tourist map of ancient rome

16 Ancient Rome Sites & Roman Landmarks to See in Rome, Italy (+Map)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 28, 2023

Ancient Rome – the civilization dating from the founding of the city of Rome in 753 BC until the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD – has had a big influence on the world. It has inspired and influenced so many generations and continues to do so today…

No matter how many books you read and how many movies you saw, there is no better way to get acquainted with this fascinating culture than by visiting some of the ancient Roman landmarks in Rome, Italy!

In this guide, you can learn about the best Ancient Rome sites that you can still see in Rome today . Some of them – such as the Pantheon or the Colosseum – are world-known and are among the most popular places to see in Rome . Quite a few other remaining Roman landmarks are lesser-known and could be qualified as the hidden gems of Rome , often overlooked by tourists… But they are all worth seeing!

Whether you are fascinated by the Ancient Rome civilization, are interested in antique Roman architecture, or simply want to see some of the most impressive Roman landmarks and learn the stories behind them, this list will give you a good idea of the places that are worth visiting the most.

To help you plan your time, we also created a map indicating the best Ancient Rome landmarks in Rome . You can find this map at the bottom of the article.

Even if you just visit a few of these landmarks, you’ll appreciate so much better how special and unique Rome really is. It’s not for nothing that it’s called the Eternal City.

Good to know: Please note that in this guide we only mention some of the best-preserved and most important Ancient Rome landmarks that are located in or just near the city of Rome.

We also tried to sort this list by age, starting with the oldest Roman landmarks first. However, it’s not always possible to determine the exact dates. Furthermore, some archeological sites contain more than just one building (each dating from different periods), and others were built and rebuilt or their development spanned over several centuries…

So the timeline is only meant to give you an idea of how Ancient Rome developed over the centuries. It should give you a better insight into how old and unique these antique Roman sites really are…

Take a look!

Here are some of the best ancient Roman landmarks you can see in Rome today:

1. Palatine Hill & Roman Forum

The origins date from around the 10th century BC. Some of the oldest Roman temples (7-8th century BC) were located in this area as well.

The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) and the Palatine Hill (Palatino) are among the oldest places in the city of Rome. It’s in this area that you’ll find most of the ancient Roman landmarks; too many to even try to list them here…

It’s believed that the founders of Rome – Remus and Romulus – were nursed by a she-wolf in a cave – Lupercal – that was located on the slopes of the Palatine. In 2007, this theory was once again confirmed when the archeologists found a vaulted sanctuary deep under the ground that could indeed be the Lupercal.

So if you are looking for the most ancient sites in Rome, this is as good as it gets. The Palatine is literally the birthplace of Rome !

In Ancient Rome, the Palatine was one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city. The rich and the famous built their palaces here and you can still see some very impressive ruins on the Palatine.

Right next to it is the Roman Forum, the bustling heart of ancient Rome. Today, this is a huge archeological site where you can see many of the oldest buildings and monuments of Rome.

How to visit: The Roman Forum and the Palatine are located right next to the Colosseum and an entrance to all these sites is included in the same ticket . You can just walk around on your own, but I highly recommend visiting here with a guided tour . There’s so much to see and it’s a fascinating site, but without knowing what you’re looking at, it’s just a bunch of ruins and stones…

2. Ostia Antica

The origins date from the 7th century BC.

Ostia Antica was an old city, the commercial and military seaport of ancient Rome. The archeological remains found here date to the 3rd- 4th century BC, but some inscriptions are believed to be three centuries older than that.

This is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities and a great place to visit if you want to get a better idea of what life was like for ordinary folks in the old Roman times.

In its glory days (2-3rd century AD), over 100,000 people lived in Ostia. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the city slowly fell into decay. It was completely abandoned in the 9th century.

Big parts of the old city of Ostia are excavated and you can see the remains of old houses, shops, baths, but also docks and warehouses. One of the most impressive sites is the old Roman theater – Teatro di Ostia.

Ostia Antica is often compared to the more famous ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

However, these places are located close to Naples, a 2.5-3 hours drive from Rome (they can be visited as a day trip too , but you will need an entire day for that). Whereas Ostia Antica is just 45 minutes drive from the city center. In fact, it’s located very close to Leonardo da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino.

How to visit: Ostia Antica is the only Roman landmark mentioned in this guide that is located quite a bit further from Rome’s city center. You can get here by taxi or by train, and there are also organized tours. The most popular option is this half-day guided tour by train .

3. Circus Maximus

The origins of Circus Maximus date to Rome’s earliest days. The construction began around the 6th century BC.

Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) was the largest stadium in Ancient Rome, mainly used for chariot races. It also served as the site of Roman Games, gladiator fights, animal hunts, etc.

Its current distinctive U-shape dates from the times of Julius Caesar who ordered the refurbishing of this arena at around 50 BC. At that time, the stadium could seat about 150,000 spectators.

After the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, Circus Maximus was rebuilt and reached its maximum capacity with place for about 250,000 people.

The last chariot races here were held in the 6th century, after which the ancient arena was pretty much abandoned. The area was cleared and turned into a park in the early 20th century and is nowadays sometimes used for concerts and other big outdoor gatherings. A small part of the ancient site is being excavated, but the majority remains under the ground.

How to visit: Apart from the big open oval space in the middle of the city, there is actually not that much left of the ancient Circus Maximus nowadays. You can see it from an elevated angle from Palatine Hill, and you can also go for a walk here. Some tours also come here. It’s a good way to learn more about the place and the guides usually have pictures showing you what the place looked like, etc.

There may not be much left of it, but as you stand here, it’s easy to imagine a crowd of a quarter of a million people cheering at the chariot races: the noise, the dust, the excitement… It’s well worth seeing Circus Maximus, even if just from a distance. It’s yet another puzzle piece that gives you a better idea of what life was like in Ancient Rome.

TIP: If you are interested in a tour, we recommend this one that visits Circus Maximus and also the Baths of Caracalla (a very interesting ancient Roman site that you can read about further below).

4. Appian Way

Built around 312-264 BC.

Appian Way (Via Appia Antica) is an ancient road that connected the city of Rome to Brindisi in Southern Italy, some 563 km (350 miles) away. Its main purpose was to help the army with the expansion of the Roman Empire.

To me, the Appian way feels the most authentic of all Ancient Rome sites that you can still see today. Built over 2300 years ago, some parts of this road look pretty much as they would have looked back in the old days. There are hardly any signs of modern-day life here, and if you’re lucky to visit on a quiet moment or go just a bit further from the city, you’ll likely be completely alone… It’s magical!

Appian Way is lined with ancient family graves and mausoleums, some of them still standing next to the road today (in the past, it was forbidden to bury people inside the city walls, and it was easy to have a family grave next to a major, easily-accessible way just outside the city).

As you walk or bike on Via Appia, you can easily imagine the Roman military marching here, horses and carriages driving up and down, and families visiting the graves of loved ones… If you’ve seen movies like Spartacus , vivid images of Ancient Rome come to life. It’s a really special place, and if you have a few hours extra, I highly recommend visiting here!

How to visit: The Appian Way is a long road that starts in Rome. The first part closest to the city has changed a lot and looks just pretty much like any other street. And while you don’t have to go very far to find some more authentic parts of this ancient way, it’s not really a place you can easily walk to. It’s best to come here by bus, on a tour, or by bike.

TIP: I highly recommend joining an e-bike tour . Not only is this the best way to get here and explore a bigger section of this unique road, but you’ll also see so much more! It’s also good to visit here with a local guide who knows exactly where to go and will bring you to the most authentic sights.

We visited the Appian Way with this great bike tour that also includes quite a few other ancient Roman landmarks mentioned further in this guide. Highly recommended!

5. Park of the Aqueducts

Most Roman aqueducts date from the period between the 3rd century BC and 1st century AD. The oldest Roman aqueduct – Aqua Appia – was constructed around 312 BC, at around the same time as the Appian Way.

If you want to see more of the most authentic ancient Roman sights and get a bit more off the beaten path in Rome, definitely consider a visit to the Park of the Aqueducts (Parco degli Acquedotti) . This is antique Rome at its best, and without the crowds. In fact, you’ll likely have the park all to yourselves…

Here, you can see several ancient aqueducts dating from the glory days of the Roman Empire. Reliable water supply was of utmost importance for the quickly-growing cities, and a series of aqueducts were built in order to bring drinking water from the mountains into the city of Rome.

Parts of these ancient aqueducts survived to the present day, and you can admire some really fine examples of ancient engineering. Some aqueducts were tens of kilometers in length, and they were built with such a small gradient that was just enough to get the water flowing towards the city at a steady pace. It would be quite an achievement even nowadays…

How to visit: Park of the Aqueducts is located on the outskirts of Rome, about 10 km from the city center. There’s a metro line running just nearby, so you could get here by public transport quite easily. However, it’s a massive park and so if you come on foot, you’ll need at least half a day to explore it. The best way to visit Parco degli Acquedotti is by bike.

We came here on the earlier-mentioned e-bike tour that also took us to Via Appia and ancient catacombs (see further below). It’s really one of the best ways to explore several of the best ancient landmarks in Rome in a short time!

TIP: One of these 2000-year-old aqueducts still supplies water to the famous Trevi Fountain today. If you don’t have the time to visit the Aqueducts Park, you could also opt to visit Vicus Caprarius (aka Trevi Underground) in the city center. Here, you can see one of the ancient aqueducts under the ground.

6. Largo di Torre Argentina

The ancient temples here date from the 2nd – 4th centuries BC.

Largo di Torre Argentina is a town square in the historic center of Rome. Some of the city’s most ancient temples are located here, and this was also the site of Rome’s 1st theater, the Theater of Pompey (55 BC).

The square is best known as the place where Julius Caesar was murdered by the members of the Roman Senate on the Ides of March (15 March) in 44 BC.

Most of the ancient buildings here are just ruins, but some of the remains of the temples can still be distinguished among the rest. The oldest temples are believed to date from the 4-3rd centuries BC, the others are from the 2nd century BC. They all date from pre-Christian times, but one of them was later rebuilt as a church.

How to visit: Largo di Torre Argentina is a public square, just a few minutes walk from the Pantheon and other main sights in the city center. The archeological site has recently been made accessible to the public via a small walkway with several panels where you can learn about the history of this place. It’s free of charge and wheelchair-accessible.

You can also just walk all the way around the archeological site and easily see all the ancient buildings from the street. Some people come here to learn more about the death of Julius Caesar, others – for the ruins, and yet others for the cute cats that inhabit the area.

TIP: This amazing food tour we did in Rome also brings you to Largo di Torre Argentina and the guide gives some explanation about the sites you see.

LEARN MORE: Rome Street Food Tour with a Local Guide

7. Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Built in 18-12 BC .

Looking somewhat out-of-place and totally different from anything else in Rome, the Pyramid of Cestius (Piramide di Caio Cestio) is one of the oldest and best-preserved landmarks in the city .

Just as the famous pyramids in Egypt, this one was also built as a mausoleum. Inside, is the tomb of Gaius Cestius, a wealthy Roman magistrate who died in 12 BC.

The pyramid of Cestius survived for over 20 centuries mainly because it was integrated into the city walls. You can still see one of the old city gates – Porta San Paolo (3rd century) – just next to the pyramid.

How to visit: You can see the pyramid from the outside at any time.

However, it is only open to the public a few days a month and if you want to visit inside, you’ll have to book it in advance. For more information, please consult the official website .

The chances that they are open just when you’re in Rome aren’t very high and it does require quite some planning, so this is one of those landmarks that you can best admire from the outside.

8. Theater of Marcellus

Built around 17-13 BC.

Marcello Theater (Teatro di Marcello) was the largest and most important theater in Ancient Rome, with space for almost 20,000 spectators. Its original construction looks a bit like the famous Colosseum, which was built almost 100 years later.

Built in the 1st century BC, this open-air theater remained in use until the early 4th century. Just like many old buildings in Rome, it was then looted and the stones were used for the construction of other buildings. What remained of it, was later used as a sort of an apartment building, and afterwards as a fortress.

Nowadays, the archeological site is a museum and it’s sometimes used for concerts as well. The upper part of the building still serves as residential apartments. Marcello Theater looks really impressive at night when it’s nicely lit.

In addition to the ancient theater, you can see lots of other ruins here as well that are yet several centuries older. The most notable is Portico of Octavia (2nd century BC) and also the Temples of Apollo Sosiano and Bellona (5th-1st centuries BC), plus Tempio di Giano (3rd century BC).

How to visit: You can see the theater of Marcellus from the street (the best view is from Via del Teatro di Marcello), but the archeological site can also be visited inside. It is normally open from morning to dusk and is free to visit.

There are informational panels and you can just walk through here when visiting the Jewish Ghetto or on your way from/to Circus Maximus or Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth).

TIP: Outside this archeological site, but also just near the theater, you’ll find several other lesser-known ancient Roman landmarks. This is the site of the cattle market Foro Boario (3rd century BC). Here, you can see the remains of two temples – Tempio di Portuno (2-3rd century BC) and Tempio di Ercole Vincitore (2nd century BC). If you’re in the area anyway, it’s worth checking them out as well.

9. Domus Aurea

Built around 65-68 AD.

Domus Aurea , aka the  Golden House of Nero , is another ancient landmark worth seeing in Rome. It’s located just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum that was built just a bit later.

After the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, Emperor Nero seized a huge centrally-located plot of land in order to build a lavish entertainment complex for himself and his guests. This started the rumors that he might have started the fire in the first place…

Domus Aurea was a lavish entertainment site with landscaped gardens, an artificial lake, fountains, pools, etc. The huge villa was richly decorated and had a rotating dining room with a golden dome with an oculus, a masterpiece of ancient engineering. The building materials included marble, gold, and mosaics made of precious stones and ivory, etc.

The Golden House represented the best of the Roman Empire’s art and engineering, but also the worst of its excesses. The project was hugely unpopular and after Nero’s death, a big part of the site was covered by ground. In fact, the Colosseum was built over the site of Nero’s artificial lake. The villa itself was still used by other emperors, but a few decades later it was also covered by ground and new bathhouses were built over it…

Covered by the earth, Domus Aurea remained very well preserved. It was rediscovered in the 15th century and became an inspiration to many Renaissance artists. However, the exposure to the elements has done a lot of damage, and because a large part of the site remains under what’s currently a park, it’s extremely difficult to preserve what’s left of it without causing a complete collapse.

How to visit:   Domus Aurea is located at Colle Oppio Park; the entrance is on Via della Domus Aurea. You can visit a small part of the original site, partially underground.

The Golden Vault Room virtual reality experience gives a good idea of what this place must have looked like in the past. Here you can see the availability and book a guided tour.

TIP: If you have more time, we highly recommend opting for a guided tour that also includes the Virtual Reality experience !

10. Colosseum

Built around 70-80 AD.

The Colosseum (Colosseo) is probably the most iconic and best-known of all Ancient Rome landmarks. Almost 2,000 years after it was built, it remains the symbol of the Roman Empire, but also of Rome as we know it today.

This was the largest and the most impressive ancient amphitheater. Despite being ruined by several earthquakes, plundering, and looting, the Colosseum still stands today. Built as an entertainment arena, it could seat some 50,000 – 80,000 spectators!

The main purpose of the Colosseum was to keep the regular people of Rome content by providing entertainment (remember the old Latin saying “panem et circenses” – bread and circuses). The amphitheater was used for public spectacles including gladiator fights, animal hunts, but also the recreation of sea battles and dramas based on ancient mythology.

A big part of this impressive building is quite well preserved and you can get a pretty good idea of what the original arena would have looked like. It’s really interesting to see all the different layers of the structure. So if you can, take the time to walk around it and explore deeper, – you’ll appreciate it so much more.

In addition to seeing the Colosseum from the outside, you really have to see the inside as well. Part of the arena floor has been restored and you can also take in the views from the upper levels.

It’s now also possible to visit the underground level which gives you a very unique insight into how the arena functioned. You can see where the wild animals were kept, where the gladiators waited for the fights, the mechanisms used to bring them upstairs, etc.

How to visit: You can see the Colosseum from the outside and walk all the way around it. But you’ll need a ticket in order to visit inside. This is one of the most popular Rome attractions in Rome and you really have to  book your tickets  or  a guided tour in advance.

TIP:  If you want to visit all the levels of the Colosseum including the underground, you’ll need to go with a guide. We opted for  this tour  which includes all the levels of the Colosseum, and also the earlier-mentioned Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and I can highly recommend it.

LEARN MORE: Colosseum Levels & Best Ticket Options

11. Trajan’s Market

Built around 100-110 AD.

Trajan’s Market (Mercati di Traiano) is a 2nd-century Roman market, often described as the oldest shopping mall in the world . It was part of a bigger complex – Trajan’s Forum – that was once the bustling center of the Roman Empire.

This architectural site is not only a fine example of ancient Roman architecture, but it also gives you a unique insight into the everyday life of the Roman people. It’s also a good place to see how the city has changed over the centuries.

The markets were mainly used in the 2-5th centuries. Later, new floor levels were added, a tower was built, and in the 16th century, there was a convent here… At the beginning of the 20th century, some of the recent additions have been demolished again, and an effort was made to restore Trajan’s Market and the surrounding area.

In 2007, the Museum of Imperial Fora  was opened here, and you can now explore this unique site from close by. Walking on the original streets of ancient Rome – Via Biberatica and Via della Torre – is a really special experience. This is one of the places where you can truly feel the antique Rome around you. And despite its very central location, only very few tourists seem to find their way inside…

How to visit: You can see a big part of the Trajan’s Market archeological site from Via dei Fori Imperiali, the main street between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum. However, if you want to learn more about it, walk on the ancient streets, and explore the most impressive parts, be sure to visit the Museum of the Imperial Fora in the Trajan’s Markets.

It’s open daily except for some public holidays. More info on the official website . The entrance here is included with this and several other city passes .

TIP: If you have more time to explore, get a ticket that includes a multimedia video . This video gives you a unique insight into what Trajan’s Markets looked like during the glory days of Imperial Rome.

In addition, as you walk on Via dei Fori Imperiali towards the Colosseum, you can see the ruins of the Forum of Augustus (2 BC) and too many other ancient ruins to even try to mention.

12. Pantheon

The origins go back to 27 BC, but the Pantheon as we know it today was built around 125-127 AD.

Built almost 2,000 years ago and still standing strong, the Pantheon is the best-preserved of all ancient monuments in Rome. In fact, the Pantheon is  the oldest building in the world that is still in use today .

Dating from before Christianity, the Pantheon was originally built as a temple to all gods. However, it was later converted into a church (7th century). This saved the old temple from looters and plundering and helped preserve this unique monument through so many centuries.

The Pantheon has also served as the burial place for many artists and kings. Inside, you can see the tombs of Raphael, King Victor Emanuele II, King Umberto I, Queen Margherita of Savoy (after whom pizza Margherita was named), and several others.

World-known for its impressive oculus , the Pantheon has inspired many generations of architects and engineers, including Michelangelo who designed the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Michelangelo was so impressed by the unknown ancient architect and its genius dome structure that – out of respect – he made sure that his own construction was slightly smaller.

How to visit: The Pantheon is a working church, but it can only be visited for free during mass (and you won’t be able to walk around).

It’s open daily, and if you want to visit it as a tourist, you need to pay for a ticket. While you can ‘just’ queue at the entrance, we recommend getting a timed entry ticket in advance. The queues can be really long, there are multiple lines for cash and credit card payments, and it’s overall quite chaotic. Even with online reservation, you have to pick up an actual ticket at another location first (hopefully, they’ll change this in the future, but be sure to read the instructions!).

You can book the Pantheon tickets on the official website (which many of our readers find confusing), or on GetYourGuide or on Tiqets . GetYourGuide also offers free cancelation up to 24 hours before the visit. All online tickets include an audio guide.

TIP: If you want to learn more about this unique ancient landmark and visit without stress, you can also opt for a  guided tour .

13. Castel Sant’Angelo

Built around 134-139 AD.

Castel Sant’Angelo (Mausoleum of Hadrian) is another ancient Roman landmark that you really can’t miss in Rome.

Once the tallest building in Rome, it might look a bit like a castle indeed, but it’s actually a tomb. This impressive mausoleum was built in the 2nd century for Emperor Hadrian and his family. The ashes of several other emperors were placed here as well, including Emperor Caracalla at the beginning of the 3rd century.

At the beginning of the 5th century, the mausoleum was looted and turned into a military fortress. In the 14th century, the building was turned into a castle and was subsequently used by various popes. A covered fortified corridor was built in order to connect Castel Sant’Angelo to the old St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican.

Nowadays, Castel Sant’Angelo serves as a museum. Inside, you can see some perfectly preserved frescoes from the Renaissance, visit the Chamber of Ashes where the emperors were incarcerated, and see the Papal Residence.

How to visit: You can just see the building from the outside, but you can also visit the inside. It’s located on the main route on your way to the Vatican.

You can get a fast-track ticket and visit on your own or join a guided tour. The entrance to the museum is also included with the Omnia Pass .

TIP: Don’t miss the panoramic views from the rooftop terrace of the museum. It’s one of the best viewpoints in Rome , offering amazing views of the River Tiber, the historic city center, and the Vatican.

14. Catacombs of St. Callixtus

Built between the 2nd and the 5th century AD.

If you are looking for even-more unique sites to see in Rome, consider visiting some of the ancient catacombs (underground burial sites). There are over 60 known catacombs in Rome, with hundreds of kilometers of subterranean tunnels, and hundreds of thousands of graves. Some of these catacombs are open to the public.

Probably the most special and best-known are the Catacombs of St. Callixtus (Catacombe di San Callisto) , located next to the Appian Way mentioned earlier. This ancient site stretches for about 20 km (12 miles), is over 20 meters (65 ft) deep, and contains about half a million graves.

Several Popes were buried at this site and you can visit the  crypt of the Popes . In addition, you can see the crypts of some early Christian martyrs, including the  crypt of St. Cecilia . You can also walk around and explore underground galleries and see hundreds of – now empty – tombs around you.

How to visit: You can only visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus with an official guide (included in your entrance tickets ).

You have to make your own way to the catacombs (by car, by bike, or by public transport) and it’s essential to book a tour in advance or you risk not being able to visit. It’s a popular site.

TIP: There are also many guided tours from the city center that include a visit here, usually together with some other ancient sites. We visited St. Callixtus Catacombs with this e-bike tour that also took us to Via Appia and the Park of the Aqueducts.

15. Baths of Caracalla

Built around 212-216 AD.

Baths of Caracalla   (Terme di Caracalla or Termae Anthoninianae) is one of my personal favorite ancient sites in Rome. This grand 3rd-century complex with remarkable ruins and some very well restored mosaics is absolutely impressive! You feel so tiny here and it makes you realize how advanced the Romans really were in architecture and engineering.

These public baths were built at the beginning of the 3rd century and were the second-largest bathhouse in Rome. In addition to the luxurious bathing houses, the complex also had several saunas, a sports center, and even an Olympic-size swimming pool. The site was surrounded by beautiful gardens and even had a library.

The baths were heated via a sophisticated underground oven system and you can still see the remains of it today. These Roman baths remained in use for about 300 years. Nowadays, it’s a working archeological site that is open to the public.

Visiting here gives you an amazing insight into yet another aspect of daily life in the glory days of the Roman Empire. And because the Baths of Caracalla are somewhat of a hidden gem and not many tourists come here, this is one of the ancient Roman sites with a more authentic feel.

How to visit: The Baths of Caracalla are located a 10-15 minutes walk from the Circo Massimo metro station or about 20 minutes walk from the Colosseum.

You can see some ruins from the outside, but the best parts and the mosaics can only be admired if you actually visit inside.

Normally, you can just get your tickets on the spot. You can find more info on the official website (in Italian).

TIP: The earlier-mentioned guided tour is a great option if you want to visit the Caracalla Baths and Circus Maximus with a local guide.

16. Baths of Diocletian

Built around 298-306 AD.

Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) were the largest and most impressive public baths in Rome. The site is just as grand as the above-mentioned Baths of Caracalla, and it also contained several hot and cold baths, but also open-air bathing pools, etc. It’s also believed to have housed a library.

Built at the turn of the 3rd – 4th centuries, the baths remained in use until the 6th century. Over the centuries, the site has been used for various purposes, with lots of construction in and around it shaping the new city of Rome. In the 16th century, a basilica was built here, and later a monastery was added as well. At a certain point, parts of the old bathhouse were used to store and sell grain and oil.

In the late 19th century, the monastery was abandoned. The Roma Termini railway station was built nearby, just as several hotels, palazzos, etc. In 1889, the remaining site of Diocletian’s Baths and the monastery was designated as a museum, part of the National Roman Museum .

This means that the site is quite well-preserved, many of the areas are covered with a roof, there are beautiful sculptures, mosaics, and other Ancient Rome artifacts. It has much more of a museum feel than the Baths of Caracalla, but is well worth visiting too!

How to visit: The National Roman Museum – Baths of Diocletian section is quite centrally located, just next to the main train station in Rome.

It’s normally open daily except on Mondays, and you can just get a ticket on the spot. For more practical info, please see here .

TIP: The entrance here is also included with the Omnia Card .

Map of the best ancient landmarks in Rome

To help you get a better idea of where all the sites mentioned in this guide are located, we created a map indicating the best ancient Roman landmarks in Rome.

This should help you plan your visit, and maybe you can include a few of these places in your itinerary when exploring the most popular sights and tourist attractions in Rome .

How to use this map:  Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

So, this is our guide to some of the most interesting ancient landmarks to see in Rome. I hope that this gives you a better understanding of when some of the oldest buildings were built, the stories behind the ruins you see, and inspires you to visit at least some of them.

There’s so much history and fascinating ancient sites everywhere you go in Rome, and that’s what makes the Eternal City one of a kind!

For more information and tips for your visit, please also see our itineraries and other guides to Rome via the links below.

Rome travel guides:

• Tips for Planning a Trip to Rome
• How to Get to Rome from the Airport
• How to Plan Your First Trip to Europe
• Must-sees: Best Things to Do in Rome
• Where to stay: Best Area to Stay in Rome
• Where to eat: How to find the best food in Rome
• Hidden Gems of Rome
• Best Views & Viewpoints in Rome
• Rome Underground Sites
• 1 Day in Rome  (all the best places)
• 2 Days in Rome  (the musts + a few hidden gems)
• 4 Days in Rome  (top sights, hidden gems, a few more ancient landmarks)

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Friday 28th of April 2023

Thanks for this great guide, Jurga. It's so interesting to also see the timeline of the oldest places in Rome. I always thought that colosseum is the oldest building in Rome and had no idea about so many other places. I will try to visit Ostia Antica too and already booked the Appian Way bike tour that you recommended.

Thanks for the feedback, Evy, and have a great time in Rome!

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Ancient Rome – Interactive Map

While Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe.

The city’s early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans, and Sabines. Eventually, the city successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

The Roman empire expanded to become one of the largest empires in the ancient world, though still ruled from the city, with an estimated 50 to 90 million inhabitants (roughly 20% of the world’s population) and covering 5.0 million square kilometres at its height in AD 117.Through conquest and assimilation, it eventually dominated the Mediterranean region, Western Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa, and parts of Northern and Eastern Europe.

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Map of Rome - Interactive map of Rome

Information about the map.

Check out the main monuments, museums, squares, churches and attractions in our map of Rome. Click on each icon to see what it is.

To help you find your way once you get to your destination, the map you print out will have numbers on the various icons that correspond to a list with the most interesting tourist attractions. This way, you’ll be able to see where each attraction is.

Icons on the Rome interactive map

The map is very easy to use:

• Check out information about the destination: click on the color indicators.
• Move across the map: shift your mouse across the map.
• Zoom in: double click on the left-hand side of the mouse on the map or move the scroll wheel upwards.
• Zoom out: double click on the right-hand side of the mouse on the map or move the scroll wheel downwards.

You may also be interested in

3-Day Itinerary

Although the city is ideally seen in 4 or more days, sometimes visitors have only a weekend to see Rome. To make the most of your visit and see the top attractions in Rome and the Vatican City, try our 3-day itinerary:

General Information

Although Rome is relatively easy to get around, when planning a trip, doubts and questions always arise. Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions answered.

Brilliant Maps

Making Sense Of The World, One Map At A Time

Travel Time from Ancient Rome

Last Updated: March 3, 2023 Leave a Comment

The map above is an Isochrone map which shows how long it would have taken someone to travel from Rome to the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire at its peak (roughly 200 CE/AD).

Travelling within the core of the Empire could have be done in under a week, but travelling all the way to the fringes would have taken someone more than a month.

Contrast that with Travel Times From London in 2016 vs 1914 . By 1914 you could have reached almost any point on earth within 40 days and by 2016 you could reach almost any point on earth within 2 days.

If you’re curious about the project, here’s a very brief introduction:

ORBIS: The Stanford Geospatial Network Model of the Roman World reconstructs the time cost and financial expense associated with a wide range of different types of travel in antiquity. The model is based on a simplified version of the giant network of cities, roads, rivers and sea lanes that framed movement across the Roman Empire. It broadly reflects conditions around 200 CE but also covers a few sites and roads created in late antiquity. The model consists of 632 sites, most of them urban settlements but also including important promontories and mountain passes, and covers close to 10 million square kilometers (~4 million square miles) of terrestrial and maritime space. 301 sites serve as sea ports. The baseline road network encompasses 84,631 kilometers (52,587 miles) of road or desert tracks, complemented by 28,272 kilometers (17,567 miles) of navigable rivers and canals.

You can learn more about the project and play with an interactive version on the ORBIS homepage .

For other maps of the Roman Empire have a look at:

• An Incredibly Detailed Map of the Roman Empire At Its Height in 211AD
• Roman Empire GDP Per Capita Map
• Roman City of Londinium Around AD 200
• A View Of Roman Carthage, Built on the Site of the Previously Destroyed Punic Capital
• Byzantine Constantinople Before It Was Istanbul
• Byzantine Empire’s Linguistic Divisions Under Justinian I c.560CE

And to learn even more about the Roman world have a look at:

• SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
• Ancient Rome. The Rise And Fall Of An Empire
• Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World

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10 Key Historic Sites to See in Rome

Explore the centre of the ancient world with our guide to the 10 key historic sites in rome, featuring the colosseum to the musei capitolini and beyond..

Peta Stamper

06 mar 2024.

From wonders such as the immense Colosseum to the legendary Palatine Hill, the impressive Pyramid of Cestius and the long history of San Clemente, Rome is brimming with amazing historic places. Other top archaeological sites to see tend to include the famous Ostia Antica and the beating heart of the city: the Roman Forum.

With a legacy that spans over 2,000 years of history, the eternal city has scintillating archaeological attractions around every corner. Whether you’re on a whistle-stop tour of the city or just don’t want to miss the essentials, we’ve put together a guide to the 10 Key Historical Sites in Rome.

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What historical sites should i visit in rome the top 10.

1. The Colosseum

The Colosseum is a site like no other. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, nothing represents the sheer power and magnificence of the Roman Empire like this stunning piece of ancient architecture.

The Colosseum, or ‘Colosseo’ in Italian, was once the largest amphitheatre in the Roman Empire. It was built in the 1st century AD by the Emperor Vespasian as a place for the people of Rome to enjoy. Originally named the Flavian Amphitheatre after Vespasian’s family name, the man who brought the Roman Empire back from the brink would not live to see its completion.

The Colosseum remained the amphitheatre of Rome until the end of the Roman Empire. This was the place where gladiators, lions and those accused of crimes were put to the test, often fighting to the death.

2. Temples of the Forum Boarium

The Temples of the Forum Boarium are two of the best preserved Roman temples to have survived from the Republican era, and together marked an important commercial and religious spot nestled by the Capitoline, Palatine and River Tiber. Comprised of two temples, the Temple of Hercules Victor and the Temple of Portunus, the Temples of the Forum Boarium date back to approximately the 2nd century BC.

Beginning in the late 1990s, the site saw new landscaping and conservation efforts towards both temples, resulting in the site we see today. Backed by tall trees and endless Roman blue skies, the temples are in fantastic condition, providing visitors with a sense of the bustling ancient cattle market dominated by these structures.

3. Pyramid of Cestius

The Pyramid of Cestius is the tomb of affluent magistrate Caius Cestius which was built in the 1st century BC in Rome, Italy. Constructed of white marble and brick, this ostentatious 35-metre high tomb was built in this style due to the popularity of all things Egyptian which swept through Rome after Egypt was incorporated into the Empire.

For those embarking on the Grand Tour during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Pyramid of Cestius was a must-see. Percy Shelley described it as “one keen pyramid with wedge sublime” in a 1821 elegy for the poet John Keats.

Ring-fenced by a guard railing, the Pyramid of Cestius continues to provide a dramatic, awe-inspiring feature to the ancient Roman landscape – a true feat when you consider the monuments it shares the city with.

4. Palatine Hill

The Palatine Hill or Palatino is considered as the birthplace of Rome. One of Rome’s 7 hills, the Palatine Hill is closely linked with the city’s history and today houses some of its most ancient and important sites.

Legend has it that the twins Romulus and Remus were taken to Palatine Hill by the she-wolf who raised them , and here they founded a village which would become Rome .

In a dispute over who was the rightful leader of the new settlement, Romulus eventually killed his brother at the Palatine Hill, thus becoming the namesake of Rome. Indeed, the Palatine Hill is where the earliest huts of Rome were found, supposedly built under the remit of Romulus himself.

5. Ostia Antica

Ostia Antica is an extraordinary Roman site just outside the city centre that contains the ruins of the ancient port town that once served as the gateway to Rome. Tracing its roots back to at least the 4th century BC, Ostia Antica served as Rome’s principle port for hundreds of years: a witness and monument to the rise of the ancient superpower, its dominance and eventual decline.

Today, visitors can view a great many ruins from the ancient town including a well preserved Roman theatre, the Baths of Neptune, remains of the military camp, temples to ancient deities, the forum and even Ostia Synagogue, which is the oldest known synagogue site in Europe.

Yet Ostia Antica is so much more than these notable elements: it contains a huge range of well-preserved typical Roman dwellings, shops, flats and warehouses – even a Roman public toilet. These remains combine to provide visitors with a vivid picture of an ancient Roman town and allows you to get a real feel for day-to-day life in ancient Rome.

6. Roman Forum

The Roman Forum, or Forum Romanum, was the very centre of ancient Rome. Throughout the lifespan of Roman civilisation the Forum served as the focus of political, civic, and religious life.

For over a millennia the Forum’s changing nature reflected the constant shifting in the fortunes of the religious, military, and political natures of the Roman world . The Roman Forum witnessed elections , public speeches, criminal trials, social gatherings, and religious ceremonies among many others.

Today, though much of the grandeur of the Roman Forum has been lost to the ages, it is still a spectacular display of ancient Roman life.

7. Capitoline Museums

Musei Capitolini – the Capitoline Museums – stand on the ancient Capitoline Hill in the centre of ancient and modern Rome , and host a huge wealth of artefacts from the ancient, medieval and renaissance periods.

Comprised of 3 main buildings, namely Palazzo Nuovo , Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Senatorio, the Musei Capitolini are located near the Roman Forum and a short walk from the Colosseum.

Current exhibitions include ‘The legacy of Caesar and the conquest of time’, exploring the marble timekeeping and history of Rome from its origins to the imperial age, and ‘The Torlonia Marbles’ which displays the world’s most prestigious private collection of ancient sculptures.

8. Baths of Diocletian

Once the largest ancient baths complex in the world, the Baths of Diocletian – or Terme di Diocleziano – was built between 298 AD and 306 AD in honour of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Today, they are open to the public as part of the National Roman Museum in Rome, Italy.

One of the key tourist attractions for those wishing to view the baths is the Museo Nazionale Romano – Terme di Diocleziano – which is part of the Rome National Museum (shown on map, above). The museum, which opened in 1889, was built within the Baths of Diocletian and contains several collections from the ancient world. Although the museum contains many interesting exhibits, it gives little insight into the original baths themselves.

9. The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is an iconic 18th century monument in Rome . A stunning depiction of ancient deities and resplendent with frescos of legends and myths, the Trevi Fountain attracts floods of tourists keen to throw their coins into its waters to assure their return to Rome – or so goes the myth.

Located in Rome’s Trevi district abutting the palazzo Poli, the Trevi Fountain was built on the site of an earlier fountain that was demolished in the 17th century. The Trevi Fountain marks the intersection of three major Roman roads – from which it gains the name ‘Trivium’ – and was the terminus of the Acqua Vergine. Revived from the Aqua Virgo of ancient Rome, this ancient aqueduct once served the Baths of Agrippa.

Any trip to Rome is not complete without visiting the 85 foot tall Trevi Fountain to throw a euro over your left shoulder into the fountain’s clear pool.

10. Curia Julia

The Curia Julia in the Roman Forum was the senate house in Ancient Rome, built under Julius Caesar and later restored by Diocletian after being damaged by fire. The Curia stood at the very heart of the ancient city, both physically and politically, and would have borne witness to some of Rome’s most famous events and figures.

Curia Julia is one of many curia – which roughly translates to ‘meeting house’ – which existed during the course of the Ancient Roman civilisation and was the administrative centre of the empire.

Unusually for an Ancient Roman building, the Curia Julia stands intact due to its conversion into the church of Saint Adriano in 623 AD by Pope Honorius I.

23 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Rome

Written by Barbara Radcliffe Rogers Updated Dec 25, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

In a city so filled with icons of antiquity and the Christian faith, it's hard to know where to go first. Of course, your own interests will govern your choices, but there are certain sites that are almost obligatory landmarks of Italy and top attractions in the world , such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

A word of caution: try to vary your experiences as you explore Rome, so that you don't visit too many ancient sites or churches in a row. And intersperse these more serious attractions with a few that are simply tourist icons: the Spanish Steps and that place all tourists must go to toss in their coin, the Trevi Fountain.

Rome is so big that it can overwhelm you, so even the most devoted sightseer needs to take some time to kick back and enjoy la dolce vita in a park or sidewalk café.

You'll be able to choose the best places to visit with this handy list of the top attractions in Rome.

The Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine

Vatican city, the pantheon, roman forum, trevi fountain, vittorio emanuele ii monument, centro storico & the spanish steps, via del corso, rome's shopping street, santa maria maggiore, piazza navona, piazza del popolo & santa maria del popolo, palatine hill, villa borghese gallery and gardens, castel sant'angelo national museum, capitoline museum, baths of caracalla, san giovanni in laterano (basilica of st. john lateran), the catacombs and via appia antica (appian way), palazzo doria pamphilj, basilica of san clemente, domus aurea: nero's golden house, terme di diocleziano (baths of diocletian national museum), where to stay in rome for sightseeing, tips and tours: how to make the most of your visit to rome, rome, italy - climate chart, more things to see and do in rome.

As the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the silhouette of the Flavian Amphitheatre is to Rome. The largest structure left to us by Roman antiquity , the Colosseum still provides the model for sports arenas - present-day football stadium design is clearly based on this oval Roman plan.

The building was begun by Vespasian in AD 72, and after his son Titus enlarged it by adding the fourth story, it was inaugurated in the year AD 80 with a series of splendid games. The Colosseum was large enough for theatrical performances, festivals, circuses, or games, which the Imperial Court and high officials watched from the lowest level, aristocratic Roman families on the second, the populace on the third and fourth.

Beside the Colosseum stands the Arch of Constantine , a triumphal arch erected by the Senate to honor the emperor as "liberator of the city and bringer of peace" after his victory in the battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312.

Lines are long and move slowly, so you can save time by joining the Skip the Line: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Half-Day Walking Tour and have a knowledgeable guide, as well.

Author's Tip: For an unforgettable experience, especially in the heat of mid-summer, visit the Colosseum on a special night tour. Not only is it cooler then, but the monument is magical with its interior bathed in golden light.

• Read More: Visiting the Colosseum: Highlights, Tips & Tours

The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world , with an area of less than half a square kilometer, most of it enclosed by the Vatican walls.

Inside are the Vatican palace and gardens, St. Peter's Basilica , and St. Peter's Square , an area ruled by the Pope, supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. This compact space offers a lot of things to see, between its museums and the great basilica itself.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica is Michelangelo's masterpiece, Pieta , along with statuary and altars by Bernini and others.

The unquestioned highlight of the Vatican museums is the Sistine Chapel , whose magnificent frescoed ceiling is Michelangelo's most famous work.

In the Vatican Palace are the Raphael Rooms ; the Borgia Apartments ; the Vatican Library , and a number of museums that include the Picture Gallery, Museum of Secular Art, Etruscan Museum, and others. The collections you can see in these cover everything from papal coaches to 20th-century art reflecting religious themes.

Ticket lines for the Vatican's attractions are incredibly long, and you can spend several hours waiting in line. To save time, purchase a Skip the Line: Vatican Museums with St. Peter's, Sistine Chapel, and Small-Group Upgrade tour in advance. This three-hour tour allows you to bypass the long lines and walk straight into the museums with a knowledgeable guide. Headsets are provided, and you can choose from several different departure times or upgrade to an evening or small-group tour.

The Pantheon - the best-preserved monument of Roman antiquity - is remarkably intact for its 2000 years. This is despite the fact that Pope Gregory III removed the gilded bronze roof tiles, and Pope Urban VIII ordered its bronze roof stripped and melted down to cast the canopy over the altar in St. Peter's and cannons for Castel Sant'Angelo.

The Pantheon was rebuilt after damage by fire in AD 80, and the resulting brickwork shows the extraordinarily high technical mastery of Roman builders. Its 43-meter dome, the supreme achievement of Roman interior architecture , hangs suspended without visible supports – these are well hidden inside the walls – and its nine-meter central opening is the building's only light source.

The harmonious effect of the interior is a result of its proportions: the height is the same as the diameter.

Although the first Christian emperors forbade using this pagan temple for worship, in 609 Pope Boniface IV dedicated it to the Virgin and all the Christian martyrs, and since then, it has become the burial place of Italian kings (Victor Emmanuel II is in the second niche on the right) and other famous Italians, including the painter, Raphael.

Author's Tip: If you visit the Pantheon on a rainy day, be careful of the floor in the center. There is no umbrella over the hole in the roof, and the floor can get very slippery when wet.

• Read More: Visiting the Pantheon in Rome: Highlights, Tips & Tours

Walking through the forum, now in the middle of a throbbing modern city, is like stepping back two millennia into the heart of ancient Rome. Although what survives of this center of Roman life and government shows only a small fraction of its original splendor, the standing and fallen columns, its triumphal arches, and the remains of its walls still impress, especially when you consider that for centuries, the history of the Forum was the history of the Roman Empire and of the Western world.

Roman political and religious life was centered here, along with the courts, markets, and meeting places. After the seventh century, the buildings fell into ruin, and churches and fortresses were built amid the ancient remains. Its stones were quarried for other buildings and it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that systematic excavations brought the ancient buildings to light from under a 10-meter layer of earth and rubble.

Highlights of the Roman Forum are the Temple of Antoninus Pius, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimus Severus, the Curia, the Temple of Vesta, and the Arch of Titus.

Tip for Parents: If you're traveling in Rome with children, unless they are fascinated by the Romans, the Forum might be a place best seen from above, instead of by walking through its five acres of largely ruined buildings. It is one of Rome's most popular and important tourist attractions, but it's a lot for kids to take in and it doesn't have the lure of the Colosseum's tales of lions and gladiators.

One of the city's most popular tourist attractions, this 17th-century masterpiece has been immortalized in films until it is almost a required visit. Throwing a coin (not three) into the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) is a tradition that is supposed to assure your return to Rome.

Rome's largest fountain, Fontana di Trevi is supplied by an aqueduct originally constructed by Agrippa, the great art patron of the first century BC, to bring water to his baths. The fountain was created for Pope Clement XII between 1732 and 1751 by Nicolò Salvi, and built against the rear wall of the palace of the Dukes of Poli.

It depicts the sea god Oceanus (Neptune), with horses, tritons, and shells. The water swirls around the figures and the artificial rocks and collects in a large basin, always filled with coins.

What happens to all that money? Twice a year it is gathered using long-handled brushes, and donated to Caritas, Rome's Catholic charity.

It's ironic that this grandiose monument, considered one of the national symbols of Italy, is rarely admired by Romans, who liken it to a wedding cake or a giant typewriter. Like it or not, the vast neo-classical structure crowns Capitoline Hill, the symbolic center of ancient Rome, overlooking the later city across Piazza Venezia.

Built between 1885 and 1935, it is a monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of the unified Italy, represented here in an equestrian statue. Italy's tomb of the unknown soldier is here, along with a museum of the Italian unification. A lift will take you to the topmost terrace for 360-degree views of Rome.

Address: Piazza Venezia, Rome

Take a look at a Rome tourist map, and you'll see one area so filled with things to do that it's hard to read the street names. This is the Centro Storico, the historic center of Rome , with so many art-filled churches, resplendent palaces, and lively squares that you could spend your whole vacation strolling its ancient streets and lanes.

Spend some time just to absorb the neighborhood's atmosphere instead of going from one of its must-see sights to the next. Along with Piazza Navona , the Trevi Fountain , and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore , stop in less well-known churches, such as Santa Maria del Popolo, where you'll find works by Bernini and Caravaggio.

Pause at the Spanish Steps, the flight of irregular stairs and landings that lead up to the French church of Trinità dei Monti. The stairs take their name from Piazza di Spagna , the plaza at their base and one of Rome's most typical squares. The stairs have long been a favorite haunt of tourists.

You can no longer channel your inner Audrey Hepburn and eat gelato on the steps as she did in Roman Holiday . Sitting or eating on the steps is banned to protect them after a complete cleaning and restoration, and the ban is enforced.

The boat-shaped fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps is known as the Barcaccia and was created by Pietro Bernini, father of the great Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Via Condotti , leading southwest from Piazza di Spagna, is Rome's most fashionable shopping street , where the Caffè Greco is famous for the artists, writers, and musicians who have frequented it.

Address: Piazza di Spagna, Rome

Marking a straight line from Piazza the Piazza Venezia to Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso is Rome's Main Street . Lined with shops and places to eat, and a few palaces housing art museums, including the magnificent Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. Work is underway to restore and re-design the century-old landmark Alberto Sordi Gallery, which will reopen as Agorà, with fewer shops and more public space for arts and entertainment.

While the shops are mostly name brands, you'll find some designer boutiques here and on the radiating side streets. Not all of Italy's fashion comes from Milan's catwalks, and fashionistas will find more high-end boutiques and prestigious names on streets around Piazza di Spagna, especially Via Venizia and Via dei Condotti .

Between Piazza del Popolo, at the end of Via del Corso, and Piazza di Spagna, look for antique shops and art galleries on Via del Babuino . To mix charm and cinema history with shopping, and find small shops and galleries on the parallel Via Margutta .

Note to Movie Fans: Federico Fellini lived on Via Margutta and Gregory Peck's apartment scenes in Roman Holiday were filmed at No. 51.

One of the most majestic of the churches in Rome , Santa Maria Maggiore has stood here since the fourth-century Pope Liberius had a vision of the Virgin directing him to build a church where snow fell the following day. Although it was August, snow did fall on the Esquiline hill the next morning, so here the great basilica was built.

Mass has been celebrated here every day since the fifth century. The three aisles of its 86-meter-long interior are separated by 40 columns of marble and four of granite, and the apse added in the 13th century is lined with mosaics of Old and New Testament themes, masterpieces of Rome's famous mosaic artists.

Rome's oldest mosaics, as old as the fourth century, decorate the upper walls, and the floor is inlaid with colored stone in the style of the expert 12th-century artisans of the Lake Como region. The first gold to reach Italy from the Americas shines on the coffered ceiling. Two popes are buried here; it's one of Rome's four papal basilicas, an important place of pilgrimage.

Author's Tip: Although admission to Rome's churches is free, you may need to put a euro in the meter to illuminate some artworks or chapels. Keep some coins handy for a better look at the mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore. It is also a nice gesture to put a few coins in the offering boxes to help the churches maintain their priceless treasures.

Address: Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

One of Rome's most characteristic Baroque squares, Piazza Navona still has the outline of the Roman stadium built here by Emperor Domitian. It was still used for festivals and horse races during the Middle Ages, and was rebuilt in the Baroque style by Borromini, who also designed the magnificent series of palaces and the church of Sant'Agnese, on its west side.

Its facade, campanile, and dome highlight the way Baroque architecture weaves convex and concave surfaces, gables, windows, columns, and piers into a unified design. In the crypt of Sant'Agnese are Alessandro Algardi's 1653 The Miracle of St. Agnes and the remains of a Roman mosaic floor. Sant'Agnese provided a model for Baroque and Rococo churches in Italy and elsewhere.

Although Borromini designed the square and its surrounding facades, it was his archrival, Bernini, who created its centerpiece, the beautiful Baroque fountain, Fontana dei Fiumi . The spirited fountain represents the four rivers then thought to be the largest on each of the known continents, with figures personifying the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata around the large basin, each accompanied by plants and animals of their respective regions.

The two other fountains in the square are the 16th-century Fontana del Moro in front of the Palazzo Pamphili, erected by Giacomo della Porta, and the 19th-century Fontana del Nettuno with its figure of Neptune. Today, the square is filled with Romans, tourists, street artists, musicians, souvenir kiosks, cafés, and during December, one of Rome's best Christmas markets.

Nearby, between the Piazza and the Pantheon, the church of San Luigi dei Francesi contains three major paintings by Caravaggio from the late 16th century, including one of his most famous, The Calling of St. Matthew. No information about the paintings is available in the church, but you can download an audio guide in English on the San Luigi dei Francesi website. The church itself is worth seeing for its elaborate ceiling and inlaid marble floors. Like others in Rome, the church is free to enter

Symmetrically situated at the apex of a triangle of streets that include Via Corso, Rome's main shopping street, Piazza del Popolo was designed in the early 19 th century as the northern entrance to the city center. At its center, the Egyptian obelisk, called Flaminio, rises above a fountain, where four white marble lions spout fans of water into four round travertine pools.

Facing one side like mirror images at either side of Via della Corso are the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, and at the opposite side of the grand piazza is the Augustinian Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.

Inside, you'll find Pinturicchio frescoes and two tombs by Andrea Sansovino in the choir, and two beautiful chapels. The Chigi Chapel was designed by Raphael in 1515, and the Cesari Chapel holds two important Caravaggio paintings.

Next to the basilica, climb the steps to the Pincio Terrace for views down onto the piazza and across the city of Rome.

Strategically set 50 meters above the Tiber, the Palatine Hill shows evidence of Rome's earliest settlement: rock cuttings found in front of the Temple of Cybele show human activity as long ago as the ninth century BC. Later, this was the site chosen by the emperors and great aristocratic families for their palaces.

The Farnese Gardens were laid out on the hill in the 16th century for Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, a pleasure park of terraces, pavilions, lawns, flowerbeds, trees, and fountains designed as a kind of stage-setting for social gatherings.

Highlights of the Palatine Hill are the House of Livia (Augustus' wife), the semi-subterranean Cryptoporticus , Domus Flavia , Domus Augustana, and most imposing of all, the Baths of Septimius Severus. The Palatine Hill is a lovely place to explore, combining a park with magnificent and impressive ruins of ancient Rome.

One of Rome's largest parks, the Borghese Gardens contain multiple attractions that include two museums, the most prominent of which is the Villa Borghese. Built as a party villa and to house the Borghese art collection, the gallery contains paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and reliefs, most from the 15th to the 18th century, and include works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bernini, Dürer, and Rubens .

Elsewhere in the park, Villa Giulia was built as a summer residence for the 16th-century Pope Julius III and houses the Etruscan Museum . More villas are from the world exposition that was held in Rome in 1911.

The park is an English-style landscape garden, with walking paths and ponds where you can rent row boats. You can also rent bikes or a surrey to explore the park. There is a good zoo, Bioparco di Roma , with naturalized enclosures and a miniature trail connecting its various sections. A number of its attractions will appeal to children, including playgrounds, weekend pony rides, and occasional puppet shows.

Many of its attractions will appeal to children , including playgrounds, weekend pony rides, and occasional puppet shows, making it one of the most popular things to do in Rome for families .

One of the secrets of the Borghese Gardens is the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, where you can watch opera performances or Shakespeare plays. Plays are always in Italian, but an occasional opera is in English. You can rent a cushion and sit on the floor or you can sit in the balconies that ring the interior.

Address: Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 5

Begun in AD 135 as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian and his family, Castel Sant'Angelo is a massive drum-shaped structure overlooking the Tiber near the Vatican. Over the millennia of its existence, Castel Sant'Angelo has been used as a papal residence and a fortress, and more recently as a National Museum.

In AD 271, Emperor Aurelian took advantage of its position guarding the northern approaches to the city and incorporated it into his new system of walls surrounding the city. As a bastion, it protected the city from barbarian attacks, and by the Middle Ages had become a substantial fortress. In times of peril, popes fled here across a secret elevated corridor, the Passetto di Borgo , and stored their most precious riches in the castle's treasury.

Visitors reach the castle across a pedestrian bridge lined with statues of angels (by Bernini), and ascend to its five floors on a spiral ramp. At its various levels are prison cells, a large collection of weapons, and splendidly decorated papal apartments covered in Renaissance frescoes. At the top is a terrace with stunning views of the city.

Address: Lungotevere Castello 50, Rome

Across the Tiber River and off the most popular tourist routes, Trastevere feels like an earlier Rome, with its medieval lanes and narrow alleys . You'll find bits of Roman stonework in its old buildings, and occasional inscriptions that remind you that this was for three centuries the Jewish Ghetto, its gates closed and guarded at night.

Today it is a charming neighborhood with two outstanding churches that are rarely on tourist itineraries. In the third century, before Rome's Jewish population gravitated to this side of the river, Santa Maria in Trastevere was one of the first places where Christians could worship except in secret.

Renovated several times, the last in the Baroque period, the church interior is decorated with patterned marble floors, a gold-washed coffered ceiling, and exceptional medieval mosaics. Also with good mosaics, and a fine 13 th -century fresco, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere hides the foundations of a Roman home.

Author's Tip: It's no secret that Trastevere is a good place to find restaurants serving authentic Roman dishes, but you'll find them less crowded than those in the popular tourist areas.

Two palaces on Piazza del Campidoglio house Europe's oldest public collection of art, founded in 1471. Primarily devoted to sculptures from across the ancient world, the highlights of the Capitoline Museum treasures include the realistic Hellenistic bronze Boy with a Thorn ; Capitoline Venus , from a 4 th -century BC original by Praxiteles; a 4.24-meter-tall Roman equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius; a Roman sculpture of the Dying Gaul ; and the Capitoline She-Wolf , an Etruscan work from the 6th century BC.

More "modern" sculptures include a head of Medusa, by the 17 th -century Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Although the Capitoline Museum is best known for its outstanding collection of classical sculptures, its Capitoline Picture Gallery exhibits paintings by Titian, Veronese, and Rubens, along with Caravaggio's compelling John the Baptist.

Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome

Completed by Caracalla in 216, these were much more than public baths. They were a complete sports center, with hot and cold baths, a swimming pool, dry and steam saunas, gymnastics and sports facilities, social rooms, gardens, libraries, hairdressers, and shops.

The massive and imposing structure covered an area of 300 square meters, a complex of gigantic halls whose domes and vaulting were supported by huge columns and piers. It could accommodate 1,500 people at a time. The floors and walls were covered with marble, mosaics, and frescoes; even in ruin, their splendor is still evident.

Address: Via delle Terme di Caracalla 52, Rome

As you might expect for the episcopal church of the Pope, St. John Lateran is one of Rome's most impressive churches. After centuries of alterations, it still retains its original form from the age of Constantine, when it was built.

Its façade, by contrast, is a purely Baroque embellishment and a fine example of that period. Along with the mosaics in the apse, be sure to notice the beautiful 16th-century wooden ceiling. If the octagonal baptistery, San Giovanni in Fonte , looks a bit familiar, it's because it provided the model for later ones throughout Europe.

Built by Constantine, it is the world's oldest Christian baptistery. Across the piazza, in the church of the Scala Santa, is the Holy Staircase, 28 steps believed to have been brought to Rome in the fourth century by St. Helen, from Pilate's palace in Jerusalem.

The Catacombs of San Callisto (St. Calixtus) and San Sebastiano , both underground burial places in the Via Appia Antica, are extensive — the San Callista Catacomb fills an area of 300 by 400 meters — with intricate multi-layered networks of passages and chambers carved into the soft tufa. In addition to the tombs, St. Calixtus has six sacramental chapels, constructed between 290 and 310, with both pagan and early Christian wall paintings.

In the Papal Crypt are the tombs of most of the martyred Popes of the third century identified by Greek inscriptions. San Sebastiano, one of Rome's seven pilgrimage churches, was built in the fourth century on the site of old cemeteries and catacombs that, along with the foundations of a Constantinian basilica, can be explored.

Tomb chambers are on several levels with fine paintings, stucco decorations, and inscriptions dating to the first century AD. Although venerated remains are thought to have been brought here for safekeeping during persecutions, these were cemeteries, not hiding places for Christians.

A little west of the Via Appia Antica, not far from the catacombs of San Callisto, the Catacombs of Domitilla are the largest and among the most impressive in Rome, with 15 kilometers of underground chambers and passages and a complete subterranean basilica.

Dedicated to the martyred saints entombed there, Nereus and Achilleus, the basilica was a major pilgrimage destination until the Middle Ages. More than 80 painted tombs and a second-century fresco of The Last Supper survive in its galleries.

Outside the Porta San Sebastiano, the Arch of Drusus is near the beginning of the Via Appia Antica, one of the oldest and most important of the Roman highways, built around 300 BC and extended to the port of Brindisi about 190 BC.

Running parallel with the road are the ruins of some of the aqueducts that supplied the city with water, and among the cypresses along its sides are remains of tombs belonging to aristocratic Roman families. The most prominent of these is the first-century tomb of Caecilia Metella and her husband.

Address: Via Appia Antica, Rome

Rome's finest private collection of art is displayed in the magnificent Baroque galleries, state rooms, and chapel of the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. Representing works by European masters from the 15 th through the 18 th centuries, the collections include paintings by Filippo Lippi, Brueghel the Elder, Correggio, and Raphael, along with major works by Caravaggio ( Rest in the Flight into Egypt) and Titian ( Salome with the Head of John the Baptist).

Velázquez's Portrait of Innocent X is one of the collection's highlights. Another image of the same Pope is a sculpture by Bernini. The palace itself almost outshines its contents, with frescoed ceilings and Baroque decoration; a good audio guide in English enlivens the tour. The gardens are beautiful, with an intricately patterned parterre with labyrinth elements.

Address: Via del Corso 305, Rome

One of Rome's oldest churches and with the city's most beautifully decorated apse, covered in mosaics of Old and New Testament scenes, San Clemente has a further fascination: the multiple layers of its history as each era built upon the last.

You can descend from the 12 th -century church into a previous church, a 4 th -century basilica with Romanesque frescoes of New Testament scenes. Below that are the excavated foundations of a Roman home from the 2 nd century AD, with a shrine to the sun god Mithra, with a carved relief on the altar. From the foundations of the house, you can walk on the ancient streets of this former Roman neighborhood.

But do take time to look around the upper church, to see the mosaics, the inlaid marble floors, and the early Renaissance frescoes by Masolino in the St. Catherine's Chapel.

Address: Via San Giovanni in Laterano 108, Rome

In July of 64 CE, a six-day fire destroyed almost three-fourths of the city. The cruel and unpopular emperor Nero took advantage of the cleared land to build a palace of unheard-of proportions, the Domus Aurea, or Golden House. Rooms were lined in rare marble and elaborately decorated in gold and precious stones.

The palace was never finished, and Nero's successors, attempting to erase all memory of the hated ruler and his reign, buried it, and Rome grew over it. Excavations continue to disclose more of its splendors, and you can tour the active archaeological site to see the halls and rooms that have been uncovered, some with excellent frescoes.

With the help of a video outlining the history and virtual reality technology that recreates the atrium and one hall , you can get a sense of what the palace looked like in Nero's time. Both are included in tours.

Tip: Even on the hottest days, bring something with long sleeves, as the underground excavations site is quite cold year-round.

Historical Note: Did Nero really fiddle while Rome burned? Although he took advantage of the destroyed city to build his extravagant villa, and there was disgruntled mumbling at the time that he had ordered the fire set to clear the land, no historical evidence or contemporary account mentions his playing any musical instrument.

Address: Via della Domus Aurea, Rome

Diocletian's baths were so enormous that today, they contain two churches, large parts of a Carthusian monastery and a major museum. Michelangelo used the vast tepidarium (hot baths) as the shell for his church of Santa Maria degli Angeli , and the Museo Nazionale Romano , Rome's National Museum, fills another section with treasures of antiquity: Greek and Roman sculpture, pre-Christian and later sarcophagi, and beautiful mosaics and frescoes.

The late-16th-century church of San Bernardo alle Terme was built in a rotunda at the corner of the baths; its dome is like that of the Pantheon, but only half its size.

While Rome's main tourist attractions don't exactly cluster, most of the major ones are within a 20- to 30-minute walk of each other, so several areas are convenient for sightseeing. The Monti neighborhood is perhaps the most central to the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and even the Spanish Steps and Borghese Gardens. Here are some highly rated hotels in Rome's best locations for sightseeing:

Luxury Hotels :

• Palazzo Manfredi - Relais & Chateaux is next to the Colosseum, and you can overlook it while enjoying breakfast in the rooftop restaurant.
• Boutique Hotel Campo de Fiori has a rooftop garden overlooking the colorful daily market in one of Rome's most traditional neighborhoods, near the Pantheon and an easy walk from Palatine Hill and the Vatican.
• Two blocks from the Colosseum, Hotel Capo d'Africa is in a neighborhood filled with small restaurants.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• The four-star Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo is an easy walk from the Colosseum, which you can see from the hotel's rooftop swimming pool and from some of the guest rooms.
• In Monti, close to both the Colosseum and Forum, Hotel Fori Imperiali Cavalieri is surrounded by restaurants and shopping.
• Opposite the Opera House in Monti, iQ Hotel Roma has a covered rooftop terrace and modern décor.

Budget Hotels:

• Amid restaurants and shops in Monti, between the Forum and opera house, Hotel Artorius is not adjacent to any major attractions, but lies within a 20- to 30-minute walk from the Forum, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Vittoriano, and museums.
• Also in the lively Monte neighborhood, and an easy walk from the Colosseum and other attractions of ancient Rome, Hotel Grifo offers a rooftop terrace and free breakfast.
• On the west bank of the Tiber, south of Vatican City, Trastevere is one of the city's most colorful neighborhoods. Although Trastevere has several small B&Bs, Cassiodoro is one of its few hotels, surrounded by traditional restaurants and shops.
• Sightseeing Tour by Bus : For maximum flexibility while you're seeing all the top attractions, sign up for the Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour on an open-air double-decker bus. Accompanied by audio commentary, this convenient ticket covers all the top sights, with eight different stops, and you can hop on and off at your favorite attractions. You can choose a tour that's valid for either 24 or 48 hours and upgrade to packages that include time-saving skip-the-line admission to attractions like Palatine Hill, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum.
• Segway Tour: Another way to see the top sights without worrying about navigating your way around the city is on the Rome Segway Tour . Included in this three-hour excursion are a brief orientation session, helmets, wet weather jackets (if needed), and audio commentary. Meet your guide near Piazza Venezia and see the sights of Ancient Rome, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Circus Maximus, learning all about them as you zoom around the city.
• Gladiator Experience : If you've always wondered what it's like to brandish a sword like Spartacus, consider signing up for the Roman Gladiator School: Learn How to Become a Gladiator experience on the Appian Way, near the Colosseum. This two-hour private lesson is suitable for anyone aged six years and older and includes entrance to the Gladiator School of Rome Museum as well as clothing and weapon hire.
• Tivoli Day Trip : Organized tours are a great way to explore the attractions in the beautiful countryside around Rome. You can relax and let a professional guide do the work without the hassle of driving, finding your way, and parking. On the Tivoli Day Trips from Rome: Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa tour, you can explore two World Heritage-listed historic villas, built as vacation homes for the Roman elite, as well as their gorgeous gardens. The tour includes transportation in a comfortable coach, villa admission, and headsets so you can easily hear the guide.
• Pompeii Day Trip : Another popular excursion is the Pompeii Day Trip from Rome . On this full-day tour, you can hike to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius (in summer) or visit the National Archeological Museum of Pompeii (November 16 through March 31), as well as see the sights of Pompeii. Entrance fees and lunch are included.

Where to Go near Rome: When you have seen Rome's ancient sites, you'll want to explore some of the city's surroundings. The town of Tivoli lies 30 kilometers east of Rome, with Hadrian's Villa and one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy .

Places to Visit from Rome: In just over an hour by train, you can step into the exuberant street life of the vibrant city of Naples . From here, you are only a short ferry ride from the idyllic island of Capri , across the Bay of Naples. Or take a train the short distance to the ancient city of Pompeii , under the still smoldering cone of Mt. Vesuvius.

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Self-Guided Rome Walking Tours

In this post, we provide you with free, self-guided central Rome walking tours with a printable sightseeing map as well as an audio tour option for smartphones.

You can use these to discover the city at your own pace (or) as a preview for what you will see on a live-guided tour.

Check out our free walking tours of Rome .

We have 4 other self-guided tours that we hope you will consider.

• Vatican City + St. Peter's Basilica
• Jewish Ghetto

SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF ROME'S CENTRE

This self-guided tour will lead you through some of Rome’s main attractions, from the Spanish Steps through Trevi Fountain to Campo de’ Fiori.

All in all, there are lots of sights along the way covering more than two thousand years of history.

Here are a few of the sites you can expect to see on this tour:

• Piazza Navona
• The Pantheon
• Trevi Fountain
• Spanish Steps
• Venice Square
• Campo de’ Fiori

We also have our own audio tour where you can find a more in-depth GPS-led audio tour version. Here's a sample.

Purchase an audio tour here .

There are also daily guided free tours both day and night that operate on the pay-what-you-like model. 

Tours listed below are run through us. More guided tours are available here .

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This 15-stop, self-guided tour will lead you through some of Rome’s main attractions, from the Spanish Steps through Trevi Fountain to Campo de’ Fiori, with lots of sights along the way covering more than two thousand years of history.

It’s best to set aside 2-3 hours for walking this route.

You’ll be seeing plenty of both tourists and Romans as you walk, and both groups make good people-watching, not to mention plenty of chances for photos, coffee, gelato, and historical color.

Click on the map to enlarge or download it to a smartphone.

If you haven’t done much walking in the older parts of Rome yet, the ancient layout of these streets can be confusing.

Streets are winding, pedestrians and cars often share space, and you’ll regularly find your way into piazzas, the large open squares Rome is organized around.

You can get this tour with directions in 3 ways:

• Download this tour to the Google Maps App ( link ).
• Download a PDF version .
• Purchase an Audio Tour .

We will be orienting you relative to buildings and with the help of street names, which you’ll see on signs up above eye level.

As far as timing, this tour can be enjoyed any time the sun is up, and some of the piazzas are lively even after dark.

Crowds can be a limiting factor throughout this walk; if you want to start things off on a quiet note, the Spanish Steps, one of our first stops, tend to be at their quietest early in the morning, briefly during lunch, and around sunset.

The tour begins at the Spagna metro station.

As you emerge from the western side of the building, you can look to your right and get a full view of the Villa Medici, not far down the street.

1. VILLA MEDICI

The Villa Medici, along with the Villa Borghese (which houses the Galleria Borghese) beyond it, stands on the site of the Gardens of Lucullus, created more than two thousand years ago, back when Romans saw gardening as a strange new hobby imported from Persia.

But the house you see today is built in 1576 after the land had been a quiet vineyard for centuries.

Villa Medici Rear

Houses like the Villa Medici were designed with ancient styles in mind, and inside, they often displayed the ancient relics found in the earth dug up to lay foundations.

The Medicis and Borgheses were some of Italy’s most powerful families during the Renaissance and beyond.

The Medici clan included bankers, nobility, and popes. But they’re remembered mostly for their support for the arts and sciences.

The Villa Medici offers guided tours daily, lasting about 90 minutes and available in different languages at different times.

It’s open every day but Monday and standard admission is 12 Euros.

Villa Borghese is home to the third-largest public park in Rome; admission is free and it’s accessible from dawn to dusk daily.

There are several things to see and do here in the park.

Most notably, it’s home to the Galleria Borghese , where you can see plenty of art and artifacts from both the Classical and Renaissance eras, plus several other museums and galleries.

The Villa Giulia contains a museum to the Etruscans, a rival culture of the early Romans.

In addition to the museums, there’s a zoo and a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater on the grounds.

2. SPANISH STEPS

For many foreigners, the Spanish Steps are visual shorthand for Rome; they’re used in lots of movies and TV shows, starting with Roman Holiday back in 1953.

This was a natural hillside as recently as 1723. Before the steps were built, this was the slope of Pincio Hill, one of many hills around Rome.

The 138 steps were built in the 18th century and got their name due to the adjacent Spanish Embassy.

Unfortunately as of 2019, you can no longer sit on the Spanish Steps. Violators can receive a fine as high as €400.

Eating on the steps is also banned.

At the bottom of the steps sits the Piazza di Spagna and the Fontana della Barcaccia , which means “Fountain of the Long Boat.”

The legend goes that the design of the fountain comes from a boat washed into this piazza by a flood of the Tiber River.

This is the first of many fountains that we’ll see, and it was designed by Pietro Bernini in the 17 th century, before the steps.

Pietro Bernini is the father of famous architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, whose work we’ll also see plenty of.

When you get to the bottom, look up the stairs for a view of that French church at the top, called Trinita dei Monti.

If you look to the right side of the steps from the bottom, you’ll see a peach-colored building, the Keats-Shelley Museum. English poet John Keats arrived to live here in 1820.

If a café stop is in order before you go any further, the Antico Caffe Greco near the bottom of the stairs was one of his hangouts.

When you’re done here, walk away from the steps and past the fountain. Turn left and you’ll see the piazza narrowing toward a freestanding column, the Column of the Immaculate Conception.

3. COLUMN OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AND PIAZZA MIGNANELLI

The Column of the Immaculate Conception is the centerpiece of the small Piazza Mignanelli that opens from the corner of the Piazza di Spagna.

The statue on top of the column is a bronze Virgin Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus, occupies a central place in Catholic belief.

And this statue of her was built in 1857 to commemorate the Pope’s recent declaration of the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception: the idea that Mary, uniquely among human beings, was born without original sin.

Original sin is visible in the monument in the form of the snake Mary is stepping on.

Below her are the authors of the four Biblical gospels, and still further down are four prophets said to have foretold her birth, with reliefs depicting four phases of her story below them.

Depending on when you’re here, there’s a small chance you’ll see a wreath of flowers on the statue.

December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception; each year on that day, the Pope visits this spot along with the head of the fire department, which originally erected the column, and they leave the wreath behind.

The building beyond the column is the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide – the Palace of the Propagation of the Faith.

This is a Vatican property – you can tell from the yellow flag on the front – and for a long time, it was the home of a church division responsible for missionary work and evangelism.

4. AQUEDUCT RUINS

Looking down at this spot, you can see something that an ancient Roman would have had to look up at.

The aqueducts – imperial Rome’s famous system for bringing clean water into the city – relied on gravity to work.

So, water was sometimes flowing over the heads of the people who were going to consume it, with roads passing under the arches you can see the top of from here.

Being by a river, Rome has flooded many times through the millennia, piling sediment each time, hiding but also preserving the ancient city.

The fence here limits the view, but above the arch, you can maybe see an inscription with the word “Germanicus” just readable at the near end.

This is one of the names of the emperor Claudius, who the inscription credits with rebuilding this stretch of the Aqua Virgo, the system of aqueducts built to bring water to the newly urbanizing Campus Martius after it was incorporated into the city.

To achieve this, Roman engineers had to build a system of gentle slopes across long distances of irregular terrain, including crossing rivers, bringing convenience, comfort, and health within reach of Rome’s residents.

This knowledge was lost with the fall of Rome; with the Renaissance, writings about the aqueducts were rediscovered.

Across Via del Nazareno from these ruins is a tiny door, used to enter the rebuilt Acqua Vergine, the Renaissance replacement for the ancient system.

And in a moment, you’ll see another piece of that system: a fountain meant to put this reborn marvel of engineering on display.

5. TREVI FOUNTAIN

There’s likely to be a crowd around when you reach the Trevi Fountain, and even in the absence of people, the water can make it a loud spot. Find a view of the fountain from the front.

The main statue in the fountain depicts the god Oceanus. Below him, you can see his retinue of tritons, men mixed with fish.

The one on the right is blowing a shell to announce their arrival. And the wild creature each of them is struggling with is called a hippocampus, a horse mixed with a fish.

In this case, they also have wings. Greco-Roman mythology tells that horses were the creation of the god of the ocean.

The fountain is the end of the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, the recreation of the ancient Aqua Virgo aqueduct. And the design of the fountain tells that story.

Above the statues, on either side, you can see reliefs – the one on the left is a man with a scroll, showing plans for the aqueducts, and on the right, a woman points out a flow of freshwater to a group of men.

She’s the Virgo, the young woman, in Aqua Virgo – the legend is that when Roman surveyors looked for a source of water, a young woman led them to a spring, and the resulting aqueduct was named for her.

The statue on the left of Oceanus represents Abundance – she has a cornucopia full of fruit, and on the ground beside her is an urn spilling water.

On the right is Health, who’s holding a bowl with a snake drinking from it – snakes were ancient symbols of medicine.

Overall, the story is of the power of Rome to tame the forces of nature and bring them to the benefit of the city’s people.

As you see it, the fountain dates from 1762, and it started as a showpiece for the Renaissance project of rebuilding the aqueducts.

But it was such a massive endeavor that it took more than a century, plus many financiers and designers, to make it happen.

And it takes steady renovations to keep it looking sharp – as of the latest one in 2015, the fountain is lit at night.

Like the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain owes some of its fame to a film – in this case, La Dolce Vita by Federico Fellini (see the video above).

If you’ve seen the movie, you won’t be surprised to hear that dancing in the fountain, or entering it in any way, is illegal.

And as for drinking: yes, these fountains were once the source for public drinking water, but for your own sake, wait for one of Rome’s other great works of water infrastructure, the nasoni – little drinking fountains located all over town.

Trevi Fountain is home to lots and lots of coins - visitors observe a tradition of throwing change into the fountain, hoping for good luck and the promise of a return to Rome.

Usually, coins are thrown backward over your shoulder, so make sure the coast is clear before you participate in this tradition, and watch out for other coin-tossers nearby.

And the money, totaling more than three thousand Euros per day, goes to Caritas Roma, a Catholic charity supporting the poor and homeless.

6. GALLERIA ALBERTO SORDI

All that’s columned is not ancient, as evidenced by this shopping mall, which opened in 1922 and was built in a style of Art Nouveau that borrows from multiple phases of Rome’s historic architecture.

That design continues into the inside, where you can find a stained glass ceiling above stores selling plenty of Rome’s signature high-end fashion.

It’s an easy place to step inside if you need to cool off or to use the restrooms. 

You can also find several places serving the classic cappuccino and cornetto - Italian croissants, which locals eat in the morning, and tourists are allowed any time of day.

The mall got its current name in 2003 after the death of Alberto Sordi, a classic actor in Italian comedy films.

When you’re ready to move on, go back outside the way you came in and cross the street toward the Marcus Aurelius Column.

7. MARCUS AURELIUS COLUMN

The Marcus Aurelius column is much thicker than many similar monuments you’ll see around the city.

That’s because it’s hollow, with a spiral stairway inside that once allowed a climb to the top.

The spiral is also on the outside – you can see an unbelievably detailed relief up and down the length of the column. It shows battles led by Marcus Aurelius against the barbarians.

“Barbarian” is a broad term today, and it was broad for the Romans, too. These particular wars were against Germanic and Persian groups.

But the collective term “barbarian” could apply to almost any culture, and the word comes from “barbar,” meaning “blah blah” – so “barbarian” just meant “people who talk languages that don’t make sense.”

And the sculpture does not spare the details of the barbarian experience – towns are burning, women and children are running, and surviving soldiers are bent and horrified at the power of the empire.

The column was probably finished after Marcus Aurelius’ death, and at that time, it would have been the least of his honors in this area – near here stood the Temple of Marcus Aurelius.

After their deaths, most Roman emperors were declared gods and worshipped.

Nothing remains of that temple now, but temples to other Roman emperors remain.

Like all the ancient structures in the area, this column has been affected by floods and rising sediment, so several meters of it are below ground.

The statue on top is not Marcus Aurelius, but the Christian St. Paul, added when this monument received its own Renaissance restoration.

8. PALAZZO MONTECITORIO AND OBELISK OF MONTECITORIO

This obelisk is genuinely Egyptian, made in the 6 th century BC and brought here five centuries later.

Earlier we mentioned that obelisks represented the divinity of Egyptian pharaohs.

The head of the Egyptian gods was Ra, the god of the sun, and this obelisk was used in Rome as part of an enormous sundial.

Like the others, it fell, was buried, and then was rediscovered, and like the others, it doesn’t stand at its original location

Today, there’s a meridian on the ground, pointing toward the piazza’s largest building, to nod at its former use.

The building that meridian points toward is the Palazzo Montecitorio. This palace is the home of the Chamber of Deputies, one of Italy’s two houses of Parliament.

Rome has been Italy’s capital since 1870, shortly after the Italian unification, when the many small, conflicting states in the region, separated since the fall of the Roman Empire, first joined into a single country.

The building itself, at least the part you can see, is much older – it’s another Renaissance creation.

And it’s originally the work of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, a Baroque architect, and sculptor we’ve mentioned, who also had a hand in the Trevi Fountain.

I also mentioned his father, who was another sculptor and saw talent in Gian Lorenzo from a young age, giving him the benefit of early study and a long, prolific career.

Bernini’s sculptures are around the world, and his architecture is all over Rome.

He’s responsible for parts of St. Peter’s Basilica, the piazza outside of it, and a fountain in the Piazza Navona, which we’ll see soon, just to name a few.

This building shows the style he cultivated and which many others imitated, but if you got past the front door, everything you’d see is 20 th -century Art Nouveau.

Apart from the façade, the building was completely remade to suit the needs of parliament.

9. PANTHEON

The name “Pantheon” is Greek, not Latin, meaning “for all the gods.”

The source of the name is uncertain – most temples were dedicated just to one god, not all of them together.

And there’s no record of how it was used in the 2 nd century AD when it was finished under Emperor Hadrian.

And Hadrian was rebuilding an earlier temple, and the inscription above the entrance still dates from that nearly 2,000-year-old version.

You can still read the name of Agrippa, who ordered the original temple built.

You can also tell its age because it sits below the level of most of the ground around it, whereas originally it was elevated.

There are a couple of reasons why it’s lasted so long.

First, in the 7 th century, when many ancient buildings were being abandoned or destroyed, the Pantheon became a Christian church, dedicated to St. Mary and the Martyrs; for a while it even had bell towers on the outside.

Even then, its refitting as a church meant the removal and destruction of many objects its new users considered unholy.

The other factor in its preservation is that the structure itself is built to last.

The dome on top is made of concrete, with thicker layers of heavier materials near the bottom, then gradually thinner and lighter going up.

It’s still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world.

You can’t see it from outside, but at the very top of the dome is an opening, called the oculus or the eye.

Besides lightening the weight of the structure, it also means that from inside, you can see the sky and whatever the sky is doing.

Around noon, a dramatic beam of light becomes the centerpiece, assuming the sky is clear.

If the sky is not clear, then the weather comes in.

Standing inside during rain or snow can be magical ( video ), and also relatively peaceful since many visitors to town won’t want to make the trek to the Pantheon on foot during a storm.

If you go inside, you’ll see the altar, apses, and other markers of an active Catholic church.

Among the statues are markers of burial places, including the artist Raphael and the first two kings of unified Italy: Vittorio Emmanuele II and his son, Umberto I.

You can get lots more detail on the many features of the interior by taking a tour.

Live tours are plentiful, and just inside, you can get access to an official audio tour that’s affordable and detailed. There’s also an excellent free audio tour from Rick Steves .

If you just want to absorb the visuals, you can go in on your own. Regardless, you’re asked to keep silent while you’re inside.

It’s open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 am - 19:30 (7:30 pm), and Sunday 9:00 am - 18:00 (6 pm).

The Pantheon also hosts mass twice a week, at 17:00 (5 pm) on Saturday and 10:30 am on Sunday.

Outside the Pantheon is another obelisk, this one originally standing at the Temple of Ra in Heliopolis, Egypt, then at a temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis here in Rome, and then, finally, here in the Piazza della Rotonda.

10. CHURCH OF ST. LOUIS OF THE FRENCH

The Church of San Luigi delle Francese is dedicated to several saints, but the name refers to Louis IX, the sainted king of France.

It’s another beneficiary of the Medici family’s donations and one of many cases of European powers creating and having an honorary connection to major buildings in Rome.

Among the many separate states that used to make up present-day Italy, there were the Papal States.

These were territories ruled by the pope in a non-religious capacity, on top of his role as a religious leader across the whole Catholic world.

Rome was the center of the Papal States, and today, it still contains the church’s political territory, Vatican City.

But when the Holy See was the main power here, churches like these represented a kind of embassy from other Catholic countries.

The church you see today dates from 1589, but it’s on a site used for the same purpose for possibly centuries before.

At ground level on the left, you can see a statue of Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor.

11. PIAZZA NAVONA

As you enter Piazza Navona, there are lots of possible first impressions, but I’ll suggest starting with the big picture.

You’ve seen piazzas in plenty of irregular shapes, but this one has the form of a long, narrow oval.

In the first century AD, this was a racecourse, part of the Stadium of Domitian, Rome’s first permanent stadium for athletic competitions.

If you go a block out of the piazza to the north – to your right – from the smaller Piazza di Tor Sanguigna, looking south, you can see some ruins of the stadium under a modern building. There is also a museum .

Besides those ruins, the oldest thing you can see is the Palazzo Pamphilj, the building on the opposite side from where you arrived on the far left.

This was the family home of 17 th -century Pope Innocent X, and most of what you see in the piazza came from him improving his stomping grounds.

His work benefitted the general public in a way since this piazza was the city’s official public market.

But on the other hand, famines in that era meant that as these buildings were under construction, there wasn’t always food in those markets. Innocent’s home is now the Brazilian Embassy.

Sant’ Agnese in Agone (center) Palazzo Pamphilj (left)

He’s also responsible for the church to the right of his home, Sant’ Agnese in Agone. The Saint Agnes in the name of the church has a legendary connection with the Stadium of Domitian.

The Stadium contained brothels, and in the early years of Christianity, when the religion was still illegal in the Roman empire.

Agnes is said to have been punished for her religion by being sent there, only to have her hair miraculously grow to cover her body when she was stripped. 

Fontana del Nettuno

The other famous feature of the Piazza Navona is its fountains.

At your right is the Fontana del Nettuno or the Fountain of Neptune, which shows the god of the ocean wrestling a sea monster, along with our old friend the hippocampus, and other water creatures.

The fountain itself is part of that 17 th -century burst of improvements, but the statues are added much later.

On your left is the Fontana del Moro or Fountain of the Moor, added at the same time, again with later statuary.

And in the middle is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or the Fountain of the Four Rivers. Here we’re in Bernini’s hands again, and we get to see him as both architect and sculptor.

The Four Rivers in the name are the four corners of the monument, each representing a river in what Romans of the 17 th century considered the four parts of the world: the Danube in Europe, the Nile in Africa, the Ganges in Asia, and the Rio de la Plata in South America.

Italian explorers were very much in demand for expeditions to the New World, even if they sailed under other flags.

The details around each statue give a hint of which is which, and you can also see the expressiveness and sense of movement that Bernini’s sculptures are famous for.

All four are in submission, more or less willingly, to the obelisk at the center, which, like others we’ve seen, has a cross on top and so symbolizes the divine authority of the Church in Rome.

If you’d like a view of Piazza Navona from on high, the Brazilian Embassy has a rooftop bar that’s open to the public, and there’s also an optional view from our next stop.

When you’re ready, we’ll leave the piazza from the southern end, by the Fontana del Moro.

Once you have all three fountains behind you, turn right and leave the piazza on the Via di Pasquino, along the edge of the Brazilian Embassy.

When you reach an intersection, look on your left for a damaged statue behind a small chained barricade.

This is Pasquino, the namesake of the street. He’s older than any building you’ve seen, dug up and put on display in the 15 th century.

He’s one of Rome’s “talking statues” – several places where it’s popular to post statements of protest, often in poetic form, and to get attention for your thoughts while remaining anonymous.

12. MUSEO DI ROMA – PALAZZO BRASCHI

The Palazzo Braschi was built as a home for the nephew of Pope Pius IX.

Along with the Piazza Navona, this was an example of popes exercising their political power to the benefit of their own family, and in this case, unlike the piazza, it was a purely private benefit.

Uses of power like this were part of what drove the wave of revolutions across Europe in the late 18 th century and onward.

And that laid the groundwork for the Italian unification, which took some material power away from the popes. But the chance to abuse power fell into other hands.

In the early 20 th century, this building was the headquarters of Benito Mussolini, the head of Italy’s fascist government.

During that time, the building had a massive image of Mussolini’s face on the side.

When that government fell after World War II, the city of Rome took over this property, and today it’s part of the Museum of Rome.

If you’re thinking about entering the museum, one of the attractions is a view over Piazza Navona from the second and third floors. You can also get a view of the piazza’s past from here.

The museum’s modest collection includes documentation of many bygone Roman scenes, including what Piazza Navona looked like before Pope Innocent, as well as what many historic sites looked like before a burst of demolitions in the early 20 th century.

If your interest in Rome is at all to do with the layers of its history and how a modern city lives alongside the relics of its own past, this museum is worth your time, and the interior of the building itself is a beautiful bonus.

Information is available in English as well as Italian. It’s open 10:00 am - 19:00 (7 pm) every day but Monday and costs 11 Euros to enter.

13. LARGO DI TORRE ARGENTINA

Innocuous as it is, this spot is one of the most read-about places in Rome, if not the most visited.

The ruins here include part of the Portico of Pompey, the place where Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in 44 BC.

Pompey, the building’s namesake, who you’ll hear more about soon, was Julius Caesar’s rival in a civil war, and after Caesar’s victory, Caesar was declared dictator.

Just a few years later, he was murdered, leading to a period of war that ended Rome’s time as a republic.

If you’re familiar with the story, you may remember that Julius Caesar was stabbed on the steps of the Senate.

At the time, the senate was temporarily meeting here, since the usual senate building was under a renovation that Caesar had ordered.

The spot was lost until 1929 when a demolition uncovered it. It also contains the remains of four temples, devoted to Roman gods that are less famous today.

But emperors and gods aside, people usually show up for the main attraction – cats!

As soon as the site was unearthed, a horde of homeless cats moved in, and today, it’s a shelter for mostly the injured and abused. Volunteers take care of feeding, healthcare, and spaying and neutering.

There’s a stairway that leads down into a gift shop and adoption area , where you can donate, meet volunteers, or hang out with the cats themselves.

Note, in 2023, after years of excavation, the city opened up the site to visitors who can walk down ramps and along walkways for a close-up view of this major ancient site. Tickets are €5.

14. THEATER OF POMPEY

You have to use your imagination for this part. Ancient Roman theaters were semicircular, with dozens of tiers of seats looking down toward a central half-circle stage.

An actor walking the lip of the stage could look at all the thousands of people in the theater in just a few steps.

Most theaters were temporary, but the first permanent one was the Theater of Pompey, and you’re walking the edge of its stage. That shape is the only remnant of the theater visible from here.

We mentioned Pompey at our last stop – his name was on the building where Julius Caesar was stabbed.

Pompey was a contemporary of Caesar, also a war hero to the Romans. After one of his victories, he announced he would build a theater for the public.

Theaters were popular but regarded as centers of vice, so permanent theater buildings were illegal within the city.

But Pompey built his in the Campus Martius, outside the city, and combined in a single facility a theater, a temple to Venus, a garden, and a sort of museum, with art representing great Roman works of the past and the many places Pompey had helped conquer for Rome.

So the place was also sort of a temple to Pompey himself. You’ll be able to see a tiny vestige from our next stop.

15. CAMPO DE’ FIORI

As you emerge into Campo de’ Fiori, look over your right shoulder at the short side of the piazza.

From the short buildings nearest to you, they get gradually taller to the left, and the walls meet at odd angles.

At one spot, you can see exposed, corroded brick – that’s a fragment of the Temple of Venus that once stood at the top of the Theater of Pompey.

The name Campo de’ Fiori is also ancient – before the theater was built, this area was a campo, meaning a field, of fiori, meaning flowers.

From there, we jump to the 16 th century, which is the era of the shrouded figure you see standing on a pedestal halfway along the piazza.

That’s Giordano Bruno, a Dominican priest who was schooled in Naples, but became a wanderer of Europe after he found out the Inquisition was investigating him.

As a student, he had read forbidden works and argued unpopular positions, and his vagabond life sent him further down that road.

He claimed that the earth revolved around the sun, that the universe was infinite and contained many little systems like ours, and that everything big and small was made of tiny, similar particles arranged in different ways, with an invisible force holding them together – which in his eyes was God.

After years on the road, he returned home, and the Inquisition imprisoned him for seven years, tried him as a heretic, and burned him at the stake where the statue stands now.

The statue dates from soon after the unification and therefore secularization of Italy, and it was arranged by a group of Roman students, who sought out the help of a few famous writers in bringing attention to the cause.

They positioned it facing toward Vatican City. The inscription in Latin reads, “To Bruno, from the era he predicted, here where the fire burned.”

It’s still a rallying point for all kinds of nonconformist groups and causes today.

The beauty of an Italian piazza is that a story like that can be commemorated in the middle and a million other things are going on all around it.

Campo de’ Fiori is an eventful marketplace with cafes, restaurants, and people-watching galore. After all this exploring, maybe it’s time for those things, in which case you have lots of choices within view.

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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

S panning one-ninth of the earth's circumference across three continents, the Roman Empire ruled a quarter of humanity through complex networks of political power, military domination and economic exchange. These extensive connections were sustained by premodern transportation and communication technologies that relied on energy generated by human and animal bodies, winds, and currents.

Conventional maps that represent this world as it appears from space signally fail to capture the severe environmental constraints that governed the flows of people, goods and information. Cost, rather than distance, is the principal determinant of connectivity.

For the first time, ORBIS allows us to express Roman communication costs in terms of both time and expense. By simulating movement along the principal routes of the Roman road network, the main navigable rivers, and hundreds of sea routes in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and coastal Atlantic, this interactive model reconstructs the duration and financial cost of travel in antiquity.

Taking account of seasonal variation and accommodating a wide range of modes and means of transport, ORBIS reveals the true shape of the Roman world and provides a unique resource for our understanding of premodern history.

In the aggregate, our model simulations make it possible to reconfigure conventional maps of the Roman Empire to express the relative cost of transfers from or to a central point as distance. This perspective captures the structural properties of the imperial system as a whole by identifying the relative position of particular elements of the network and illustrating the impact of travel speed and especially transport prices on overall connectivity. Distance cartograms show that due to massive cost differences between aquatic and terrestrial modes of transport, peripheries were far more remote from the center in terms of price than in terms of time.

A comma-separated date file. You can:

'Open with...' a spreadsheet program or text editor, or Choose 'Save as...' and rename with and extention of '.csv' -- for example, routes01.csv

Rome Tourist Map: Top 10 Rome Attractions

Let this tourist map of Rome be your guide to the “Eternal City”. Find iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Spanish Steps by using this map. Scroll to the bottom to see zoomed-in maps of Rome’s tourist attractions.

Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Rome

From the iconic Colosseum to the serene Vatican City, this list is the top 10 tourist attractions in Rome.

1. Colosseum (Colosseo)

The Colosseum is a grand amphitheater that once hosted epic gladiatorial contests . Its towering arches and intricate architecture draw visitors from across the globe. It’s like stepping into a time machine of ancient Roman entertainment.

2. Trevi Fountain Rome (Fontana di Trevi Roma)

Nestled in the streets of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is a masterpiece that captures the essence of Baroque artistry . Visitors are fascinated by its cascading waters and intricate sculptures. It’s a timeless tradition to toss a coin into its clear turquoise water.

3. Pantheon

The Pantheon stands as a remarkable example of Roman engineering and architecture. With its well-preserved interior, visitors can appreciate its beauty and historical significance.

4. St. Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)

St. Peter’s Basilica is the epitome of Renaissance grandeur . It’s located within Vatican City with its intricate artwork and spiritual significance. As the largest church in the world, tourists get a glimpse into centuries of religious and artistic devotion.

5. Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel (Musei Vaticani e Cappella Sistina)

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel collectively house a collection of art and history. This chapel showcases masterpieces from across the ages within its galleries. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is decorated with Michelangelo’s famous frescoes. It’s a high point in art and is one of the most visited in the world.

6. Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

The Roman Forum is an archaeological site at the heart of Rome . This attraction is at the center of ancient times. It’s where grand temples, arches, and ruins tell the story of the city’s political and cultural evolution. Walking through its historic remnants allows visitors to imagine the life of Roman civilization.

7. Borghese Gallery and Museum (Galleria & Villa Borghese)

The Borghese Gallery houses a remarkable collection of sculptures, paintings, and decorative arts. With masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio, and Raphael, art lovers can immerse themselves in the beauty of centuries past.

8. Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant’Angelo is a historic fortress perched along the Tiber River. This area brings together centuries of history as a mausoleum, papal residence, and military stronghold. Its commanding presence and connection to Roman lore give it a glimpse into its past.

9. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona invites visitors with its Baroque masterpieces. It boasts ornate fountains, elegant palaces, and a lively atmosphere. From the splendid Fountain of the Four Rivers to the cafes that line its edges, the square captures the essence of Roman life, past and present .

10. Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)

Santa Maria Maggiore is a basilica of historical and artistic significance. It’s a masterpiece of ancient architecture and art in Rome. Inside, you’ll find stunning mosaics telling biblical stories. Also, it’s one of the major four Papal basilicas, rich in history.

Rome Neighborhoods

Colonna Ponte Parione Pigne Capitolino Palatino M. Esquilini M. Viminale Trevi Ludovisi Pincio Camp Marzio

Trastevere Giancolo M. Aventino Campitelli M. Celio Castro Pietorio Prati Aurelio Citta Del Vaticano Salario

Notable Roads in Rome

Via Flaminia Via Giulia Via Salaria Via Aemilia Via Aurelia Via dei Fori Imperiali Via Cassia Via Vittorio Veneto Via dei Coronari

Via Domitia Via della Conciliazione Via Traiana Nova Via Aquitania Via Maris Via Raetia Via Devana Via Appia Antica

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• Rome Bus Map
• Rome Night Bus Map

Rome Attractions Map

City sightseeing hop on hop off bus map, roma cristiana tour map.

• Rome Boroughs & Districts (Municipi) Map
• Rome Neighborhoods Map
• Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport & Terminal Map (FCO)
• Rome Ciampino Airport & Terminal Map (CIA)
• Rome Bike Route
• Roma Bike Sharing Stations Map

Rome Tourist Map

You can find on this page the map of Rome monuments and the map of Rome tourist buses. Rome is the capital of Italy, the most visited city in Italy and among the 10 most visited european cities with 12 million tourists per year. Thanks to its numerous monuments, museums, sightseeings, landmarks and attractions, Rome was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Rome sightseeing map

In Rome you can visit: • museums: Vatican Museum, Capitoline Museums, Villa Borghese • monuments: Colosseum, Forum Romanum, Capitoline Hill, Pantheon • neighborhoods: Trastevere • religious buildings: Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica • squares: St. Peter's Square, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna • different attractions: Trevi Fountain, Castel Sant'Angelo, Ponte Sant'Angelo

Rome hop on hop off

The City SightSeeing of Rome is an original way of visiting Rome and discover its monuments, museums, attractions while getting on and off at your disposal. This concept of hop on hop off bus or open-top double-decker buses offers a tourist tour and route with 10 stops and commentary in 8 languages.

Hop on hop off bus rome

Roma Cristiana is a second hop on hop off bus company with open roofs to discover the city of Rome via a tour. Roma Cristiana offers a tourist tour with 12 stops and commentary in 8 languages.

Rome Walking Tour, 15 Self Guided Tours with Map and Attractions

Use the Rome google map below to visit the attractions in the historic city center. The map is a complete self guided Rome walking tour map and guide to historic Rome attractions, including Towers, Squares, and Cathedrals. Follow the walking route on the interactive map to explore Rome at your own place. Spend a few hours or a full day depending on how long you want to spend at each attraction.

Click on the arrow icon to the left of the title to display the legend. Click on the Rome attractions map pins (green, red, brown, purple or blue pins) or on the legend (left icon on the title bar) or the PDF map that you download for additional information including images of the attractions. Each set of colored map pins can be used as a separate walking self guided route making it flexible to work into your schedule of other planned events or lunch breaks

For accompanying Rome attractions guide click HERE

To download pdf of rome attractions map click here, click on image of map for rome attractions guide.

Interactive Rome Walking Tour map for as follows:

Each separate color on the interactive Rome Walking tour represents a different area in historic Rome. You can complete the self guided walking tour in one day or spread it over several days depending on the area of historic Rome you want to explore.

• Piazza del Popolo can be accessed by taking Metro line A and exiting at Flamino station.  Explore Piazza del Popolo then climb the stairs to the Pincio Hill garden. From here, the Borghese Gardens are a 10 minute walk. Villa Borghese is immense and has nine different entry points (including from the top of the Spanish steps).
• Rome Walking Tour 2 : In dark grey color on the interactive attractions map above you will find attractions in the area of the Villa Borghese Gardens . The gardens are 80 hectares of beautifully landscaped park. There are numerous walking trails including options to rent a bike. Stop by at one of the cafes for lunch or have a picnic in the designated areas. Attractions include Villa Giulia , Museo Carlo Bilotti , Borghese Gallery and Museum , Shakespeare Globe Theater  , the Water Clock and countless statutes, sculptures, squares, and Bioparco di Roma Zoo
• Rome Walking Tour 3 : The orange colored attractions map is centered on the Spanish Steps. On the interactive map, attractions are located around the Spanish Steps ( Piazza di Spagna ) . In this are of historic Rome, there several attractions including the famous Spanish Steps leading to the grand palace Palazzo di Montecitorio, the famous S panish Steps , and the popular Barcaccia Fountain . The Piazza Mignanelli is located next to the Piazza di Spagna.
• Rome Walking Tour 4 : The Lime (light green) attractions map has attractions related to the Emperor Augustus . This includes the Emperor Augustus Mausoleum and the intricately carved Altar
• From the Monuments of Emperor Augustus, it is a quick walk to Piazza Barberini , your next stop on the Rome attractions map. This is indicated by the color blue on the interactive map. Attractions in this area include the Bernini Fountains
• Rome Walking Tour 5 : The dark green on the interactive attractions map of Rome is the area in and around the famous Trevi fountain. Attractions include the Palazzo di Montecitorio and the Temple of Hadrian
• Rome Walking Tour 6 : The next set of attractions in the historic city are shown in dark brown on the interactive walking tour of historic Rome. Here you will find the Piazza Navorone , a public open space and what was the home of the Stadium of Domitan. Attractions such as the fountains, statutes and palaces are located in this square
• Rome Walking Tour 7 : The light green walking tour on the interactive map is the Piazza Campo de’Fiore . Campo de’ Fiori means “field of flowers” and describes how the landscape looked in the middle ages. The Piazza is just south of Piazza Navarone. In ancient Rome this land was undeveloped and eventually the Santa Brigida Church was built. Just south of the square the Palazzo Farnese was constructed. The palace was an imposing Italian palace when it was built for the prominent Farnese family in the 16th centaury. Eventually the square itself became the commercial center of Rome and the streets were named after the trades such as Via dei Baullari  (coffer-makers), Via dei Balestrari  ( crossbow -makers),  Via dei Giubbonari  (tailors), Via dei Cappellari  (hat-makers), and Via dei Chiavari  (key-makers).
• From Campo de’Fiore” head over to Largo di Torre Argentin . Largo di Torre Argentin is a square that includes a Square with Porticos. Colonnades, Curia, Roman Temples, the remains of Pompey’s theater and the place where Julius Caesar was murdered. He was assassinated in the Curia of Pompey. Excavation of this area began in 1929
• Rome Walking Tour 8 : The next stop on the Rome Walking tour is the attractions around the historic center of the ancient City of Rome. Attractions include Trajan’s Column, Trajan’s Market and Trajan’s Form . In the area is Palazzo Napoleon’s including the apartment he occupied while in Rome

Additional Rome Walking Tours:

• Self guided tour 9 will take you to the Roman Colosseum. Click on the Roman Colosseum attractions map HERE and accompanying Colosseum attractions guide HERE
• Rome attractions map and self guided tour 10 includes the Vatican City attractions map HERE and the Vatican attractions guide HERE
• Self Guided Walking tour 11 , explore the neighborhood of Trastevere with map of attractions HERE and guide of attractions HERE
• The 12th walking tour is of St Peters Basilica . Explore all the attractions in St Peter’s Basilica with the attractions guide HERE
• One of my favorite trips is that of the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill . The map of attractions is HERE and the self guided walking tour is HERE
• Visit Pompeii with a complete self guided tour map HERE and the attractions guide to the 49 points of interest HERE
• Spend the day in Florence , this was by far one of my best day trips. The self guided walking tour map is HERE and the attractions guide is HERE

Instructions to download the interactive map to a smart phone:

Take the map with you when you travel:.

Instructions on:

• Using it offline
• Using it online – We bring one of our older smart phones when we travel and buy a local SIM card. You can purchase a local tourist SIM card from one of the main local providers, they are usually pretty inexpensive. You may need your passport to purchase as its a tourist SIM if you are an international tourist. You should have them put it in your old smartphone and check that it works before leaving the store. Use it to follow the map online, its the best way to explore

Sign into google using your Gmail account on your smart phone and be connected to the internet. If you do not sign in, this process will not work . You will be downloading this map to save it. You will be saving it in google maps in two places:

• Save in “Your Places” for online use and
• Save in “Offline map” for offline use
• Youtube instructions on link as follows: https://youtu.be/_6j9koieMsU

Instructions to save above map:

• Click on the rectangle on the top right hand side of the above map [ ] – if you move your mouse to it, it will say “view larger map”
• It will take you into google maps on your smartphone and it will automatically save this map. You must be already be signed into google maps with your Gmail account, if you are not signed into google maps then the map will not be saved
• In google maps, click on the menu which is the three horizontal lines on the top left of the google map (it is to the left of the search box)
• From the menu, click on “Your Places”. This will take you to another screen with a menu at the top. From the top menu bar select “maps”. A list of your maps will be displayed including the map that was just saved. Select the map you just saved
• Make sure the map is still onscreen; do not close out of it as you will be downloading this map and it has to be onscreen to download. While the map is onscreen, click on menu again (three horizontal lines top left hand corner)
• Select “Offline maps” then select “custom map”
• Once you select “custom map”, the onscreen map will be displayed; select the area you want downloaded (zoom in or out to get all the data points into the blue square outline; pinch fingers for zooming)
• Click on “download” – this will save the map in an offline area that you can use when you are not connected to the internet

The map is now saved in two places. To see this, click on the menu (three horizontal line on top right hand corner) in google maps:

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• Click on “Offline Maps” from the menu. The map will be listed to use the map offline ie: not connected to the internet (make sure location services is turned on and your will see the blue dot indicating your location as you navigate with the offline map)
• After you download a map, use the Google Maps app just like you normally would. If your Internet connection is slow or absent, or if you are in “airplane mode” Google Maps will automatically use your offline maps to give you directions

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News & features, winter center, news / weather news, how waffles evolved from an ancient roman delicacy to one of the world’s most popular treats.

Made from leavened batter or dough cooked between two patterned plates, waffles are thought to be one of the oldest desserts around. But where do they actually come from? Experts say the origins of this sweet or savory treat date back millennia.

By Silvia Marchetti, CNN

Published Aug 30, 2024 3:49 PM PDT | Updated Aug 30, 2024 3:49 PM PDT

Waffles can be found almost everywhere in the world today, but where do they originate? (Photo credit: Alexander Spatari/Moment RF/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

(CNN) —  Made from leavened batter or dough cooked between two patterned plates, waffles are thought to be one of the oldest desserts around.

Often topped with honey, whipped cream, syrup or jam, they’re ideal for breakfast, or a snack, sometimes savored on the run.

Hugely popular in northwestern European countries, as well as the US and Asia, they can be crispy, sweet or salty, with deep or shallow grooves.

In Belgium, where they’re known as gaufres, you can find infinite waffles variations.

Origin story

But where do they actually come from? Experts say the origins of this sweet or savory treat date back millennia.

And while their roots can be traced back to Ancient Greece, Giorgio Franchetti, author of the book “ Dining With The Ancient Romans ,” believes waffles are derived from a particular delicacy of Ancient Rome.

“They are very likely the descendants of the popular ‘crustulum’ (‘crustula’ plural,) which were sweet biscuits adored by the ancient Romans,” Franchetti, a food scholar of ancient Rome, tells CNN.

“The term, in Latin, clearly suggests that these biscuits were crispy, with a crumbly crust that melted in the mouth.”

There are no known historical documents on how crustula were shaped, but Franchetti believes they were likely flat biscuits, made with the same basic ingredients as waffles and baked inside two heated irons.

The preparation method for crustula is thought to be identical to that of modern-day waffles, although it’s unclear whether crustula originally had the iconic grooves.

According to research carried out by Franchetti, it’s likely that crustula were a sweet evolution of  panis obelius , a special bread with olives or fresh figs made by the ancient Greek that was cooked between two irons and eaten during Dionysian rituals, which usually involved drinking, dancing and sacrifice.

“Crustula were very simple biscuits, made with flour, honey and lard. Today waffles are made with butter, however Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder writes that the use of butter differentiated the aristocratic, snobbish patricians from the commoner plebeians,” he says.

After unearthing texts on crustula by Pliny the Elder and Roman lyric poet Horace, Franchetti joined up with “archeo-cook” Cristina Conte to bring crustulas back from the grave.

Romans loved cheeses, but didn’t like butter, which was considered a poor byproduct of milk, and mainly used for cosmetics, according to Franchetti.

Instead, they made their crustula with lard or animal fat.

It’s thought that the biscuits were originally consumed during Roman religious ceremonies and sold by street vendors called “crustulari” who could be found along the alleys of ancient Rome, usually near temples and places of worship.

Franchetti explains that the coveted sweets later became a type of reward that teachers working for rich families would bestow on their best students.

Sweet evolution

In his Satires poems, Horace writes that teachers would usually give crustula “to children to convince them to learn the letters of the alphabet.”

Over time, these simple, tasty biscuits managed to conquer a very important part of the banquet ceremony – dessert – and were served at the end of a meal.

Crustula were so popular with ancient Roman writers that some even mentioned them in their works.

Satirist Gaius Lucilius, considered the inventor of Roman satire, once wrote that he “enjoyed indulging in crustula alone,” while other authors like playwright Plautus, and philosophers Seneca and Lucius Apuleius, also referenced them.

After the advent of Christianity, crustula were assimilated into Christian recipes, says Franchetti.

So how did these treats evolve into waffles as we know them today?

Franchetti believes that the crustula cooking technique was likely honed during the Middle Ages, when the first grooves may have appeared in the biscuits, bringing them closer to modern day waffles.

Ferratelle – a biscuit that has stood the test of time in various parts of Italy – is believed to be the link between Roman crustulas and waffles.

“In Molise and Abruzzo locals are weaned on ferratelle, that are eaten year-round and come in different shapes and sizes,” says Franchetti.

The name “ferratelle” comes from the metal press or iron, which translates to “ferri” in Italian, a tool that’s still used to make the biscuits in some places today.

Ferratelle, also known as pizzelle, feature the tiny square grooves found on waffles, while the basic recipe and ingredients are most likely the same as those previously used for crustula, says Franchetti.

In the old days, ferratelle were always homemade and proved to be particularly popular during Christmas and carnival celebrations.

Households would use special irons engraved with their family coat of arms or initials to mark their ferratelle.

“The Romans handed down to us these divine biscuits. We’ve been gulping them down since the dawn of ages,” says Maria Teresa Spagnoli of L’Aquila pastry shop Dolci Aveja.

In the 1700s, parents would gift ferratelle irons with the family’s initials to their soon-to-be-married daughters as part of the dowry.

“Today we eat them for breakfast, as an after dinner treat with a liquor digestive, or during car trips,” adds Spagnoli.

Still shaped inside irons, the Abruzzo ferratelle is made with eggs, olive oil, milk, vanilla and grated lemon peel.

Those sold in L’Aquila come in all different sizes, including diamonds, stars and hearts.

Treasured treats

Alongside the original recipe, Dolci Aveja, the top producer of ferratelle in L’Aquila, makes variants containing cereals and a salty version with rosemary, which pairs well with prosecco as an aperitif.

Preparing ferratelle is still a huge ritual for those who produce it.

“According to our tradition, to make perfect, authentic ferratelle you have to say one Hail Mary while cooking the first side, and one Lord’s Prayer for the other side,” says Spagnoli.

To speed up the cooking, locals in Abruzzo also use electric irons today.

With this method, there’s no need to turn the ferratelle over during the process, as it cooks simultaneously on both sides.

In Vasto, a coastal town in Abruzzo, ferratelle features dark chocolate toppings and are called “catarrette.”

Ferratelle have stood the test of time in various parts of Italy, including the region of Abruzzo. (Photo credit: Anna Fedorova/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

Locals treasure the ancient irons used by their ancestors and engraved with their family initials.

Vasto historian Gianfranco Bonacci recalls how his grandmother would bake ferratelle on Sundays or special occasions, and the family would eat them throughout the week.

“It was a daily treat. Unfortunately my family has lost the old irons and today it’s hard to find a blacksmith who makes them, as there are very few blacksmiths left,” says Bonacci.

In nearby Italian regions, including Latium, there are ferratelle varieties with different names.

Waffle-like cookies can be found in Liguria, while in Piedmont, they’re known as  gofri  and come   with a deep rough honeycomb pattern, reminiscent of Belgian gaufres.

So how and when did these “Italian waffles” migrate to north Europe and the US?

“The Romans, alongside their culture, also spread their foods throughout the empire. Crustula had many legs, and ended up all the way in nowadays France, Benelux and England,” says Franchetti.

By the time the Roman Empire collapsed, crustula had been assimilated into the local gastronomy of these lands.

A further development likely occurred along European trade routes during the Middle Ages, when the Italian honeycomb ferratelle were exported to northern Europe.

Finally, the leap over to the New World occurred in the early 1600s with the first Dutch settlers who landed in New York City.

“That’s when the crustula-ferratelle evolved into waffles and took root in America,” says Franchetti.

Today, waffles can be found almost everywhere in the world.

In the US, August 24, the anniversary of the day Dutch-American Cornelius Swarthout was granted a patent for the first waffle iron in the States, is celebrated as National Waffle Day.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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