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What to see in Rome. The Ten Attractions Not To Be Missed

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What to see in Rome? The only answer to this question would be “Everything!”, because the eternal city offers a multitude of jaw-dropping places, monuments, and attractions. Like cherries, a place in Rome is linked to another, so much that it would take months to visit them all.

To raise you from the embarrassment of a choice in case you only have time to visit Rome in 3 days, we offer you a list of what to see: we have selected 10 attractions that are truly unmissable. Some of them are included in the Roma Pass circuit, a tourist-cultural card that allows you to enjoy the museums of Rome and the beauties of the capital with discounts and services.
So here are our tips on what to see in Rome

Colosseum and Imperial Forums (Colosseo and Fori Imperiali)

What to see in Rome: the Colosseum is more than anything else the symbol of Rome and of Italy itself. Started by Vespasian in 72 AD, was inaugurated by his son Tito in the year 80 a.d.. It could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators who came here to witness the fights of gladiators or animals. It is the largest of the Roman monuments that have remained so far and an indispensable stop for those visiting the capital.The visit of the Colosseum can be completed with a visit to the Imperial Forums that you can admire from the Alessandrina street that runs along it. You can get an idea of how life could have been in ancient Rome.

The forums were in fact the main squares of the city, where the public buildings were built, where there was the market and people were busy in business.

You can visit also the Roman Forum and the Palatine Open Air Museum (Museo Palatino): if you have entered the Colosseum your ticket includes also a visit to the latter described two places.
Information: The Colosseum is open every day 9-17 except December 25 and January 1. Until 15 February 8.30 – 16.30; from 16 February to 15 March 8.30 – 17.00; from 16 to the last Saturday of March 8.30 – 17.30; from the last Sunday of March to 31 August 8.30 – 19.15; from 1 to 30 September 08.30 – 19.00; from the 1st to the last Saturday of October 8.30am to 6.30pm. Last entry one hour before closing. Full ticket price € 12, reduced ticket price € 7.50, free under 18 years. Included in the Roma Pass.

Pantheon

The interior of the Pantheon in Rome. It is a temple dedicated to all gods, and is the best preserved building in ancient Rome, that was transformed into a Christian church in 608. The Pantheon was built by Agrippa in 27 a.c., as evidenced by the inscription on the fronton. Both its height and the inside diameter measure 43.3 meters. The extraordinary dome, which represents the largest stone vault ever built, is considered the most important work of classical architecture.

Trevi Fountain (Fontana Di Trevi)

One of the things to see in Rome is certainly the Trevi Fountain. Along with the Colosseum is one of the symbols of Rome in the world. This beautiful baroque fountain, designed by Nicola Savi in 1732, occupies almost all the small square where it is located. It represents the Neptune’s chariot towed by tritons with marine horses (a wild one and a docile one) symbolizing the different aspects of the sea. It is one of the most photographed monuments in Rome.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona, absolutely to see in Rome. It is one of the most beautiful and largest squares of the Capital, a popular meeting place for both visitors and Romans. It is built on the ruins of a stadium dating back to the 86 a.d.. and is surrounded by Baroque palaces. At the center of the square there is the magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers, Bernini’s masterpiece, representing the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata.

Piazza di Spagna

Piazza di Spagna is among the things to visit in Rome.

This baroque square dating back to 1725, with its famous Staicase of Trinity of Mountains (recently restored), has always attracted tourists and travelers and is still a popular meeting place today. The boat-shaped fountain (Barcaccia) in the square is the work of Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Gian Lorenzo, and represents a sinking boat. It is one of the main places for the night life in the historic center of Rome.

Piazza Venezia

Among the attractions to visit in Rome you cannot miss Piazza Venezia.

Connected to the Colosseum via the monumental Via dei Fori Imperiali is perhaps the most important crossroad of the city. On its sides there are Palazzo Venezia, the first great Renaissance building in Rome and the Vittoriano monument, which was built in 1885 to celebrate the unity of Italy. Opened in 1911, it was then dedicated to the unknown soldier.
Information: The lifts to climb to the top of the Vittoriano are open from Monday to Thursday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm and from Friday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.

Basilica of Saint Peter

The unmissable Basilica of St. Peter in Rome is located where in the year 324 the Emperor Constantine erected a sanctuary in honor of Peter the Apostle, who had been crucified and buried there.Today’s appearance is due to the Bramante project, dating back to 1506. Artists such as Raffaello, Antonio da San Gallo and Michelangelo participated in its construction. The interiors, as well as the colonnade were designed by Bernini. The basilica is the largest church in the world. The entry is free.
Information: 1 October – 31 March every day from 7.00 to 18.30 / 1 April to 30 September every day from 7 to 19.00. Free admission.

Vatican Museums

The Laocoonte is preserved in the Vatican Museums.

Among the most beautiful museum complexes in the world, they host an incredible collection of works of art collected by various popes over the centuries. To visit them, you can make different itineraries, which all finish in the Sistine Chapel. The buildings hosting the Vatican Museums stretch over an area of 5.5 hectares. Definitely to be seen are the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementine Museum, the Geographic Gallery, the Raffello Rooms and the Sistine Chapel.
Information: Monday to Saturday 9.00-18.00 (last entry at 4 p.m. and exit from the halls half an hour before the closing). Full ticket price € 16, reduced ticket price € 8. website: mv.vatican.va/2_IT/pages/MV_Home.html

Capitoline Museums

The equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius is preserved in the Capitoline Museums.

The are the world’s oldest public sculpture gallery. Created by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471, they were enriched by later popes as new statues were brought to light. The museums occupy the New Palace and the Conservatory Palace, both located on the Piazza del Campidoglio.
Information: Open daily 9.30-19.30, 24 and 31 December 9.30-14. The ticket office closes an hour before. Closed on January 1, May 1, December 31. Full ticket price € 14, reduced ticket price € 12. Included in the Roma Pass.

Borghese Museum and Gallery

Boy with fruit basket by Caravaggio at the Borghese Museum and Gallery

They are located in the park of Villa Borghese, the green lung of Rome, and have one of the most prestigious collections of art objects in Rome. In one place you will find concentrated works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Botticelli and Raffaello, and the famous Canova statue depicting Paolina Borghese as the winner Venus.

Information: closed on Monday, Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30 am to 7.30 pm Closed on January 1, December 25. The entrance is allowed until half an hour before the closing time.

Full ticket price € 11,00 (9,00 + 2,00 for mandatory booking), reduced ticket price € 6,50 (4,50 + 2,00 for mandatory booking). The cost of the entrance ticket to the museum could be increased after the amount paid at the time of booking for the opening of a temporary exhibition. Included in the Roma Pass.
Of course, the list of what to see in Rome could be much larger, but after seeing just the 10 attractions above, you will be able to return home from your trip definitely pleased!

Visit rome in three days - the vatican city

Visit the Vatican City – What to see

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Unless you are in the capital for a single day, you can not miss in your itinerary to visit Rome a stop in the Vatican City.

We suggest that you arrive early in the morning (get off at Ottaviano-San Pietro metro stop) when the flow of visitors is still limited. You will still have the whole day ahead of you to visit all of the attractions of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Grottos, the wonderful Vatican Museums (you should buy tickets online to skip the queue).
Note: If you want to enjoy all the treasures of the Vatican and visit Rome while saving time and keeping an eye on the wallet, you can take advantage of the Omnia Vatican & Rome card which gives you also unrestricted access to public transport and allows you to enjoy several discounts.

Buy the Omnia Vatican & Rome card here

Below we provide you with some information about the Vatican City so that you will not be unprepared:

Where it is

The Vatican City stretches on the right bank of the Tiber, in an area where there was no urban development. The Ager Vaticanus began to be taken into consideration only at the end of the Republican age (1st century AD) when villas and gardens were built there. Later Augusto (63bc – 14ad) completed a naval battleground (naumachia), while Nero (37 ad – 68ad) made a circus. In the circus and in the gardens of Nero, many Christians were martyred, including St. Peter (67 AD).

In memory of the Apostle the construction of the two grandiose basilicas was started: the first wanted by Emperor Constantine in 324, the second wanted by Pope Julius II in the Renaissance and built on the same place as the previous one.

Near the basilica, over the centuries, the Vatican City has been developed, where the head of the Catholic Church lives and that is a jealous guardian of invaluable art treasures.

When it was born

The state of the Vatican was born on February 11, 1929, when representatives of the Holy See and those of the Italian State signed in the Lateran Palace, a Treaty establishing the State of the Vatican City, as an independent state with precise topographical boundaries. The treaty entered into force on 7 June of the same year.

Characteristics

Vatican City extends over an area of 0.440 sq km with a population of about 836 inhabitants. It prints its own currency, but because of the customs and monetary union with Italy it has adopted the Euro. On the eight types of coins, the epiphany of the reigning pope is printed in the national face. It prints also its own postage stamps valid for worldwide shipments, but only when delivered by the Vatican Post.

The state prints its own newspaper, the Roman Observer, and has its own Vatican Radio station, inaugurated by Guglielmo Marconi in 1931.

The official language is Italian, while Latin is the official language of the Holy See.

Inside the Vatican City and in the extraterritorial buildings the service of police patrol and of police are performed by the police officers and by the Swiss Guard.

The Pope

He is head of state and at the same time bishop of Rome. He enjoys full and supreme court jurisdiction over the whole Church. He is assisted in the government of the Church by a Sacred College of Cardinals and by the Roman Curia.

You can attend Papa Francesco’s hearings every Wednesday at St. Peter’s Square (find out how to do it here!)

The Pontifical Swiss Guards

It is an armed body serving the papacy since January 22, 1506, when a group of 150 mercenaries swept into the Papal State to serve Pope Julius II.

To become a Swiss guard one has to meet certain requirements:

he must be of male, be of Catholic faith, have a Swiss citizenship and an age between 18 and 30 years. In addition, one must have served in the Swiss Army and remain celibate (marriage is only granted to those who reach the rank of senior and upper grades).

trip outside of Rome: Villa Adriana

TRIPS OUTSIDE OF ROME – WHAT TO SEE AND WHERE TO GO

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Villa Adriana, Villa d’Este, Ostia Antica, and the Castelli Romani are some of the many trips outside of Rome that can be added to your itinerary, especially if you plan to stay in Rome for more than 3 days. All these attractions surrounding the capital are fairly close and suited to one-day trips.
Below, we list some of the best and most popular places for a day trip outside of Rome that surely won’t disappoint you.

Trips outside Rome: Villa Adriana in Rome

1. TIVOLI – TOUR OF VILLA ADRIANA AND VILLA D’ESTE

This exciting tour will guide you to Villa d’Este, one of the most fascinating late Italian Renaissance sites, with its beautiful waterfalls, gardens, and trees, and on to the gorgeous Villa Adriana, built in the second century A.D. Villa Adriana is considered the largest and most luxurious residence ever built for a Roman emperor. You will admire the caryatids, the columns of the Canopus, the Serapeo, the gold square and many other treasures that will take your breath away.

2. ANCIENT OSTIA

At Ancient Ostia, you will discover one of ancient Rome’s largest archaeological sites. You will step back in time into the Roman colony, founded between the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th century, then developed into a commercial city and harbor of the Roman Empire. You will admire the theatre, various buildings, production facilities, temples, portals, and much more.

3. DISCOVERING THE CASTELLI ROMANI

This tour will guide you in discovering the fascinating countryside and historic villages at the gates of Rome.
As you leave the city, you will admire the ruins of the Terme di Caracalla. You’ll later reach Via Appia and take the beautiful Via dei Laghi, which winds through the Albani hills. You can also stop at Frascati to enjoy the famous local wine and blend into and absorb the atmosphere of this beautiful town.

4. ZOOMARINE

Enjoy an entire day in one of Europe’s most famous amusement parks, with its water games and many thrilling attractions. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the dolphin show, admire marine seals, penguins, and flamingos, and take a walk through the enchanted forest populated with colorful toucans and other exotic birds. Perfect for a trip outside of Rome with children.

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VISIT THE CHURCHES OF ROME IN 3 DAYS.: SAN GIOVANNI IN LATERANO

Visit the Churches of Rome in 3 Days. The Suggested Itinerary

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If you are passionate about Christian art, this itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days is for you. It will take you on a journey through the most beautiful and most interesting churches from the historical, artistic and faith point of view.

All itineraries can be walked all on foot… so wear comfortable shoes!!!

First Day

The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome

 Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri

The itinerary, which will last a full day, takes place in the historic center of the city. You can start from Piazzale della Repubblica (metro station: Repubblica) in front of which stands the huge Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri (St. Mary of Angels and Martyrs) that incorporates those that once were the great antechamber and the tepidarium of Diocletian Baths, of which eight huge Egyptian marble columns remain.

Designed by Michelangelo, it was completely remodeled by Vanvitelli in 1750. Notice the double sundial traced on the transept floor, which indicates the polar star and when the sun rises to the Zenit.
From the square get on via Nazionale and reach the Church of San Paolo in the walls. In gothic style, it is the first non Roman Catholic church. The American episcopal church, completed in 1880, is famous for the nineteenth-century mosaics made by Edward Burne-James, who included among the characters of the work some portraits of his contemporaries.
Santa Prudenziana, step of the itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days

The trip to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days continues with the Church of Santa Prudenziana, the church of the Philippine community of Rome. Noteworthy is the golden mosaic of the 4th century which represents the oldest apsidal mosaic of the city. Continue past Piazza Esquilino until you arrive at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilics dating from the 5th century. Among the things to see there are the 13th-century mosaics of the façade, the cosmatic floorings, similar to marble carpets and mosaics of the apse.
From here keep going and you will find the Church of Santa Prassede, characterized by its glittering Byzantine mosaics, whose tiles still shine after a millennium from its creation. Then take via Merulana and go down to the bottom where the Basilica of Sant’Antonio in Laterano stands, with its artistic masterpieces and frescoes attributed to Franciscan artists. Next to this building you will find the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the oldest among the papal basilicas. Consecrated in 324 it was a papal seat until 1309, then fell into ruins. What you see today is the result of remakes made after 1361. You can admire the monument to Pope Silvestro, the canopy and the cloister.

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Second Day

We propose to spend the second day of our itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days in the Vatican City. We recommend that you start your visit early in the morning when the influx of tourists is not yet “crazy.”

Visit The St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
St. Peter’s Basilica

The basilica is the largest and richest church in Italy. The first thing that will surprise you is the large size of the church and of everything inside it (including the holy water containers!). Among the things to admire there are the Bernini canopy on the papal altar and the immense dome. Take some time to admire the moving Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is behind a bulletproof glass in a chapel at the beginning of the right nave. Sculpted by the artist when he was 25, it is the only work that comes with his signature (on the band that surrounds Maria’s chest).
The itinerary continues with a visit to the Vatican Grottos, which stretch under the basilica for its entire length. Here you’ll find the tombs of many popes, including that of Pope John Paul II, which will surprise you for its simplicity in comparison to the glittering of the monuments of the basilica above. You can also see some large columns belonging to the basilica of the fourth century.

The last stop that we propose is the Vatican Museums, an attraction not to be missed. Buy the tickets online to avoid the queue at the entrance. The museum complex contains one of the largest art collections in the world. It has been calculated that it would takeSpend at least 12 years to visit it all! Spend there at least a couple of plentiful hours, without missing the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Geographic Charters Gallery, the Raffaello Rooms and of course the unmissable Sistine Chapel

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Buy your ticket for the Vatican Museums!

Third Day

We recommend that you dedicate the last day of the itinerary to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days to a visit of the Aventino hill, where some of the oldest churches in Rome can be found.

Visiting Rome: Bocca della Verita, The Mouth of Truth

The Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth)

The itinerary starts from the Circo Massimo (metro stop: Circo Massimo). Today it looks more or less a working grass basin, but in the I century. B.C. was the largest stadium in Rome, with a capacity of up to 250,000 spectators. From there proceed to the Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth). Take some photos that can witness that you’ve been here and then head to the Aventine, which hosts the Roseto Comunale (Town Rose Garden) with more than 1100 roses from around the world. Continue the itinerary by taking Via Santa Sabina and visit the Giardino degli aranci (Oranges Garden), from which you can see one of the most beautiful views of Rome. Take advantage of it to make some panoramic photos. Return to the street where you will meet the Basilica of Santa Sabina, dated to the 5th century, period when the cypress wood portal with 18 carved panels were made up. One of them is the crucifixion, one of the first portrayal of Christ’s passion. The church of Santa Maria del Priorato is located next to Piazza Cavalieri of Malta, the order to which the church belongs.
Keep going straight to the Cimitero Acattolico (Non Catholic Cemetery), considered one of the most beautiful non-Catholic cemeteries in the world. In front of the cemetery there is the Pyramid of Caio Cestio inspired by the Egyptian style and built in I sec. B.C.

Rome's actractions: Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls
Visit the churches of Rome in 3 days. Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

The tour to visit the churches of Rome in three days ends with a visit to the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Built by Constantine in the 4th century on the tomb of Saint Paul (decapitated under Nero in 67 AD), the splendid basilica was the largest church in the world until the construction of today’s St. Peter’s Basilica. what we see today is a faithful reconstruction after the fire of 1823, although some original parts remained, such as the triumphal arch, the Gothic ciborium and the candelabrum for the Easter votive candle.
In the itinerary that we have proposed to visit the churches of Rome in 3 days, we did not suggest any times for pauses and we entrust them to you depending on your interest and on the time that you would like to dedicate to individual attractions.

Practical Information

Basilica Santa Maria of Angels and Martyrs: 7am-6.30pm free admission

Saint Paul’s Church inside the walls: 9am-1.30pm free entrance

Church of Santa Prudenziana: 8am-12am / 4pm-6pm free admission

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore: 7am-8pm free admission

Church of Santa Prassede: 7am-12am/4pm-6pm Free admission

Basilica of St. Anthony in Laterano: 7am-6.30pm free entrance

Saint John in Lateran Basilica: 7am-6.30pm free entrance

St. Peter’s Basilica: 1st October – 31st March every day 7am-6.30pm / 1 April – 30 September every day 7am-7pm. Free admission.

Vatican Museums: Monday to Saturday 9am-6pm (last entry at 4pm and exit from theaters half an hour before closing).

Vatican Grottos: 7am-6pm free entrance

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Visiting Rome in 3 days – Our recommended itinerary 
Visiting Rome in 2 days with children – Where to go and what to do
Visit the Vatican City – What to visit
The Vatican – Curiosities that you might to know
Trips outside of Rome – What to see and where to go
The Colosseum – What is it like?

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Sisitina Chapel, 10 curiosities to know. Vatican Museums Tickets

VATICAN MUSEUMS – CURIOSITIES ABOUT THE CAPPELLA SISTINA

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For those visiting Rome, a stop at the Vatican Museums is a must (click here for tickets of Vatican Museums to skip the queue). They are in fact one of the largest art collections in the world and visiting them is truly an exciting experience.
The rooms of Raphael, the Pio-Clementine Museum, the Art Gallery, the Gallery of Geographical Maps are all attractions not to be missed, but what alone is worth a visit is the amazing Sistine Chapel, work of Michelangelo and undisputed masterpiece of Italian art.

And just to prepare you to know this incredible treasure, we provide below a short list of some curiosities about the Sistine Chapel that you might like to know

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Vatican Museums Tickets. Buy now!

Curiosities about the Sistine Chapel

  • The name of the Sistine Chapel derives from Pope Sixtus IV, who commissioned the work
  • The marvelous paintings of the Sistine Chapel extend for 1,110 square meters, roughly a sixth the size of a football field.
  • It is not true that Michelangelo has painted his frescos working on his back. He worked on a platform he had invented, which extended over half of the chapel area and allowed him to stand up. The platform was moved halfway through the project. Michelangelo never had the chance to look at his work in progress from below, but he painted from a distance of a few centimeters.
  • In most of the male nudes that decorate the ceiling of Michelangelo, there are many acorns, a recurring motif among the artist’s frescoes to pay homage to the name Rovere (Rovere is synonymous with oak) to which the family of Julius II belonged.
  • The first Conclave that was held in the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace was that of 1492.  From 1870 onwards the Chapel became the seat of all the conclaves.
  • The doors of the Sistine Chapel were blocked. The word conclave (the meeting of the College of Cardinals for an election of the Pope) comes from the Latin cum clave, that is (closed) with the key.
  • The first mass in the Sistine Chapel was the one celebrated by Pope Sixtus IV on the 15 August 1483.
  • The Sistine Chapel is visited by more than 6 million people a year.
  • The Sistine Chapel today as in the past is also used as a private chapel of the Pope.
  • The Sistine Chapel is dedicated to Maria Assunta (taken to the sky).

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The Colosseum, one of Rome's main attractions. On-line tickets

The Colosseo (Colosseum) – What is it like?

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Symbol of the capital par excellence and architectural masterpiece of ancient Rome, the Colosseum, with nearly five million visitors a year, is the most visited attraction in Rome.
Whether you’re visiting the capital for a couple of days or planning to stay longer, don’t forget to add this attraction to your itinerary for visiting Rome.

The Colosseum will surely leave you breathless, thanks to its spectacular dimensions (it’s the largest Roman amphitheatre in the world) and the emotional impact it will have on you (the evidence of so much cruelty and ferocity is something that cannot be ignored).

Long waits for entering this attraction are the norm. We recommend buying an online ticket that lets you skip the queue, saving time for visiting the other wonders of the capital.

Tickets for the Coliseum. BUY NOW!

But what did the Colosseum look like?

Below we offer some details about the structure of what became the model for all future sport stadiums.

1. THE OUTER WALLS

Once entirely covered with travertine, the exterior is divided into three levels of arches, framed by pilasters (rectangular columns embedded into the wall). The intermediate and higher level arches were sculpted with statues, while the highest part, with its Corinthian windows and pilasters, is characterized by supports for the 240 masts that once sustained the velarium, a huge fabric awning that covered the arena.

On the ground floor there are 80 arched entrances (vomitoria), which allowed spectators to enter and take seats in a few minutes.

2. THE ARENA

The ground had a wooden floor covered in sand to prevent the gladiators from slipping and to soak up the blood.

The arena could be flooded during re-enactment of sea battles (Naumachie). The underground complex of corridors that constituted the hypogeum could be accessed through trapdoors.

3. THE CAVEA

The Cavea, for spectator seating, was divided into three parts: the lower rows were dedicated to the Senators, the middle rows for wealthy citizens, and the upper rows for lower-class plebeians. All women—excluding the vestal virgins—were placed at the very top.
Much as they are today, entrance tickets were marked with the seat number of a specific sector.

The podium, a broad terrace in front of the seating rows, was reserved for the Emperor, Senators, and other elite Romans.

Visit the Colosseum: The cavea

4. THE HYPOGEUM

The underground complex system stretching under the entire structure was used as a backstage. Here props and set pieces for naval battles were built and then lifted with a complex system of ropes and pulleys. Gladiators would reach the Hypogeum directly from the nearby gladiator school, and wild animals were transported to the Colosseum from a “zoo” on Monte Celio, where they were kept in cages built directly into the wall.

For more news about the most visited attraction in Rome, visit the page: Ten Interesting Facts About The Colosseo That You May Not Know

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Visiting Rome in 2 days with children – Where to go and what to do 
Trips outside of Rome – What to see and where to go

THE FIVE ATTRACTIONS AND MONUMENTS TO VISIT IN ROME IN 2 DAYS

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If you want or you can only visit Rome in two days you will have to organize your itinerary well in order to take advantage of the limited time and enjoy as many attractions as you can. We help you by listing 5 of the attractions and monuments of Rome that you should not miss.

So here is our short list of things to be included in the tour to visit Rome in two days.

The Colosseum, among the attractions to visit in Rome in two daysColosseum

Symbol of the greatness and power of Rome, the Flavian Amphitheater, is the most famous and impressive monument of ancient Rome and an attraction that still attracts, after two thousand years, about 5 million visitors a year.
The amphitheater was built by the emperor Vespasiano on the land of the vast complex of the Domus Aurea of the emperor Nero. Work began in the year 2 a.d. and ended in 80 a.d. under the emperor Titus. The inauguration ceremony lasted 100 days, during which 5,000 animals were killed.
The visit of the Colosseum, unmissable if you want to visit Rome in two days, should be completed with that of the “Fori Imperiali” (imperial Forums) that you can admire from the Via Alessandrina that runs along them. You will get an idea of what life was like in ancient Rome. The forums were in fact the main squares of the city, where public buildings stood, were there were markets and where people did their business.
You can also visit the Roman Forum and the open-air museum of the Palatine: if you have entered the Colosseum, your ticket also includes a visit to the latter two. Buy the ticket online to skip the long lines!

Information: all days except the 25 December and the 1st January 9-17. Until the15h February 8.30 – 16.30; from 16 February until the 15 March 8.30 – 17.00; from the 16 until the last Saturday of March 8.30 – 17.30; from the last Sunday of March until 31 August 8.30 – 19.15; from 1 to 30 September 08.30 – 19.00; from the 1st to the last Saturday of October 8.30 – 8.30.
Last admission one hour before closing.
Full ticket € 12, reduced ticket € 7.50, free under 18 years.

Capitoline Museums

They constitute a public gallery of the world’s oldest sculptures. Created by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471, they were enriched by successive popes as new statues were brought to light. The museums occupy the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori, both located on the Campidoglio square.
The Capitoline Museums host the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. The one in the center of the square is a copy, while the original, which has been restored, is placed in a new glazed hall, the Esedra of Marcus Aurelius, in the Roman Garden, behind Palazzo dei Conservatori.

Information: open every day 9.30-19.30, 24 and 31 December 9.30-14. The ticket office closes an hour earlier. Closed on January 1st, May 1st, December 31st.
Full ticket € 14, reduced ticket € 12.

The Basilica of San Pietro, in Rome. Tickets on line to skip the queue

The Basilica of San Pietro

It is located where in 324 a.c. the emperor Constantine had a shrine erected in honour of Peter the Apostle, who was crucified and buried right there.
The look of today is due to the project of Bramante, dating back to 1506. It was built by artists such as Raphael, Antonio da San Gallo, Michelangelo. The interior, as well as the colonnade were made by Bernini. The basilica is the largest church in the world. If you want to climb on its amazing dome we suggest you to get the ticket online: skip the queue!

Information: October 1 – March 31 every day 7.00-18.30 / 1 April – 30 September every day 7-19.00.

Visit Rome in 2 days: Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo

Also known as Hadrian’s Mausoleum, Castel Sant’Angelo was the papal fortress built in the Middle Ages on the remains of the emperor Hadrian’s mausoleum. (II century a.d.).
It is located not far from the Vatican to which it is connected via the fortified corridor called the “passetto”, in the Borgo district. The fortress has been modified several times in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance. Do not leave the fortress without a stop on the “Terrazza dell’Angelo”, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city. In order to avoid queues and save time, we recommend you to order your ticket online.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, among the most spectacular attractions of the capital

Fontana di Trevi

Together with the Colosseum it is one of the symbols of Rome in the world. This splendid baroque fountain, designed by Nicola Savi in 1732, occupies almost completely the small square in which it is located. It represents the waggon of Neptune pulled by tritons with sea horses (a wild one and a docile one) that symbolize the different aspects of the sea. It is among the most photographed monuments in Rome.

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The trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain, among the main attractions of Rome

THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

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Immortalized by Marcello Mastroianni and Anita Ekberg in the film by Fellini “La dolce vita”, the Trevi Fountain, together with the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica, is one of the main attractions of Rome and should be an essential stop on your itinerary in the capital. If you want to visit Rome in 3 days or if you only have one weekend, you can not leave without having seen it and thrown your coin into the water to be able to come back!

The Trevi Fountain is a very large sculptural complex, so much so that it occupies almost the entire square.
It was created by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini.
Made with travertine, marble, plaster, stucco and metals, it represents Ocean on a cart pulled by two horses (a wild one and another docile, that represent the different moods of the sea), which in turn are guided by tritons.

The fountain, today as when it was built, is fed by one of the oldest aqueducts in Rome, the aqueduct of Acqua Virgo (Acqua Vergine), built between 19 and 22 a.C. from Agrippa. The name Trevi derives from the fact that at this point three ways converged.

On the eastern side of the Trevi Fountain there is a large vase in stone called “ace of cups” because it recalls the playing card. It is said that during the construction works, a barber, who owned his shop on the square, continued to criticize the Salvi’s project. Salvi then added the vase so as to prevent the barber from seeing the work and continuing to make his annoying criticism.

Since the aqueduct was completed on this site there has always been a fountain. In 1453 Pope Nicholas V commissioned Leon Battista Alberti to restore the water way.
In 1629, Urban VIII commissioned Bernini to design a new fountain, but it was never built.
In 1730 Pope Clement XII announced a competition to choose the best architectural projects. The Salvi’s project won the competition and two years later the works began.

The last restoration of the Trevi Fountain dates back to 2015. The cost of 2.2 million euros were financed by the Fendi fashion house and the work brought the fountain back to its former glory.

 

TRADITIONS RELATED TO THE TREVI FOUNTAIN

The most famous tradition is the tossing of a coin into the fountain: by doing this with closed eyes and turning on the opposite side of Palazzo Poli, one would favor a future return to the city.
The origins of this tradition are not well known. Perhaps it could derive from the ancient custom of throwing into the sacred sources obols or small gifts to propitiate the local divinity, as it happens for the wells of desires.

There is no tourist who does not know this tradition and who does not perform this ritual. The Municipality of Rome established in 2006 that all the reclaimed coins (a sum equal to about three thousand euros per day) should be destined for Caritas in Rome. In fact, around 3,000 euros are drawn every day from the fountain. All those who take the money for themselves are prosecuted criminally.

According to another tradition, when people still drank water from the fountain (and the water of Trevi, which today is used only for irrigation and to feed the fountains, was considered among the best in Rome, because it is not calcareous) girls asked their boyfriend who was leaving to drink it in a glass, that was later shattered in sign and wish of fidelity.

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The Vatican has its own armed body: the Swiss guards

The Vatican – Curiosities That You Might not Know

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Established after the Lateran Pacts of 1929, the Vatican is the modern version of the State of the Church that ruled most of the central regions up to the Unity of Italy in 1861. The Vatican City is an independent state where the pope is the highest authority. They have a postal service, a newspaper, a radio station and an army, the Swiss guards.

Below you will find some curiosities about the Vatican that you may want to know.

Omnia Vatican & Rome card. BUY NOW!

 

1. Citizenship

You can not be a Vatican citizens by birth: the Vatican citizenship is aquired by those who, even lay people, reside there for reasons of office or employment. The spouse, children, and brothers of a Vatican citizen retain their citizenship provided they are cohabiting

2. Swiss Guards

Even though Switzerland today has the reputation of being a pacifist nation, in 1500 it had an unstoppable military force. With their great ability to handle the halberd, a combination of a spear and an axe, the army ground troops were able to demolish enemy legions on horseback. After witnessing their power in battle, Pope Julius II (the commissioner of the Sistine Chapel) wanted some soldiers as personal guards. Since then, the Swiss guards swore allegiance to the pope.
Even though we are used to seeing Swiss guards in Renaissance dresses, in fact the real Pope’s guards are wearing much more modern civilian clothes and arms than halberds!

3. The Official Language

The official language of the state is Italian. Latin is the language of the Holy See: not by chance the Vatican City law is exclusively written in Latin

4. The Death Penalty

The death penalty remained in force until 1969 as the punishment for the attempted or done murder of a pope. In that year Pope Paul VI made it de facto but not de jure invalid, which meant that was officially abolished, but was not completely removed from the Fundamental Law (equivalent to our Constitution). It was definitively abolished with the revision of the latter only in 2001 according to the will of John Paul II.

5. Criminality

According to a study conducted by the German magazine Der Spiegel in 2007, the Vatican is the country with the highest crime rate in the world per inhabitant. There have been 486 criminal cases and 341 civil cases on which the Vatican Ministry of Justice has investigated. The most common crime? Theft.

6. But How much Money Own the Vatican?

It is not easy to answer because the accounts of the Vatican’s economic activities have not been published for 125 years.
Only in 2012, following the policy of transparency and rigor put into effect by Pope Francis, the IOR (Institute for Religious Works) had to publish the 2012 budget, showing a profit of 86.6 million euros. If you want to know the current budget, see the 2015 report published on the official portal.

7. The Sanpietrini

In the past, in the days when the Church celebrated its most solemn feasts, the dome of the St. Peter’s Basilica was illuminated with a flame of fire: the pans on which the fire burned were lit by so-called sanpietrini, who climbed along the dome’s curves. The remarkable ability of these intrepid climbers was an object of admiration for foreigners, who considered the enterprise possible only by those who had been practicing it since the youth.

The sanpietrini word is used also for the blocks of leucitite (an eruptive rock), also called flint or paving stone, used to make the typical Roman pavement.

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Omnia Vatican & Rome, find out how it works

PASS FOR THE VATICAN AND ROME – MUSEUMS, ATTRACTIONS, FREE TRANSPORT

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If you are going to visit Rome in 3 days, but you do not want to turn your holiday into a marathon, a good solution is to use the Omnia Vatican & Rome, a cultural tourist card that will allow you to discover the treasures of Vatican City and the major attractions of Rome and to avoid the queues, by taking advantage of discounts and unlimited public transport.
With this combined pass, valid for 3 days (72 hours), you can in fact:

  • Skip the queue and get free access to the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum
  • Skip the queue of the Sistine Chapel
  • Take advantage of the special discounts OMNIA Vatican Pass and Roma Pass
  • Discover the eternal city with hop-on hop-on bus tours, by stopping where and when you want
  • Use public transport in unlimited ways
  • Access with discounted prices the best museums in Rome
  • Never lose your orientation thanks to the free pocket guide of Rome and the Vatican

    Notes: The entrance to the Colosseum is free every first Sunday of the month, so in these days it will not be possible to take advantage of the priority entrance.
    The Roma Pass is not available for groups. Groups of more than 9 people may not be eligible for attractions.

MEETING POINT WHERE TO EXCHANGE THE VOUCHER

Office of the Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, Piazza Pio XII 9 – 00193, Rome.
Opening times: Monday to Friday: 9.00am – 6.00pm Saturday and Sunday: 9.00am – 4.00pm, closed on August 15th November 1st, December 8th, December 25th and December 26th.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

From 108 euros

DETAILS

The Omnia Vatican Card includes

Fast-track entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
Entrance to the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and the cloister with a multimedia audioguide
Fast line entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica
Interactive tour of the San Pietro prison with a multimedia audioguide

The Roma card includes also free entry to 2 of the following attractions

Galleria Borhese
Capitolini Museums
Castel Sant’Angelo
Colosseum
The Palatino e the Roman Forum

The Pass also includes discounts for numerous museums and attractions

Museums

National Museum of Castel Sant’Angelo
National Roman Museum – Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
National Roman Museum – Palazzo Altemps
National Roman Museum – Crypta Balbi
National Roman Museum – Baths of Diocletian
National Gallery of Palazzo Barberini
Etruscan Museum of Villa Giulia
Capitoline Museums
Centrale Montemartini
National Museum of Oriental Art
MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art Rome
MAXXI – National Museum of XXI Century Arts
Planetarium and astronomical museum

Attractions

Appia Antica
Trajan’s Market
Palazzo Valentini
Ara Pacis

Tour Roma Cristiana (Christian Rome) by bus with a panoramic plan. The stops include

Basilica of Saint Peter
Piazza Navona
Pantheon
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Central stations – Termini
Santa Maria Maggiore
San Giovanni – Scala Santa
Colosseum – Roman Forum
Circus Maximus
Tiber Island
Palazzo Farnese

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