In this article we will explore the top tourist attractions in Rome, Italy.
Throughout history Rome has been one of the major centers of the world. Today it is the capital of Italy with 2.6 million residents. Rome is located in the Lazio region of Italy and in the middle of the it lies Vatican City, the head of the Roman-Catholic Church and
the seat of the Pope. Every corner and street of the ancient city of Rome is a piece of art on its own, but we will limit our quest to the major spots that you must see!
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #1The Colosseum:The construction of the Colosseum began in 72AD by Vespian and was completed in 80AD by his son Titus. The grand opening was celebrated with games, gladiator fights, naval battles and wild animal hunts. This first celebration lasted 100 days.
The Colosseum has 3 floors of arches and pillars and an ornamental fourth floor that crowns the building with windows.
The perimeter of the outer wall measures 1,788 ft, with a height of 157 ft. It could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators.
The floor of the arena was originally built with a removable wooden floor. After gladiators fought the floor could be removed and the arena flooded for naval battles.
It has been estimated that over a million wild animals and about half million people died in the Colosseum games. In the year 313, Emperor Constantine abolished the gladiator fights.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attraction #2The Spanish StepsThe Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti), located between the church of Santa Trinita dei Monti and the Piazza di Spagna, is one of the most famous staircases in the world. The Fontana Barcaccia (Fountain of the Rotting Boat) which stands at the foot of the staircase was designed by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo in 1629. Bernini was inspired to create the fountain from the historic Tiber flood during Christmas, 1598. The broken semi-submerged boat was left behind after the flood had receded.
Today, the Spanish Steps is a popular meeting place for young Romans and tourists.
There is always something going on at The Steps and the Piazza di Spagna.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #3The Trevi FountainThe Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, standing 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. It is located at the end of the Aqua Virgo, one of the oldest aqueducts that supplied water to the Romans since 19 B.C.
Pope Clement XII commissioned Niccolo Salvi to create a large fountain at Trevi Square. It took 30 years to complete the construction (from 1732 to 1762).
The backdrop for the fountain is the Palazzo Poli. The main figure of the fountain is Neptune , god of the sea, riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. One of the horses is resists while the other is docile and obedient. The water of the fountain represents the sea and the two horses symbolize the changing moods of the sea.
Traditional legend has it that if you throw a coin in the fountain you will return to Rome. You should toss it over your right shoulder with your left hand and your back to the fountain.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #4The Pantheon The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved sites in Europe. It was built between 118 AD and 125 AD. The word Pantheon means the temple of all gods and comes from the Greek pan for “all” and theos for “gods”.
The building is fully rounded, enriched by numerous columns on the outside and topped with a domed roof which is open on top. The dome symbolizes the sky, and the round hole at the center represents the sun. In 609th AD, the Pantheon was converted into a church and become a place for worship and religious events. This single fact contributed largely to its preservation over time.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #5The Roman ForumIn almost every Roman city, there was a forum. In general, forums were the public square at the center of the city, and were the heart of social life. Indeed, it was a meeting place, a market and a center for entertainment. There justice was administered, protests held, triumphs and victories celebrated. There were people talking business or taking walks, politicians canvassing for votes, merchants, bankers, loafers, swindlers, and pickpockets...
The forum served many purposes:
1) The main building was a religious destination, a temple.
2) It was a social and cultural center.
3) It was a political hub.
4) It was the center of the economic structure.
The most famous and best-preserved forum is the Roman forum, which was the center of power of the entire Roman Empire.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #6Piazza NavonaPiazza Navona is located in the historical center of Rome, just west of the Pantheon. It's one of the most popular spots in Rome.
At the center of the square there are three magnificent fountains:
The central and largest fountain is the Fountain of Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi). The fountain represents four rivers and four continents, namely the Nile in Africa, the Ganges for Asia, the Danube for Europe, and the Rio della Plata for America.
At the south side is La Fontana del Moro, with the statue of an Ethiopian (or African) struggling with a dolphin. Both of these fountains are designed by Bernini.
The third fountain is at the northern side. The Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) - as the name suggests, is dedicated to Neptune, and was built by Della Porta in 1576.
On one side in the middle of the square stands the church of Santa Agnese in Agone. Raised on the site where according to tradition, St. Agnes was brought out naked to crucify, and was miraculously covered up by her hair. The design of the building was started by Girolamo and his son Carlo Rainaldi in 1652 and completed by Borromini in 1657.
Today Piazza Navona is very busy and full of life. It is fun to watch people buy a snack from a street vendor, or having their portrait made by street artists, tourists taking pictures, or groups of nuns in their robes crossing the square.
Rome, Italy Tourist Attractions #7, #8, #9, #10The Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine ChapelThe Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world and hosts two of the most important sites in Rome: St. Peter's Basilica with the vast St. Peter’s square, and the Vatican Museums:
St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's SquareSt. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world; it is the burial place of the apostle Simon Peter, making it the most famous church and the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. It can hold a capacity of 60,000 people. The covered area is 15,000 square meters.
San Pieter’s dome is the world largest self-supporting structure made of bricks. Visitors can climb the 537 steps to reach the top of the dome to enjoy an excellent view over the Vatican and the city of Rome.
To gain entrance to St. Peter's you have to observe certain strict clothing rules. Women should not wear short skirts, shorts or tight tops and should avoid sleeveless clothing. Men will not be admitted in shorts and should dress as decently as possible.
St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is part of the Vatican City and was built in 1657. The place has an elliptical shape and is surrounded by colonnades of doric columns with 140 sculptures of saints.
Vatican Museums and Sistine ChapelOne of the largest and most important collections of cultural and artistic treasures is the Vatican Museums. The Museums house one of the largest art collections in the world with countless paintings and sculptures. The works were compiled by many Popes over the centuries. The museum consists of 12 complexes, and over 1,300 rooms. For a full tour, you will travel four miles.
On the last Sunday of each month, the entrance to the Vatican Museums is free, but the waiting times can be more than two hours. About 40 visitors per minute flock to the Vatican Museums. And just as in St. Peter's church, adequate clothing is required before admittance.
The Sistine ChapelThe most famous part of the museum is the Sistine Chapel. It contains several of the most famous paintings in the world. It is also the place where the conclave is held for the papal election. Built in 1483 the chapel gained notoriety through one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance: Michelangelo. In 1508 he was commissioned by Pope Julius II della Rovere to repaint the ceiling. The work was completed around 1512. In 1535 Pope Paul III Farnese commissioned him again to paint the Last Judgment over the altar.
