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The Top 5 Things to See and Do in Rome

Combining ancient history with the fun and vibrancy of a modern city, Rome is one of the world's most popular and exciting travel destinations.

It is home to a number of unique landmarks, attractions and experiences that offer a fascinating insight into its history and provide visitors with a memorable introduction to Italian culture.

The Colosseum

Arguably the most famous landmark of all in the Italian capital, the Colosseum stands as a grand relic of the mighty Roman Empire. Construction of the giant structure began in the first century AD, when Rome was ruled by the emperor Vespasian. The Colosseum once had the capacity to hold some 50,000 people, who would come to the venue to see a variety of public spectacles, including gladiatorial contests, executions, re-enactments of famous battles and other occasionally gruesome scenes. Today, tourists can take tours of the Colosseum to see its impressive interior and learn more about its history.

Visitors whose interest in ancient Rome is piqued by the Colosseum can also visit the nearby Roman Forum, which was the central area around which the civilisation developed. A number of ancient structures still stand within the forum, including the Arch of Tiberius and the Temple of Caesar.

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is located within the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in Vatican City. It is the best-known chapel within the palace, mainly as a result of the Michelangelo painting that adorns its ceiling, which depicts God's creation of Adam as described in the Book of Genesis. There are several other frescoes and paintings to be seen within the chapel, such as Michelangelo's The Last Judgement and a series of tapestries by Raphael.

Visitors can see the Sistine Chapel as part of a tour of the Vatican Museums. The museums began as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century. Various collections and galleries are housed within the buildings today, including an archive of tapestries comprising works from the 15th and 17th centuries. There are also a number of archaeological finds on display that offer an insight into the Etruscan and Egyptian civilisations, among others.

Capitoline Museums

The Capitoline Museums complex is located in Piazza del Campidoglio at the top of the Capitoline Hill in the heart of Rome. It comprises art and archaeological institutes that house a number of collections, featuring everything from ancient Roman statues and Renaissance art to valuable jewels and coins. A particular highlight for visitors to look out for is the Capitoline Wolf. The bronze statue depicts a female wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, twin brothers and, according to legend, founders of Rome. The Capitoline Museums trace their history back to 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a group of bronze statues to the city's people.

There are many other museums and cultural institutes for tourists to visit in Rome, including Galleria Borghese, which houses an art collection that once belonged to the Borghese family, and the Galleria d'Arte Antica.

Spanish Steps

Those who want to absorb some of the communal atmosphere and vibrancy of Rome should be sure to pay a visit to the Spanish Steps. The set of steps climb a steep slope that leads from Piazza di Spagna at the bottom to Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top. The higher square is the site of the church of Trinita dei Monti, a Baroque building with a history stretching back to the 15th century. Located next to the Spanish Steps is the Keats-Shelley Memorial House, which celebrates the 19th century Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Keats spent his final days in the building in 1821, having moved to Rome in an attempt to improve his health. The museum houses an extensive collection of letters, manuscripts and other memorabilia relating to Keats and Shelley, as well as other writers such as Lord Byron, William Wordsworth and Oscar Wilde.

Rome boasts many other squares and outdoor areas that have become popular gathering points, such as Piazza Navona and Piazza Santa Maria.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is regarded as one of Rome's great spiritual buildings. It was constructed as a Roman temple by Marcus Agrippa between 27 and 25 BC before being rebuilt by Hadrian in 125 AD. After being given to Pope Boniface IV in the seventh century, the Pantheon was consecrated as a Catholic church. One of the most striking aspects of the building is its architecture, with features including a portico comprising 16 monolithic columns and a concrete dome that is the largest unreinforced structure of its kind in the world. At the centre of the dome is an opening, known as an oculus, which lets in a beam of sunlight that moves across the walls and floors throughout the day.

Another majestic building worth seeing in Rome is St Peter's Basilica, which is located within Vatican City. It has the largest interior of any Christian church, with capacity to hold 60,000 people, and is regarded by followers of the religion as one of the world's holiest sites.

Posted by Andrew Smith

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Rome

Updated: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:35:10

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