome and offers great views of the city, as well as St Peter Cathedral.
The Victor Emmanuel Monument, or 'Typewriter' can be found on Piazza Venezia.
The Campo de' Fiori has a busy flower and vegetable market. The Farnese Palace is nearby.
On Piazza Barberini you will find the unique Triton Fountain.
Another popular fountain is the Trevi Fountain, where tourists throw fortunes in the water every day, because the rumor goes that by doing so you ensure your return to the Eternal City.
The Via Veneto used to be the center of things during the 1950's and 1960's, when Swede Anita Ekberg used to personify the Dolce Vita there. Nowadays its major attraction is the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Capuccini, a rococo chapel, where the bones and skulls of deceased monks where used as a part of the construction materials.
Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber River used to be Rome's busy merchant port between the 4th century BC until the 5th century AD. Nowadays all that is left are ruins, but they have provided us with a good idea of average people's life in Roman times, while most other ruins used to be the places where the higher ranked people lived. The Porta Romana was the entrance to the city, while other interesting ruins include the Terme di Nettuno baths, the theatre, Domus Fortuna Annonaria, Casa di Diana and the Piazzale delle Corporazioni, which used to be the merchants' offices and its beautiful mosaics have survived the centuries. Furthermore there is a collection of temples, warehouses and a forum. There is an excellent museum in Ostia Antica, where statues, mosaics and wall paintings are on display.
In the vicinity of Rome are various important Etruscan archaeological sites. Most tombs can only be viewed from behind glass to protect them from deteriorating. Tarquinia was one of the most important Etruscan city-state and it is thought to have been founded in the 12th century BC. Tarquinia was home to the Tarquin kings, who ruled the area before the times of the Republic. The tombs in the necropolis hold beautiful frescoes and in the medieval part of town you will find some nice churches, as well as the National Museum. In the museum, Etruscan artifacts are on display.
In the 8th century BC, the Etruscan town of Cerveteri was founded. Most people visit it to see the tumoli, tombs that consist of large mounds of earth with stone bases.
In Veio there is not a whole lot to see despite the fact that it used to be the largest city in southern Etruria.
For more Etruscan history you can check out the Etruscan Museum in the Villa Borghese in Rome.
Rome has always been an important center of Christianity. Numerous churches and chapels are scattered throughout the capital, including several unique ones.
The oldest church in the Forum is the Church of Santa Maria Antiqua.
Not far from there is the Church of San Pietro in Carcere. It was built on the site of the Mammertime Prison. It is said that while St Peter was imprisoned he created a miraculous stream of baptismal water.
The 4th-century church of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme houses fragments of what is said to be the true cross.
The Church of Santa Sabina was built in the 5th century AD. It has beautiful carved wooden doors. The church is on the Aventine Hill.
The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome's four patriarchal basilicas and also dates back to the 5th century. In the 18th century the main façade was added, but the original 13th-century mosaics of earlier façades were preserved. The basilica has a baroque interior, a Romanesque bell tower and an arch and nave that are decorated with beautiful mosaics depicting biblical scenes.
The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is about 8 km (5 miles) west of the Vatican, just west of the Stazione Termini in Rome.
Constantine founded the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano in the 4th century, making it the oldest Christian basilica in Rome. The basilica is the most important cathedral in the Christian world. Fires destroyed it twice and the building was reconstructed several times, of which the transformation into a baroque structure during the 17th century caused the most radical change. In the tabernacle, over the papal altar, are the preserved heads of Saints Peter and Paul.
The adjacent Palazzo Laterano was the papal residence before the pope moved to Avignon for a short period during the 14th century. Unfortunately most of the building was destroyed in a fire in 1308.
The medieval church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin is well-known for its Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). It is an old Triton mask that was cemented into one of the church's walls. The story goes that the mouth will snap shut if you put your right hand in it while telling a lie. You are free to try it out of course.
The 12th-century church of San Clemente was built on top of the remains of a 4th-century church. Excavations show that the 4th-century church was in turn constructed on the rubble of a Roman temple to Mithras.
Vatican City is a small independent catholic state in the center of Rome. Its leader is the head of the Roman Catholic church, the Pope.
Most of the cheaper accommodation in Rome is situated around the central railway station (Stazione Termini), but more upscale accommodation is found all over the capital. The area around Stazione Termini is notorious for its pickpockets, thieves and gangs, so be careful. Restaurants and bars are scattered all over Rome.
La Repubblica newspaper holds a weekly supplement called Trovaroma. This supplement has information on Rome's nightclubs, bars, theatres and concert halls, so if you are interested in visiting concerts, dances or folklore festivals, it is a good idea to get hold of the newspaper.
