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Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world. With a heritage that goes back to 28 centuries, Rome is one of those cities which seem to have been around since the beginning of civilisation. It is the 14th most-visited city in the world. Rome is not just the capital of Italy, but also houses the Vatican City, the world’s smallest country within its boundaries. No wonder there are so many places to visit in Rome!
There are beautiful buildings here steeped in a timeless past along with ruins of the ancient Rome which are evident everywhere. Evidence of a rich cultural heritage is everywhere on the streets of Rome, but to be honest, modern Rome is more than the sum of its cultural past. There is an excellent football stadium here, along with beautiful parks and gardens as well as some of the most wonderful restaurants. All these elements come together to give the picture of a multifaceted city with numerous layers. Here’s a list of some Rome tourist places that you should absolutely not miss!
The Colosseum is an iconic building that always comes to mind when we think of must visit places in Rome. After all, how many other monuments can boast of having been constructed in 70 A.D.? The site of several gladiator battles in an era gone past, it stands silent now, facing the ravages of time. It earned the name Colosseum because of a gold-plated colossal statue that stood alongside the building. The statue is, of course, gone now but huge monument remains as a testament to its brutal past. Since the Colosseum can accommodate only 3000 people at the same time, there can be delays in going inside. There are several exhibitions that continue to take place throughout the year, adding to the allure for visitors, making it one of the most visited Rome tourist places.
Built in 1960 for the Olympic games, the Stadio Olimpico is the venue for some rowdy and extremely physical football games that continue to be played here by the two football clubs – AS Roma and SS Lazio. Unless you’re really crazy about football, this might not be the best place to go in Rome, especially during a match between the above two clubs. However, any other matches might prove to be better and offer you an inside look at the Italian passion when it comes to football. Even if you don’t get to see a match, just taking a walk around the arena might prove to be worthwhile.
Founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century, Musei Vaticani comprises of 54 museums located in Vatican City and are known to contain the largest collection of art and sculpture in the world. In all, there are 1400 rooms, chapels and galleries here. In fact, the Sistine Chapel is a part of these museums and is one of the must visit places in Rome. People come here to see and marvel at the genius of Michelangelo whose hard work is evident in the gloriously painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
This is certainly one of the places to visit in Rome even if you’re not very fond of ancient history. After all, where else can you get to see such a well-preserved ancient building from the year 119AD? The Pantheon was originally built as a temple to twelve of the most important classical deities. It was later converted into a church in 608AD. Although time has ravaged it over the years, it remains a simple monument and still retains its original bronze doors from the Roman period. The interiors of this building, especially its dimensions make it unique.
Everyone knows of at least one fountain where people throw coins to make wishes come true. But one of the places to visit in Rome is the Fontana di Trevi, an elaborate Baroque fountain that can be found in the Trevi district. It’s one of the most famous fountains in the world, more so after being featured in the famous Fellini classic, La Dolce Vita. People are always crowding the fountain, and if you want to avoid the crowds, then go early or late. The fountain itself is quite magnificent with the rocks, the sea horses and the statues that seem to have been frozen in time.
If the museums and statues and old buildings have taken their toll, a visit to the oldest gardens in Rome will be a refreshing palate cleanser. One of the Rome tourist places is Pincio, a gorgeous garden with amazing views, which is a part of the Villa Borghese. People often come here to see the views of the Vatican at sunset. As the sun sinks, it lights up the Vatican while the dome of St. Peter appears to be burnished with gold.
Rome is one of those places where one would never ever say, “out with the old and in with the new”. But there are times when the new and contemporary, side by side, deserve a chance as well. A visit to MAXXI is in order, which is a Museum of the Arts of the 21st century. The museum building was designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid, and there’s a permanent collection on display here, featuring contemporary Italian artists.
The more layers you peel away from Rome, the more it comes alive with all its different aspects. Before you plan a trip to Rome, do remember to check the SOTC website for offers and deals.
