Sights of Rome

Between the great basilicas, monuments and ancient sites, majestic squares, alleys, fountains, or the many and rich churches, it takes more than one life to discover all the wonders of the eternal city. Here is a selection, which is constantly enriched.
Beyond the vast historical heart of Rome from the Roman Forum to the Vatican, passing through the vast plain of Campo Marzio, we also present here interesting neighborhoods of the city, such as the student districts, Trastevere or Monti.

Sections

Must-see places in Rome

Photo of the Colosseum in Rome

Here is a short list that highlights the emblematic places of Rome and considered as unmissable, from the Colosseum to Saint Peter’s Square

Top 25 Best Sights in Rome

Lorsque l'on visite Rome pour la première fois, comment peut-on éviter le Colisée ou la Place et la Basilique Saint-Pierre ? Ces deux lieux valent vraiment le voyage. Mais après, on dénombre tellement de sites et de monuments hors normes, que tout classement ou sélection devient rapidement assez subjectif. Voici donc une liste à prendre plutôt comme suggestion et à agrémenter de votre propre sauce

Ancient sites in Rome

Photo of Theatre of Marcellus in Rome

This section is dedicated to the ancient monuments of Rome. They are so numerous and varied that you will find below two main articles. One presents the 3 or 4 most important places of the city of Rome, with the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon. The other article lists the most interesting sites, between the ...

Great monuments of ancient Rome

The great ancient buildings of Rome: the Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre of antiquity, dedicated to gladiator games and fights; the Pantheon, dedicated to the Greco-Roman gods; the Roman forums, political and administrative centre since the Roman Republic.

Roman churches and basilicas

This section is dedicated to the basilicas and churches of Rome, the most important and interesting, since the city has more than 400. We will first discover here the four major basilicas, including St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Church, the heart of Christianity and an extraordinary building that succeeded a place of worship built near the tomb of the Apostle ...

The four major basilicas of Rome

With more than 400 churches, Rome has a unique religious heritage. Among these, four are the major basilicas: Saint Peter in Vatican, Saint John of the Lateran, Saint Mary Major and Saint Paul outside the walls. Together with three other so-called "minor" basilicas, they are the stages of the traditional Tour of the Seven Churches of Catholic Pilgrims in Rome.

Squares of Rome

Photo of basilica os Santa Maria in Trastevere Beyond their large number, the squares of Rome are very varied, from the small neighborhood square to the crossroads of transport, through baroque jewels. A first article presents the four most prestigious: Saint Peter's square, Piazza Navona, Piazza del Campidoglio and Piazza di Spagna with the Spanish Steps. The following article proposes our Top 16 of the most interesting and charming Roman squares. Finally, articles are dedicated to the largest squares.

Districts of Rome

Photo Via dell’Arco di San Callisto

The Rioni of Rome are the historical districts of the city, so called during the Middle Ages. However, this division of the territory dates back to Roman times, with changes over the centuries. Let’s explore some of the city’s remarkable neighbourhoods beyond the city’s great historic centre in the historic Campo Marzio

The most beautiful parks and gardens in Rome

Photo of the Pincian Hill park in Rome

Rome has beautiful parks of various kinds, such as the elegant Pincian hill park, or the three main public parks of Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphilj and Villa Ada. In the center is also the Villa Celimontana, the Rose Garden of Rome, the Villa Sciarra, and out is the vast park of the Via Appia Antica along the Appian Way, including the Caffarella Park, and the Aqueduct Park.

Surroundings of Rome

Photo de la Villa d'Hadrien à Tivoli Escapades in the surroundings of Rome are not lacking and allow to rest from the Italian capital, sometimes agitated and noisy. We present in this section the most attractive sites, such as Ostia, Etruscan sites, lakes or beaches of the coast.

Panoramas of Rome

From the Aventine Hill, The garden of Oranges The various panoramas and viewpoints of the city of Rome: Hill of Janiculan hill, Aventine hill, Pincio terrace or Monte Mario. Visit, access and photographs.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica The heart of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest in the Christian world and was built on the tomb of St. Peter around the year 320. Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Bramante and many other artists contributed to its reconstruction in the 16th century.

Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Photo of Basilica of St. Mary Major, square and facade Dedicated to Mary, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major dates back to the 5th century AD, in the Early Christian era. All styles are found here, like medieval, Renaissance and baroque. Photos, history, information and architecture.

Basilica of Saint-John Lateran

Photo of nave, saint john of lateran Cathedral of the Pope as bishop of Rome, Saint John Lateran, raised by Constantine around AD 320, is the mother of all the churches. Photos, history, information and architecture.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Photo Cloister, St. Paul Outside the Walls Built on the tomb of the apostle Paul, in the 4th-5th century, Saint-Paul outside the Walls was destroyed in 1823 by a fire. Since then, it has been faithfully rebuilt. However, its rich elegant 13th-century cloister has survived.

Sistine Chapel

Photo of the Genesis of Michelangelo

The Sistine Chapel, the Cappella Sistina in Italian, is an extraordinary achievement, the main chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.
On the one hand it is one of the most famous artistic works in Rome, marked by the greatest work of Michelangelo Buonarroti, which is discovered on the tour in the Vatican ...

Castel Sant’Angelo

Photo of the Castle and bridge Sant'Angelo The base of the Castel Sant'Angelo is an ancient building, the Mausoleum of Hadrian, built for the emperor’s family between 117 and 138 AD. At the top of the mausoleum stood a statue of the Emperor, personified as God sun, with a bronze chariot.

Bridges of Rome and remarkable buildings

Photo Ponte Sisto bridge in Rome Ponte Sant’Angelo

The Ponte Sant’Angelo (Saint Angel’ Bridge) is based on the foundations of the ancient Pons Aelius, the ancient bridge that led to the Mausoleum of Augustus from the plain of Campo Marzio, now Castello Sant’Angelo. Renovated during history, it is one of the most beautiful in Rome, due to the presence along the parapets of the statues ...

Remarkable palaces in Rome

Photo of Palazzo Barberini

After the beautiful palaces that host the prestigious museums of Rome such as the Capitoline Museums (Palazzo Nuovo, Palazzo dei Conservatori, Palazzo Senatoria), the Borghese Gallery (in the Villa Borghese), the Vatican Museums (in the Apostolic Palaces including the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel), Rome has a myriad of palaces, here are the most prestigious according to us.

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Tourist map of Rome

Carte touristique de Rome View the interactive map of attractions selected by us: churches, squares, monuments, etc.

Must-See Squares of Rome

Place d' Espagne à Rome The squares or piazzas of Rome are among the main attractions of the city. Whether you wish to immerse yourself in the history of the city or just relax, meet up, take an aperitif, or just hang out! Here is an overview of four must-see squares of the eternal city.

Great Museums in Rome

Chapelle Sixtine - Musées du Vatican Interested in archaeology, modern art, painting and sculpture from all eras, you will find easily enough to satisfy your curiosity in Rome, where the choice and quality of the works of art abound. The main museums are those of the Vatican, the Capitoline Museums, the Gallery Borghese and the National Roman Museum.

The Pantheon

Le Panthéon de Rome The Pantheon is the best preserved ancient building of ancient Rome, it was also one of the most prestigious. Once at the foot of a vast courtyard, it is nowadays directly accessible on the pretty Piazza della Rotonda. once it dominated the site originally but is now located lower than the square because of the elevation of the ground of Rome over time.

Colosseum

Colosseum by night Originally called the Flavian amphitheater, the Colosseum of Rome was built from the year 72 AD by the will of the Emperor Vespasian. It was completed in 80 AD by his son Titus, and later supplemented by Domitian.

Piazza di Spagna and Spanish Steps

Place d'Espagne à Rome An eighteenth century work, this square of Piazza di Spagna has an unusual and irregular aspect and is at the foot of the Pincian Hill. The celebrated Spanish Steps is a monumental stairway which leads to the French church of Trinità dei Monti, an iconic sight with its two symmetrical bell towers.

Piazza Navona

Fontana del Moro Piazza Navona This is one of the liveliest places in Rome, with many painters, restaurants, cafes and ice-cream shops. Having kept the shape of the ancient Stadium of Domitian, Piazza Navona has become the most emblematic of the golden age of the Baroque.

Saint Peter’s Square

Place Saint-Pierre de Rome This Saint-Peter's square, surrounded by a majestic quadruple colonnade displays the largest church of the Christian world: St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro). It is also the heart of Vatican City,

Capitoline Square (Piazza del Campidoglio)

Place du Capitole Piazza del Campidoglio is a square located on top of Capitoline Hill. In antiquity, it was an important place of worship dedicated to Roman gods, with a large Temple of Jupiter which has since disappeared. Today it is the seat of the municipality of Rome.

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi fountain The Trevi Fountain is the most scenic fountain in Rome, present in the collective imagination with the film La Dolce Vita by Fellini. Its history is intertwined with that of the city of Rome, and it is located at the end of the ancient aqueduct of the Acqua Vergine.

The Roman Forum

Forum Romain de Rome The Roman Forum was for centuries the main town square, around which ancient Rome developed.It was the place of trade, business, religious worship, politics, the site of city's administration and justice systems, as well as of prostitution.