Italy

Things to do in Rome

The capital, and a city where the layers sit in plain view: republican paving in the Forum, imperial brick above it, baroque squares built over ancient stadiums. Most of what a first visit wants lies in the three walkable kilometres between the Vatican and the Colosseum. Book the headline sites ahead; in summer they sell out by midday.

13 places on record

Things to do

13

  1. Colosseum

    Monument · 2 hr

    Built between 70, 80 AD, this amphitheatre once held 50,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It remains the largest standing structure from Roman antiquity.

  2. Pantheon

    Cathedral · 30 min

    A temple built in 126 AD under Hadrian, featuring an unreinforced concrete dome and central oculus that remains an engineering marvel. Later converted to a church.

  3. Roman Forum

    Monument · 1.5 hr

    The civic and commercial centre of ancient Rome, stretching across ruins of temples, basilicas, and government buildings spanning roughly 900 years of construction and habitation.

  4. St. Peter's Basilica

    Cathedral · 1.5 hr

    The largest church building in the world, completed in 1626 and crowned by Michelangelo's dome. Houses papal altars and Renaissance/Baroque masterworks.

  5. Trevi Fountain

    Landmark · 30 min

    A Baroque fountain completed in 1762, depicting Oceanus in a chariot drawn by sea horses, fed by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct.

  6. Borghese Gardens

    Park · 1.5 hr

    A 80-hectare landscaped estate with walking paths, lakes, temples, and the Galleria Borghese. Contains sculptures, fountains, and panoramic views of the city.

  7. Capitoline Museums

    Museum · 2 hr

    Two palaces on Capitoline Hill housing classical sculptures, bronzes, and paintings including the she-wolf of Rome and works by Caravaggio and Guercino.

  8. Galleria Borghese

    Gallery · 2 hr

    A 17th-century villa housing a private collection of Baroque paintings and sculptures by Titian, Raphael, Bernini, and Canova.

  9. Vatican Museums

    Museum · 4 hr

    One of the world's greatest art collections, spanning Egyptian antiquities, Renaissance masterworks, and the Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo (1508, 1512).

  10. Castel Sant'Angelo

    Monument

    Originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Hadrian around 139 AD, this cylindrical fortress later became a papal residence and military stronghold. It offers views across Rome from its terrace.

  11. Palazzo Altemps

    Museum · 1.5 hr

    A Renaissance palace housing classical sculptures and modern art, including the Ludovisi Throne and works by the Ludovisi collection.

  12. Spanish Steps

    Landmark

    This monumental staircase of 135 steps, completed in 1725, connects the Piazza di Spagna to the Church of Trinità dei Monti. It is a major gathering point and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  13. Palazzo Massimo

    Museum · 2 hr

    Houses the National Roman Museum's collection of classical sculpture, mosaics, and frescoes from the Republican and Imperial periods.

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