Attractions

Coliseum
Roman Forum
Pantheon
Arch of Constantine
Trevi Fountain
Piazza Navona
The Vatican City & St. Peter's Basilica
The Capitol
Baths of Caracalla
Piazza di Spagna
Villa Borghese: The Museum Park


Rome is best explored on foot. Take time to wander through the streets and see everything this magical place has to offer. The historic heart of Rome is quite compact, bordered by the Tiber river to the west and the central train station, Stazione Termini, to the east. Places like the Roman Forum, the Coliseum, the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica instantly conjure up images of beauty and perfection.


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Coliseum - VR
The Coliseum rises among the Palatine hill, the Celian hill and the Oppian hill. Its construction was begun by emperor Vespasian and was completed by his son Titus in 80 AD At first, in the amphitheater, gladiatorial shows, consisting in fights to the death between men and beasts, took place: it is there that, later on, the first Christians were cruelly killed by beasts. Afterwards the Coliseum was neglected, which provoked its rapid deterioration. Pope Benedetto XIV's edict consecrated it to the memory of the Christian martyrs, putting an end to its slow destruction. In 1808 it was restored by Pope Pious VII.

The Coliseum consists of four floors: the first three of them have 80 holes shaped like arches, while the fourth is taller than the others and is characterized by a more compact building mass with windows. The arches are separated by pillars with semi-columns of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian order. Inside, the staircases had a capacity of around 50.000 people, who, in case of bad weather, were sheltered by a system of coverage consisting of striped cloth, maneuvered by one hundred sailors. It is the greatest amphitheater of the Roman world.


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Roman Forum - VR
The Forum was the commercial, political and religious centre of ancient Rome. Constructed over a period of about 900 years, it was originally an amazing juxtaposition of buildings and temples reflecting vastly different eras. Crowds gathered to hear the daily gossip and meet people while senators came to discuss the fate of the Republic. The site fell into disrepair and disintegration when the Roman Empire fell. Make sure to see the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Temple of Saturn, the House of the Vestals, the Temple of Antoninus & Faustina and the Arch of Titus all in the Forum.

It can be reached from the Capitoline hill going down along Senators Building or behind the monument to king Victor Emmanuel II and walking along Via dei Fori Imperiali. It was very damaged by the barbaric invasions. In 1700 the excavations brought out notable treasures of Romanic art.


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Pantheon
This is the best preserved and one of the most famous of the Roman monuments, constructed by Agrippa in 27 BC and rebuilt by Hadrian in 117-125 AD. It contains the tombs of Raphael and King Victor Emanuel. Placed in "Piazza della Rotonda" near "Piazza Minerva" it was named "Pantheon" because it was a temple dedicated to several divinities.
An extraordinary 142 feet wide and 142 feet high it is a perfect sphere resting in a cylinder. The walls measure 25 feet wide and the bronze entrance doors weigh 20 tons each. The building is regarded as one of the architectural wonders of the world due to its dome and its concept of space. Michelangelo studied the dome before designing the cupola of St. Peter's.


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Arch of Constantine
It is the greatest and most important of the three Roman triumphal arches. It was built in 313 A.D. to celebrate emperor Constantine's victory over Massenzio.
25 meters high, it rises not far from the Coliseum at the end of the Via Sacra. It marks the limit between Roman Forum and Coliseum area. The different elements, all together, either artistically or historically, make it highly representative of Roman architecture.


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Trevi Fountain
The most famous fountain in Rome, made by architect Salvi in 1735 under Pope Clement XII, it is considered one of the most beautiful fountains in the world. The Dukes of Poli's building serves as background to the fountain.
Not far from "via del Corso" erected in the homonym square, it is probably one of the most visited places in Rome. Thousands of people every day come to admire it and throw a coin into it, because, according to a legend, the one who tosses a coin into the fountain ensures his return to Rome. The movie "La Dolce Vita", directed by Federico Fellini has contributed to enrich the world fame of this fountain.


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Piazza Navona - VR
It is a beautiful and famous square where you can admire masterpieces by Bernini, Borromini e G. della Porta, who were very important exponents of the baroque art. It is also one of the most frequented place in Rome, a meeting place both for tourist and Romans till late in the night thanks, also, to the numerous pubs, restaurants and piano-bars.
This square has an elliptic shape like a stadium and, in fact, rises on the ancient Domitian's Stadium. In it you can admire three splendid fountains. The central one is the Fontana dei Fiumi which was realized by Bernini and is characterized by four allegorical statues which represent the four main river in the world. The lateral ones are the Fontana del Moro designed by Bernini and the Fontana del Nettuno planned by Giacomo della Porta.


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The Vatican City & St. Peter's Basilica - VR
The Vatican has been a state since 1920 with the pope as its head. This tiny enclave in the heart of Rome is the administrative and spiritual capital of Roman Catholicism as well as the world's smallest independent state. The Vatican is the richest country in the world per square foot and has a total population of only 750. The Vatican has an astonishing collection of priceless art treasures and some of the most captivating architecture in the world including St Peter's Catholic Church designed by Michelangelo.

The Sistine Chapel is the main chapel in the Vatican Palace. Frescoes adorning the walls include works by Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Perugino. The ceiling of the Sistine chapel is famous and was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512.


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The Capitol
One of the most interesting architectural areas in Rome. The whole complex (square and buildings) was built in the sixteenth century according to Michelangelo's designs. Placed on the Capitoline Hill, it suffered during the centuries various remaking until it assumed the actual shape, according to Michelangelo's project. Since the ancient times it was a very important place for the life of the City, being first, a religious centre, and then, the seat of Roman Senate. Today it is the Town Hall.

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Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla are a series of ruins that give a real insight into the splendor and opulence of ancient Rome. They are named also "Antoniane" and were built up from 212 A.D. up to 217 A.D. by Emperor Caracalla. They are placed in the homonymous street near the beginning of the famous Ancient Appia road, which is interesting from an archaeological and artistic points of view. These baths were still in use in the VI century but they weren't anymore in 537, after the invasion of the Goths who destroyed their feeding aqueduct.
Many of the aristocracy would have spent their time here, bathing and socializing. The Baths of Caracalla once consisted of a 27-acre complex with marble seats for more than 1600 people. The facilities at Caracalla ranged from steam rooms to tepidariums as well as immense pools and frigidariums for the cooling-out process. The complex also housed fountains, statues, mosaics, gardens, playing fields, gymnasiums, restaurants, libraries, promenades, galleries, theatres and concert halls.

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Piazza di Spagna - VR
This is one of the best known and evocative places in Rome. It is characterized by the great perron of "Trinita dei Monti". From this square the best known and most elegant streets in Rome branch off: for instance, "Via Condotti" is famous all over the world for its numerous boutique and ateliers of many Italian stylists like Armani, Versace and Valentino. "Via Frattina" is also an elegant and very frequented street. "Via del Babuino" is full of palaces built in 17th and 18th centuries and is the centre of Roman antique-trade. "Via Margutta", which is parallel to "via del Babuino", is the street of the painters.
The famous Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti) by Francesco De Sanctis (1723-1726) is made by twelve flight of steps of varying width moving upwards towards the Piazza Trinita dei Monti. Before the steps there is a fountain, the ingenious large boat "Barcaccia", spouting water while it sinks.
At the top of the stairs you can see, behind the Egyptian obelisk, "Santa Trinita dei Monti's church". It was built in 1495 and its facade was realized by Maderno. Beginning from "Piazza di Spagna" and going up its flight of steps, you can reach the "Pincio's terrace", from where you can enjoy an exceptional view of Rome.

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Villa Borghese: The Museum Park
It's considered the city's most important green space. Painted by famous artists, the muse and inspiration of writers and celebrated musicians, Villa Borghese is perhaps Rome's best known 'villa', or park. Unique in the world for its concentration of cultural institutions, the park contains five museums and is ringed by a string of foreign academies representing Romania, Egypt, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Britain. Villa Borghese stretches across 80 hectares, including the Pincio area.
Recent work - some 20 building projects - have highlighted both its artistic and environmental value, restoring it to how it originally looked in the 16th century.
Rome authorities have called it the "Park of Museums" and dubbed it the city's cultural cornerstone. Its wide variety of plants has also been taken into account. The Valley of Plantains, also known as the Valley of Dogs, still contains some 400 different species.
The "Casina delle Rose" (House of Roses) has been earmarked to become the museum of the Villa Borghese park. Restoration plans intend it to be used to house 150 marble statues taken from the park and replaced with plaster copies.