Best Places To Visit in Rome
Be sure to take time to enjoy la dolce vita — even a week isn't long enough to experience everything Roma has to offer. From historic tours through ancient Rome (Colosseum, Roman Forum) to Sunday morning shopping at the Porta Portese flea market to climbing to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica, this city is bursting with things to do. You can help your chances of returning to Roma by tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain; fate might just bring you back to the Eternal City, or so the legend goes.
#1 Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
A must-see on many travelers' itineraries, the Trevi Fountain is situated amongst a high concentration of hotels, shopping and nightlife. Finished in the mid-1700s, the Trevi is a powerful example of a baroque design with a distinctly mythological character. The god of the sea, Neptune, emerges from the pool, flanked by his trusty Tritons. The fountain underwent an extensive $2.4 million restoration and reopened in its full splendor in November 2015.
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#2 Roman Forum (Foro Romano)
Not as popular as the Colosseum (but located nearby), some say the Roman Forum is more interesting (and free!). The Roman Forum comprises much of the Ancient Rome's most important structures, from shrines to government houses to monuments. Although much of the complex is in ruins, you can see the remains and imagine the former glory of the Arch of Septimius Severus, the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Titus and the House of the Vestal Virgins, among other structures.
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#3 St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)
The epicenter of Roman Catholicism, St. Peter's Basilica is centered in Vatican City and open daily for free tours. (Though it's closed on Wednesday mornings for pope appearances.) Many visitors enjoy trekking to the top of the dome. You can climb the 323 steps to the summit; for a slightly higher fee, you can take an elevator. Regardless, you'll take in a panorama of Rome's spectacular landscape.
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#4 Pantheon
Open daily, with abbreviated hours on Sunday, the Pantheon is known for its perfect proportions — which is amazing, seeing as it was raised in 120 A.D. While you're there, you can also pay your respects to Raphael (the artist, not the ninja turtle), as well as Italian kings Victor Emmanuel II and Umberto I, who are all buried there
Recent visitors describe this free attraction as a must-see; they also say the Piazza della Rotunda, in which it's located, is a cozy setting for a coffee, pizza slice or gelato. The former pagan temple can be found in the Navona and Campo corner of Rome, accessible via the Barberini metro stop. |
#5 Colosseum (Colosseo)
The site of many bloody gladiatorial fights, the Colosseum, which was finished in 80 A.D., could then hold about 50,000 spectators. With a circumference of 573 yards and sitting on marshland, experts say the Colosseum is an engineering wonder … not to mention an animal- and human-rights atrocity.
Today, the massive complex is a favorite site amongst travelers. That said, you'll find lengthy lines almost anytime you visit. To beat the queues, you can purchase a ticket at the Roman Forum, which allows you admittance to both and a line jump at the Colosseum. You can also purchase the Romapass, which gets you access to several of the city's top museums for free. |