Places To See In Rome

Our first stop is of course a landmark which is instantly recognised The Colosseum which is close to the main Railway Station Termini.

At the time it was built it was one of the most impressive buildings in the Roman empire. The Colosseum is a massive stone amphitheater commissioned around 70 to 72 AD by a Flavian Dynasty Emperor named Vespasian for the Roman people. This is a place where ancient Romans gathered to see great fights between gladiators, and fights between men and wild beasts.

You can pay for a guided tour and join them as they move around the Colosseum or you can do as I personally prefer and explore on your own with a guide book in hand. Whichever you decide to do it's an amazing experience and an absolute "must see" on the list of what to see in Rome.

The Colosseum measures 188 by 156 meters and has a height of more than 159 feet. When it was built it could accommodate more than 55,000 people who would enter into it through more than 80 entrances. Originally the whole of the Colosseum was clad in marble and contained a number of life-sized statues gracing the arches on the upper floors.

After many centuries of active use, the Colosseum fell into neglect and was used as a source of construction material up until the 18th century. However, the place is a famous tourist destination, even though two-thirds of the total structure have been destroyed over time.

Our second stop and one of my favorite places is The Trevi fountain. It is one of Rome's most famous baroque fountains, standing 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters across.

It gets the name due to the fact that the fountain is situated at the junction of 3 roads, which in Italian is "Tre Vie". It was designed by a Roman architect named, Nicola Salvi who began its construction in the year 1732 and it was completed in 1762.

This famous monument is located in the Trevi square in the Quirinale district. Thousands of tourists everyday gather here to take images of this marble creations of seahorses, mermen, and cascading pools which are all presided by Neptune the sea god.

Another reason why tourists visit Trevi fountain, is to take part in the coin ritual. According to legend, tossing a coin into the fountain will guarantee a return trip to Rome. So make sure to toss your coin into the fountain before you leave and then enjoy one of the wonderful ice creams from one of the nearby ice cream parlors.

The Pantheon is actually a Christian church, built around 1800 years ago and still stands as a reminder of the Roman empire. Originally, the Pantheon was a pagan temple, which then was converted into a Christian church in the year 609 AD.

One of the most important and amazing features of the Pantheon is the massive concrete dome, which has a giant circular opening of about 8.7 meters in diameter at its center and is open to its elements. The Pantheon dome is the largest, single unreinforced concrete dome in the whole world.

When you have visited the Pantheon do take the time to take lunch or even an ice cream at one of the little restaurants opposite and watch the world go by. People watching is a favorite pastime of the Romans and there's no better place to sit for an hour.

No visit to Rome could ever be complete without crossing into the smallest Independent State in the World which is The Vatican.

Whether you are a Catholic or not you cannot fail to be amazed by St. Peter's Basilica which is the perfect example of creativity and ingenuity of the 16th century.

If you have time after exploring the Basilica and seeing the tomb of St Peter as well as the tombs of The Popes then do visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Although you could spend days in the museums even a half day spent exploring them is well worth it.

Another of my favorite places in Rome is the Campo de' Fiori which literally means 'fields of flowers.' It is widely known for its colorful and large lively market.

The market sells all kinds of products to visitors including fresh produce, beverages, breads, and other kind of tourist attractions.

This is the perfect tourist place for someone who really loves shopping, as they provide a wide variety of products at affordable cost.

Again another of my favorite places to sit and have lunch and watch the world to go by! Do take a moment to look at the statue of Bruno the Heretic right in the centre and if you don't have time for lunch at least have an ice cream!

Another must see place in Rome, is the Forum. However, you need to be aware that The Forum is a jumble of marble fragments, temple ruins, triumphal arches, and other architectural elements from various time periods.

Some main points of architectural elements in the Forum may include Arch of Constantine, Via Sacra, the Temple of Rome and Venus, Arch of Titus, Basilica of Maxentius, Temple of Vesta, Umbilicus Urbis, Arch of Septimius Severus, the Temple of Antonius and Faustina. Temple of castor and Pollux, and many more.

It's a very impressive sight and definitely not one to be missed!

One of the largest public parks in Rome, the Gardens of the Villa Borghese offers a pleasant refuge from the hectic streets of Rome.

It is located in the north of the Spanish steps, and features several museums, statues, fountains, temples, and lakes.

One most famous museum is the Museo e Galleria Borghese which has a vast collection of sculptures and some masterpiece of Canova and Bernini. Other sightseeing places in Villa Borghese are the botanical garden, an 18th century arch, and an impressive amphitheater.