Top 7 Must-visit Places in Rome

Rome, the capital city of Italy, is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the world. Generally, people think of Rome as a place only for art lovers, but that’s not the reality. World-class art is not the only thing that attracts visitors. Contrary to this popular belief, this ancient city offers a fabulous mix of history, archaeology, art, and culture. It has been the capital of the Roman Empire and is currently home to Vatican City. Adorned with a number of ancient architectural marvels, this beautiful place can be at the top of any history buff’s bucket list, as there are several interesting things to do in Rome. Other than this, the delicious Italian food you get here is another good reason that makes it one of the best places to visit in Italy.

With a long, varied history and rich culture, there are plenty of tourist attractions in Rome. Of course, your own interests will govern your choices, but here is a comprehensive list of some of the best places to visit in Rome:

The Colosseum

Because of its architectural and structural sophistication, innovation, and enormity, the Colosseum is one of the best places to visit in Italy, not just in Rome. Built between C.E. 70 and 72, this giant amphitheatre reminds of the ancient gladiator battles and those glory days. The total length of this oval-shaped structure is 186 meters, and the width is 156 meters. The outer wall is built of travertine marble where iron clamps hold everything together instead of mortal. There’s no better proof of its sturdiness than the fact that it still stands tall despite several earthquakes.

This amphitheatre boasts an extremely thoughtful design, even when it comes to the interiors. It has a seating capacity of over 50,000, and the row and seating area are designed in a way to give spectators the best view of the game. In today’s time, this iconic structure has become one of the best things to see in Rome.

Palatine Hill

The Palatine is the most famous of Rome's seven hills. In Ancient Rome, it was considered one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in the city and was the home of aristocrats and emperors. Perched atop a mound that overlooks the Colosseum, this network of ruins and palaces is a vital piece of history. If you are someone who wants to have a sneak peek into the glorious past of Rome, this is the place you should definitely visit.

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.

Vatican City

With an area of less than half a square kilometre, the Vatican is the world’s smallest independent state, enclosed by the Vatican walls. This area is ruled by the Pope, the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. Despite being this small in size, the Vatican City offers a lot of things to see, including St. Peter's Basilica. In this ancient and majestic church, you get to see Michelangelo's masterpiece, Pieta, along with statuary and altars by Bernini and others. Another highlight of this place is the Sistine Chapel, which is known for its magnificent frescoed ceiling carved by Michelangelo. With all these things, Vatican City is unarguably one of the best places for sightseeing in Rome.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved monuments of Roman antiquity. It is remarkably intact after more than 2000 years of being constructed, which is something that makes it a truly remarkable piece of architecture. However, this iconic structure was severely damaged by fire in AD 80. It went through a major restoration after that. The Pantheon features a 43-meter dome, which hangs suspended without visible supports. The only light source in this building is its nine-metre central opening.

This structure is proof of the incredible architectural skills of the Romans. The harmonious effect of the interior is a result of its proportions where the height of the structure is equal to the diameter. Although the first Christian emperors forbade using this pagan temple for worship, Pope Boniface IV dedicated it to the Virgin and all the Christian martyrs. Since then, it has become the burial place of Italian kings and some other famous people. To take a closer look at the glorious past of Romans, there can be no better place to visit in the Italian capital.

Trevi Fountain

This list of the best places to visit in Rome is definitely incomplete without the mention of this 17^th-century masterpiece. Counted among the city's most popular tourist attractions, the Trevi Fountain also takes pride in being the largest fountain in Rome. It is known for the tradition of making a wish and throwing a coin into the fountain. This massive fountain 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, which is always filled with coins.

It gets its water supply from an aqueduct that was originally constructed by Agrippa, the great art patron of the first century BC. And this fountain was built by Nicolo Salvi between 1732 and 1751 for Pope Clement XII.

Santa Maria Maggiore

This ancient church is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome. It has stood here since the fourth century, and since the fifth century, the mass has been celebrated here every day. This structure has a total of three aisles, and its 86-meter-long interior is separated by a number of columns made of marble and granite. The upper walls are decorated with Rome's oldest mosaics (as old as the 4th century), and the floor is inlaid with coloured stone in the style of the expert 12th-century artisans of the Lake Como region. This beautiful, artistic church is also one of the major tourist attractions in the city.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is the city's most characteristic Baroque square. It still has the outline of the Roman stadium, which was built here by Emperor Domitian. During the middle ages, it was used to celebrate festivals and organise horse races.

The facade, campanile, and dome highlight the way Baroque architecture weaves convex and concave surfaces, gables, windows, columns, and piers into a unified design. The square and its surrounding façade were designed by Borromini, but it was his rival architect, Bernini, who created its centerpiece, the beautiful Baroque fountain. Fontana dei Fiumi 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 river-representing figure is also accompanied by the plants and animals of their respective regions.

Given the large number of tourist attractions Rome offers, planning a travel itinerary for your trip can be a real challenge. To make sure that you don’t miss any must-visit place, you can explore the range of several Italy tour packages Veena World offers and choose a suitable one.