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Rome Attractions

Piazza del Campidoglio - The Campidoglio stands on the summit of Capitoline Hill, the most sacred of ancient Rome, where the Temples of Jupiter and Juno once stood. This was the spiritual heart of ancient Rome, where triumphant generals made sacrifices to the gods for giving them victories. On the way up the graceful steps leading to the Campidoglio, take a look in the shrubs to the left of the stairway. Deep in the bushes is a large cage. In it are wolves perpetuating the memory of the she-wolf who suckled the infants Romulus and Remus.

At the top of the stairs is the fabled equestrian statue of the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Actually, it's a copy; the original is in the Capitoline Museum on your left. Across the piazza is the Palace of the Conservatori based on an architectural plan of Michelangelo. Walk around the corner (as you face it) of the Senatorium (Town Council) for a panoramic view of the Roman Forum. In the distance you can see the Colosseum. The decaying columns and crumbling temples of Imperial Rome rank as one of the grandest man-made views you'll see in Europe.

Fori Imperiali (Imperial Forums) - From the railing that skirts Via dei Fori Imperiali, you can take in the view of the famous forums of Imperial Rome. Right off Piazza Venezia stands Trajan's Column, with its intricate bas-relief sculpture depicting Trajan's victorious campaign against Dacia at the dawn of the 2nd century. Immediately east of the column is Basilica Ulpia, whose gray marble columns rise roofless into the sky. Moving east you come to the Forum of Julius Caesar, the first of the forums and the site of the ancient Roman stock exchange and the Temple of Venus. Next you'll pass on your left the Forum of Augustus, built before the birth of Christ and once home to a mammoth statue of Augustus. On your right is the Forum of Nerva, honoring an emperor with a 2-year reign (A.D. 96-98). Directly east of Nerva is the Forum of Vespasian begun by the emperor after the capture of Jerusalem in A.D. 71. Immediately following that is the Temple of Venus and Roma, or what little is left of it.

Colosseum - Construction on this amphitheater began in A.D. 72, and it was a marvel of engineering since its enormous weight rested in a swamp (Nero's former lake) on artificial supports. The completed stadium was dedicated by Titus in A.D. 80. Covered with marble, it could hold 80,000 spectators who watched games that nearly rendered extinct many species of animals from the Roman Empire.

Arch of Constantine - This spectacular arch was erected in honor of Constantine's defeat of the pagan Maxentius in A.D. 306. Physically, it's beautiful, but marred by the hectic traffic zooming around it at all hours.

Forum Romano (Roman Forum), Palatino (Palatine Hill), and Museo Palatino (Palatine Museum) - The Roman Forum was the literal heart of ancient Rome, a center for trade, religion, and politics. The entrance is off Via dei Fori Imperiali, right at the intersection with Via Cavour. After you view the Roman Forum, you can explore Palatine Hill, which was once covered with the palaces of patrician families and early emperors. Today it's a tree-shaded hilltop of gardens and fragments of ancient villas. Allow at least 3 hours to take in these attractions and the Palatine Museum.

The Pantheon - This fabulous ancient monument was built and rebuilt several times, first by Agrippa who began it in 27 B.C. The present structure is the result of an early 2nd century A.D. reconstruction by the Emperor Hadrian. The Pantheon stands on Piazza della Rotonda, which is complete with obelisk and baroque fountain.

Scala di Spagna (Spanish Steps) - Rising over the Piazza di Spagna in the very heart of Rome is a monumental baroque staircase -- best viewed in spring when the flowers are in full bloom. It was the work of Francesco de Sanctis in the 18th century. The stairs lead to the Trinitá dei Monti Church. At no. 26 on the piazza is the Keats-Shelley House where Keats died of tuberculosis at the age of 25.
It's a rare visitor who hasn't sat for a while on one of the landings - there's one every 12 steps - perhaps to download an e-mail from home on a laptop or observe the other sitters, most often young. The fountain at the foot of the steps was designed by Bernini's father at the end of the 16th century, and it's reputed to have the sweetest water in Rome.

Piazza Navona - The most beautiful square in all of Rome - and best seen at night - is like an ochre-colored gem, unspoiled by new buildings, or even by traffic. The shape stems from the Stadium of Domitian, whose ruins lie underneath. Great chariot races were once held here. In the center is Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, floodlit at night. During summer evenings there are outdoor art shows. Some of the oldest streets in Rome surround Piazza Navona. There is no more romantic place to dine in all the city.

Fontana dei Trevi (Trevi Fountain) - This is an 18th-century extravaganza of baroque stonework ruled over by a large statue of Neptune. Visitors come here at night to toss a coin into the fountain, which is said to ensure that you will some day return to Rome.

Piazza San Pietro - This is one of the world's most famous squares, designed by Bernini in the 1630s. It is the gateway to the largest church in the world.

Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica) - When the church doors open, rush in. Once here, it's hard to do anything but gasp at the size and the magnificence. The cupola was designed by Michelangelo, and the artist also created the most famous Pietà in the world. There is so much to see here that you should allow at least 1 1/2 hours.
With what time remains in the morning, explore the:

Musei Vaticani (the Vatican Museums) & the Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel) - These museums are the richest in the world, and will take up the better part of your day - allow at least 3 hours for a cursory visit. They are well worth your valuable time. There are so many museums here in addition to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, plus several papal apartments.

Castel Sant'Angelo - Built in A.D. 135, this imposing fortress was originally constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian and his family. The entrance is across from the Ponte Sant Angelo, the bridge across the Tiber. Inside, you can visit the Popes' Apartments and from the terraces enjoy one of the great panoramic views in all of Rome.

Galleria Borghese - Sculptures by Canova and Bernini and paintings by Raphael, Correggio, Titian, and Caravaggio are awaiting your viewing pleasure. After you leave, you can stroll in the Villa Borghese gardens, one of the most beautiful in all of Italy.

Trastevere - The district is separated from the heart of ancient Rome by the River Tiber. It still has much of the look of medieval Rome and remains the city's most "authentic" neighborhood. In one of its bustling restaurants, you can have a good and perhaps affordable meal to end a full day

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Rome Activities

Taking a Sunday Bike Ride. Only a daredevil would try this on city streets on a weekday, but on a clear Sunday morning, while Romans are still asleep, you can rent a bike and discover Rome with your own two wheels. The Villa Borghese is the best place to bike. Its 6.5km (4-mile) borders contain a world unto itself, with museums and galleries, a riding school, an artificial lake, and a grassy amphitheater. Another choice place for Sunday biking is the Villa Doria Pamphili, an extensive park lying above the Janiculum. Laid out in the mid-1600s, this is Rome's largest park, with numerous fountains and some summer houses.

Walking Through Ancient Rome. A vast, almost unified archaeological park cuts through the center of Rome. It's fun to wander on your own and let yourself get lost on the very streets where Julius Caesar and Lucrezia Borgia once trod. A slice of history unfolds at every turn: an ancient fountain, a long-forgotten statue, a ruined temple dedicated to some long-faded cult. A narrow street suddenly opens to a view of a triumphal arch. The Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are the highlights, but the glory of Rome is hardly confined to these dusty fields. If you wander long enough, you'll eventually emerge onto Piazza della Rotunda to stare in awe at one of Rome's most glorious sights, the Pantheon.

Climbing Janiculum Hill. On the Trastevere side of the river, where Garibaldi held off the attacking French troops in 1849, the Janiculum Hill was always strategic in Rome's defense. Today, a walk in this park at the top of the hill can provide an escape from the hot, congested streets of Trastevere. Filled with monuments to Garibaldi and his brave men, the hill is no longer peppered with monasteries, as it was in the Middle Ages. A stroll will reveal monuments and fountains, plus panoramic views over Rome. The best vista is from Villa Lante, a Renaissance summer residence. The most serene section is the 1883 Botanical Gardens, with palm trees, orchids, bromeliads, and sequoias -- more than 7,000 plant species from all over the world.

Picnicking on Isola Tiberina. In ancient times, this boat-shape island stood across from the port of Rome and from 293 B.C. was home to a temple dedicated to Aesculapius, the god of healing. A church was constructed in the 10th century on the ruins of this ancient temple. You can reach the island from the Jewish Ghetto by the Ponte Fabricio footbridge, which dates from 62 B.C. and is the Tiber's oldest original bridge. Romans come here to sunbathe, sitting along the river's banks, and to escape the traffic and the crowds. Arrive with the makings of a picnic, and the day is yours.

Walking from Fountain to Fountain. On summer nights you'll find Romans -- especially those who live in crowded apartments without air-conditioning -- out walking from fountain to cooling fountain. Every visitor makes at least one trip to Bernini's fountain on Piazza Navona, after stopping off at the Trevi Fountain to toss in a coin (thus ensuring their return to Rome), but there are hundreds more. One hidden gem is the Fontana delle Tararughe, in tiny Piazza Mattei. It has stood there since 1581, a jewel of Renaissance sculpture showing youths helping tortoises into a basin. Our favorite Bernini fountain is at Piazza Barberini; his Fontana del Tritone is a magnificent work of art from 1642 showing the sea god blowing through a shell. Unfortunately, it's now against the law to jump into these fountains and paddle around as Anita Ekberg did in La Dolce Vita.

Shopping in the Flea Markets. We've never discovered an original Raphael at Rome's Porta Portese flea market (which locals call mercato delle pulci). But we've picked up some interesting souvenirs over the years. The market, the largest in Europe, began after World War II when black marketers needed an outlet for illegal wares. Today the authentic art and antiques once sold here have given way to reproductions, but the selection remains enormous: World War II cameras, caviar from immigrant Russians, luggage (fake Gucci), spare parts, Mussolini busts, and so on. Near Porta Sublicio in Trastevere, the market has some 4,000 stalls, but it's estimated that only 10% of them have a license. Sunday from 5am to 2pm is the best time to visit, but beware of pickpockets at all times.