Rome has earned the nickname of the eternal city thanks to its history, which spans three millennia. In antiquity, it extended its dominion over the entire Mediterranean basin and a large part of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and as the capital of the Roman Republic and Empire, it became the first great metropolis of humanity, the center of one of the most important ancient civilizations.
It is the city with the highest concentration of historical and architectural assets in the world; and since 1980, together with the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See located in the city and the Basilica of St. Paul, is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Just by reading this introduction, you will have already noticed how important Rome and its legacy to the world has been. If you are planning to visit it, this post will help you a lot. Therefore, we have listed for you the best tourist attractions and places to visit that this city has to offer.
Rome is waiting for you!
The best places to visit in Rome
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- The Colosseum
You will go back in time more than 2,000 years when entering the Colosseum, the most spectacular monument of the city and one of the seven wonders of the world.
Known as the Flavian Amphitheater in antiquity, in this great stadium, with capacity for 60,000 spectators, the emperors distracted the people with shows of all kinds, including gladiator fights, recreations of battles or executions of prisoners.
- The Palatine Hill
The Palatine is a hill located 50 meters above the Roman Forum, where the ruins of the ancient palaces of the emperors are located.
On this hill, the most important of the seven hills to see in Rome, was the place where, according to legend, Romulus founded the city and was progressively occupied by the wealthier classes, until Emperor Augustus transformed it into the exclusive residence of the Roman emperors.
- Forum of Rome
The Forum is, together with the Roman Colosseum, the place that will take you back to the time of the Roman Empire and another of the most important places to visit in Rome. In this large space, full of ruins of temples and buildings, the social, cultural, political and economic life of the city developed more than 2000 years ago.
- St. Peter’s Basilica
Walking along Via della Conciliazione you will find yourself in front of St. Peter’s Square presided over by the historic St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest temple of Catholicism and another of the most beautiful places to visit in Rome.
Here you will find famous works such as Michelangelo’s Pietà, the statue of St. Peter or Bernini’s Baldachin. In the dome you will have one of the best views of St. Peter’s Square and Rome. You can also complete the experience by going down to the Vatican Necropolis, located under the Basilica and where, according to tradition, the apostle St. Peter was buried there.
- Vatican Museums
Another of the main places to visit in the Vatican, a city-state located inside Rome and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, are the Vatican Museums, which gathers one of the world’s most important art collections.
Inside this museum, owned by the Catholic Church and with more than 6 million tourist visits per year, you can discover great wonders such as the galleries of tapestries and cartographic maps, the rooms of Raphael, the Bramante Staircase or the great jewel of the museum, the Sistine Chapel of Michelangelo with his famous frescoes of The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment.
- Vittorio Emanuele II Monument
Not all the places to visit in Rome are ancient and as an example you just have to go to one of the most famous: the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, which was completed in 1911 and of which we have to say, it is very difficult to leave Rome without seeing it, due to its enormous size.
Located in the great Piazza Venezia was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of Italy and has become over time, another of the tourist attractions of Rome.
A world renowned gastronomy
Italy’s privileged geographical location in the Mediterranean sea contributed to create a unique blend of African, Middle-East and European culinary tradition. And Particularly Rome adopted all the different tastes locals and immigrants added to its cuisine.
Among the most popular dishes, you cannot miss the opportunity to taste its Spaghetti allá Carbonara, Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, Trippa alla Romana, or desserts such as Maritozzi in any Roman local restaurant.
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