Top Ten Things to Do in Rome
Rome is not called the "Eternal City" for nothing. The city has a dizzying array of things
to see and do. Most of the main sights are located conveniently near the city center and can
be reached easily on foot. Here is our must-do list for first time visitors to help plan your trip.
The Roman Colosseum The Colosseum is the most visited site in Rome and
one of the greatest architectural marvels in the world. It was here that blood thirsty
Romans came to watch gladiators battle it out on the hallowed grounds of the largest stadium
in the world. As the historian Saint Bede once said "As long as the colosseum stands, so shall
Rome." Well, so far, so good.
The Colosseum is an unequivocal masterpiece that never ceases to amaze - not even the
costumed gladiators waiting to take their picture with you for five euros ever tire of
their jobs because, hey, it's the Colosseum. The Colosseum was completed by Titus in 80 AD
and took eight years to build. Its name was derived from a giant 40 meter bronze statue
called the Colosus that once stood near the main entrance depicting Emperor Nero dressed
as the sun god. The design of the Colosseum was based on a smaller amphitheater in Pompeii
about half its size. The Colosseum stands 48 meters tall with three levels, each with
eighty arched windows. Originally the colosseum was completely covered in marble and
decorated with frescos and mosaics depicting fight scenes. Most of the marble was plundered
by the Catholic church who used the colosseum as a quarry to build St. Peters Basilica just
across the river.
Entrance to the gladiator games was free because entertainment was considered a public
good. Even children were permitted to attend. Gladiators were mostly foreign prisoners,
but could also be deserters of the army or criminals sentenced by a judge to become a
gladiator. There were 20 different weapons that a gladiator could specialize in and they
underwent grueling training. The Colosseum remained in use until 438 AD when it was outlawed
by the Christians.
Trevi Fountain Toss a coin into this fountain over your shoulder and it's
said you'll someday return to Rome. Toss two coins and you' ll find love in Rome. Throw
three and you're as good as married.
Trevi Fountain is the perhaps the most famous fountain in the world and a baroque
masterpiece. According to legend, in 19 B.C., a Roman virgin discovered a pure water spring
just outside the city of Rome. Pope Clement XII decided that the miracle deserved a fountain
and the result was a statue of King Neptune, God of the sea, riding a chariot driven by two
winged horses with flowing waters and several Mermen in attendance. The fountain was later made
famous by Felini who highlighted it in his film "La Dolce Vita" in which Anita Ekberg takes an
uninhibitted midnight wade in the fountain. But don't even think about taking a splash yourself
unless you're prepared to pay a very hefty fine.
The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the center of daily life in Rome, filled with temples, markets,
courts and all kinds of other public buildings. Today, the Forum is little more than a
few scattered rock piles, but with a little imagination and a handy audio guide the glory of
Rome unfolds below your very feet.
It's hard to believe that almost all of the ancient Forum was covered by swap until just 200
years ago. It's true. Soon after the fall of Rome around 500 A.D. the Tigris River flooded,
causing the entire area to fill up with sediment. That is, of course, until Napoleon came by
some thousand years later in 1809 and began the first excavations. Thanks to him, Rome's tourist
industry is secure forever.
In the Forum, you can see the Roman Senate, where Rome's finest citizenry met to decide the
issues of the day. Here also are the remains of the great temples of Rome including the Temple
of Saturn, The Temple of Jupiter and the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. The Roman Forum was
also the site of great Basilicas that contained the offices of government and served as the
blueprints for cathedrals around the world.
Almost all of ancient Rome's most infamous moments took place here, all of them from Caesar's last
moments on earth, to the final sacking of the city.
The Spanish Steps One of the most popular meeting points in the city, the
area around the Spanish steps and Piazza di Spagna was once the grounds of the Spanish embassy
and was therefore technically Spanish soil until the 18th century. In fact, foreigners and even
Romans who unwittingly trespassed here were liable to be dragooned into the Spanish army.
During the next two centuries, the area became known as the "Stranger's Quarter", as it was
located in the heart of the hotel district, attracting hordes of foreign travelers, students
and artists looking for inspiration, as well as beggars armed with tear jerking letters in multiple
languages and street artists dressed as Julius Caesar. Little has changed, except for the fact that
the beggars and artists have been replaced by designer stores as the main means of draining your wallet.
In the middle of the piazza, at the base of the steps, is the Fountain de la Baraccia, commonly referred
to as the "ugly boat" by locals. The early Baroque fountain, designed by Bernini, was built
to resemble a barge that washed up on this very spot on Christmas day, 1598 when the Tiber
River flooded the city.
Piazza Novona The Piazza Novona is built atop the ruins of an ancient racetrack
that held up to 30,000 people. In fact the name Piazza Novona translates roughly to "in the site of
the competitions". Foot races, javelin, discus throw, wrestling and other track events were
hosted here as well as chariot races in which the head of the winning horse was lopped off as
it crossed the finish line and then carried as a sacrifice to the Vestal Virgins on Capitoline
Hill. The infield of the stadium could also be flooded so that mock naval battles could be fought
between small fleets skippered by convicts for the entertainment of wealthy Romans.
After the Roman empire fell, the stadium fell into disarray as citizens pilfered large
sections of the walls to build foundations for their homes. The area began to make a comeback
in the mid 1400's when it became the site of the city's general market. The plaza is still a
market area today and is home to the "Fountain of the Four Rivers" by Giovanni Bernini.
The nearby Campo de 'Fiori is an ancient flower market that is now a daily fruit and vegetable
market with lots of local charm. A plethora of excellent restaurants can be found in the squares
surrounding medieval streets.
The Vatican The Vatican is the smallest independent country in the world and the
seat of the Catholic Church. The two most popular attractions are the Sistine Chapel and St.
Peter's Basilica. The Vatican is just across the Tiber River from Rome and makes for an easy day
trip. But be sure to get there early to avoid the lines.
Vatican City stretches over a whopping 0.44 square kilometers. It has 600 official
residents, including the Pope, and has its own postal system. St. Peter's Basilica is the
largest Christian Church in the world and contains artworks by Bernini, Botticelli and
Michelangelo, who also designed the dome. The church was completed in 1626 and is said to
contain the body of Saint Peter in its vault. 91 former Popes are also buried here. Expect
to wait about an hour in line most days to get in.
The Pope himself can be seen Wednesdays at 10:00am blessing the crowd in St. Peter's Square
just in front of the Basilica. To gain "audience" with the Pope you'll need to get there by
8:00am or else stop by the Vatican Office for an official invitation (www.vatican.va)
The Sistine Chapel is the official chapel of the Pope attached to his private residence.
The chapel was built according to the exact dimensions of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem as
described in the Bible. The highlight is the ceiling by Michelangelo which depicts the Old
Testament beginning with the creation of man. It took Michelangelo fours to complete the
ceiling and it almost made him blind, but the results are stunning.
Dress codes to most sights are strictly enforced - so no bare legs or revealing tops.
The Pantheon The name pantheon is derived from the Greek word "Path" - meaning
"all" and "theos" meaning "God". Built Emperor Hadrian in 125 A.D the temple was intended
to accommodate all of the many incarnations of gods being worshipped at that time. The Pantheon
is the oldest and largest surving dome from antiquity and is still considered a revelation in architecture.
In 606 the temple was converted into a Christian Church by Pope Boniface IV who renamed it "the
Church of Mary and all the Martyr Saints" which is still its official title. Ironically, the
building's consecration as a church saved it from destruction during the Middle Ages when many
other so-called pagan temples were systematically plundered or raized to the ground.
The interior was originally lined with bronze and decorated with bronze stars to resemble
the heavens, that is, until Pope Urban VIII, had the bronze melted down in the17th century to
make cannonballs to help fortify the Vatican and other castles around Rome.
Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II The first thing many first time visitors to
Rome see is the giant white marble monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, the first King to unify
modern day Italy in 1861. Benito Mussolini called it the "Altar of the Nation". Locals today
refer to it as the "typewriter" or "the wedding cake".
Construction on the monument began in 1885 just after Victor Emmanuel's death and was built
alongside ancient Capitoline Hill, destroying many untold ruins in the process. Mussolini made
the monument his private office in 1929 and made many speeches here promising to restore Italy's
former glory and forge a New Roman Empire that would once again span the globe.
The monument today houses the Museum of Italian Reunification in the base of the monument.
The upper tier of the monument contains the eternal flame of the tomb of the Unknown Soldier
from World War I. The monument stands at the head of Via del Corso, the oldest road in the city
still in use, built over 2000 years ago. The road was used for horse races and was once the main
entrance to the city as well as a military parade route
Rome Museums Though the city is arguably a living museum itself,
Rome's museums are a treasure trove of ancient and modern art well worth a visit. The
Capitoline Museums are the oldest in the world, and are chock full of ancient Roman statues
and other artworks. The museum was founded in 1471 by Pope Sixtus IV and is comprised of
three buildings connected surrounding the Piazza del Campidoglio near the Roman Forum on
Capitoline Hill. Capitoline Hill was the most sacred of the original seven hills of Rome
because it was once the site of the Temple of Jupiter. The Romans inherited their gods
from the ancient Greeks and Jupiter was the Roman equivalent to Zeus, the most important and
powerful god of all. The piazza was designed by Michelangelo and is considered the most
beautiful square in Rome. The three buildings are connected by an underground gallery and
contain works by Titian and Caravaggio as well as many unaccredited pieces such as a giant
bronzed head of Constantine and a statue of Lupa, the "She Wolf", an ancient symbol of the
city of Rome. Entrance to the museum is €6.50 (full price), €4.50 for students,
free for visitors under 18 and over 65. The museum is open 9:00am - 8:00pm. Closed Mondays.
(www.museicapitolini.it)
Other Recommended Museums Roman National Museum Comprised of five different sites, the Museum is the most
important archaeological museum in the world. See priceless works of art in five unforgettable
settings - The Baths of Diocletian, the Crypt of Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, Octagonal Hall, and the
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme. A €7 ticket gets you into all five sites and is valid for three days.
Hours: 9:00am - 6:45pm; Closed Mondays; €7 Entrance; Free for students
Centrale Montemartini (via Ostiense) 450 Roman and Greek sculptures on exhibit in an old power
plant. A unique mix industrial and classic art.
Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm; Closed Mondays; €4.50 Entrance; Free entrance for visitors under
18 and over 60 years old; Nearest Metro: Garbatella
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, MACRO (Via Reggio Emilia 54) The best of the
modern art galleries in Rome, containing Italian works from the 1960's onward. A dynamic
cultural center in a modern space.
Hours 9:00am - 7:00pm; Closed Mondays; €1 Entrance
www.macro.roma.museum.museum
Villa Borghese Pinciana: Borghese Gallery and Borghese Park Rome's most visited house set
in a beautiful park with landscaped English gardens. The Villa was once the residence of Cardinal
Scipione Borghese and is now home to the Villa Borhese art gallery. Many of the works were
part of the Cardinal's own collection including many original sculptures. Over 20 rooms,
the gallery presents an excellent overview of Renaissance art works including Raphael's "Deposition",
"The Last Supper" by Jacopo Bassano and "David with the Head of Goliath" by Caravaggio.
Hours 9:00am - 7:00pm. Entrance €8.50. (€5.25 for students, €2 for EU citizens under
18 and over 65). Closed Mondays.
The museum is located in lovely Borghese Park near the Spanish Steps at Metro Stop Spagna.
The park is a huge oasis near the city center and a great place to get away from the heat and
bustle of the day. The park contains many gardens, lakes and walkways, as well as a zoo and several
beautiful villas. The park is set on a hill with breathtaking terraced views of the Vatican and
northern Rome on the western side of the park near Piazza del Popolo. The park itself is worth
a visit and is popular with locals as well as visitors.
by the Christians.
area around the Spanish steps and Piazza di Spagna was once the grounds of the Spanish embassy
and was therefore technically Spanish soil until the 18th century. In fact, foreigners and even
Romans who unwittingly trespassed here were liable to be dragooned into the Spanish army.
that held up to 30,000 people. In fact the name Piazza Novona translates roughly to "in the site of
the competitions". Foot races, javelin, discus throw, wrestling and other track events were
hosted here as well as chariot races in which the head of the winning horse was lopped off as
it crossed the finish line and then carried as a sacrifice to the Vestal Virgins on Capitoline
Hill. The infield of the stadium could also be flooded so that mock naval battles could be fought
between small fleets skippered by convicts for the entertainment of wealthy Romans.
