The main attractions of Rome

Rome, oh my! The city where hope never dies. It is a city that is extremely proud of its glorious past and once expanded its empire throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe.  Before boarding a plane or train to the Italian capital, visitors may want to do some research to decide what they want to see and do.

The Colosseo district, Rome’s central district, is home to some of the city’s oldest attractions, including the Colosseum, Capitoline Hill, and Roman Forum. Old Rome, with the Pantheon, stunning cathedrals, plazas, and Renaissance architecture, is on the outskirts of the city center.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see everything Rome has to offer in a few days or even a few months. Travelers who are smart won’t even try to see everything in one trip. They will toss a coin into the Fountain of Trevi to guarantee their return to Rome. Those who do are said to return to Rome again, according to legend.

In the third century, Emperor Caracalla constructed the second-largest public baths in Rome, the Baths of Caracalla, for political propaganda purposes: The sovereign basically maintained that individuals should like him. Over three hundred years passed before the baths could be used. The complex was destroyed by neglect, theft, and an earthquake, but visitors continue to be impressed by its sheer size and inventiveness.

Villa Farnesina, a villa in the Trastevere neighborhood, is a good place for tourists who want to see how wealthy people lived in the Renaissance. Raphael’s frescoes in the Villa Farnesina, which depict the myths of Cupid and Psyche, are well-known.

A banker who also served as papal treasurer commissioned artwork from a variety of other artists and built the villa in 1506. The most well-known ancient road in Rome is the Appian Way, which links Rome to Brindisi in the southeast of Italy. It was originally a military road and is named after a Roman censor named Appius Claudius Caecus.

Today, the first 8 km (5 miles) of the 560 km (350 miles) stone road are lined with numerous historical landmarks. This old thruway has weighty vehicle traffic toward the start, yet is ok for people on foot after two or three miles.

The National Roman Museum or the Museo Nazionale Romano should not be missed if you want to learn as much as you can about Rome’s history, culture, and heritage.

The entire collection of this Roman museum is not housed in one location. Instead, exhibits are spread out throughout the city in a variety of locations. The incredible Palazzo Massimo alle Terme has amber, Roman artifacts, and jewelry. The Palazzo Altemps has stunning sculptures and breathtaking use of marble. The restored historic site of the Baths of Diocletian gives visitors a close-up look at Roman baths.

Although it appears to be made of solid white marble, the monument actually has many rooms inside. It was created in 1885 by Giuseppe Sacconi and finished in 1925.

In addition to other spaces that host rotating exhibitions, there are two permanent museums—one on Italian emigration and the other on Italian reunification. 

Piazza del Popolo

The Piazza del Popolo is a huge oval square in northern Rome that has been around since the times of the Roman Domain. The square is bordered by three churches, but the main attraction is an ancient Egyptian obelisk. The Porta del Popolo, which connects Rome to the Adriatic coast via the Via Flaminia, dominates the square’s north side.

 The majority of historians believe that Santa Maria in Trastevere was built in the fourth century, making it one of Rome’s oldest churches. Impressive mosaics from the 12th and 13th centuries decorate the church. 

The church and its tower are illuminated at night, making the atmospheric piazza in the well-known Trastevere neighborhood shine even brighter thanks to the mosaics on the façade.

Ostia Antica is a significant archaeological site that was once Rome’s seaport. At the Tiber’s confluence, it is less than 20 miles from Rome. Some of the ancient structures on the site, some of which date back to the fourth century BC, are well-preserved. Ostia Antica is known for its outstanding mosaics and frescoes on its ancient buildings. It also has ancient public restrooms that turned bathrooms into places where people got together.

Found only a couple of blocks from the Stadium, the twelfth century Basilica of San Clemente is based on top of a fourth century Church and more seasoned Roman sanctuary. The stunning mosaics and frescoes of the current church are well-known.

The lower two levels of the excavations can be explored for an admission fee, providing a fascinating journey into Rome’s history. The Capitoline Museums, designed by Michelangelo in 1536, took the Romans 400 years to build, but the wait was worth it. Piazza del Campidoglio, atop Capitoline Hill, is home to this outstanding collection of art and archeological museums, which was established by a papal donation in the 15th century. The assortments incorporate middle age and Renaissance workmanship, old Roman sculptures and gems.