In this article, I will take you on a journey through the most famous landmarks in Rome and monuments that deserve to be known.
If you are planning a trip to Rome, take note of this information to plan a perfect itinerary in Rome’s historic center.
The historic center of Rome occupies a surface of about 20 square kilometers and is listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Although I have lived in Rome for more than 30 years, the Eternal City never fails to amaze me with every walk I take.
If you want to visit most of Rome’s landmarks in a few days, be prepared to walk for a real tour de force. The city is dense with ancient buildings and artistic treasures.
For your first trip to Rome, I advise you to set aside at least 3 full days.
Most of the monuments listed here feature different historic layers: Pre-Roman, Roman, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque.
It might be confusing and overwhelming to go through it all, but keep this guide at hand and you’ll have the essential information ready.
Some of the most beautiful and most famous piazzas in Rome hold many sights and deserve at least a couple of hours to be visited thoroughly.
TIP: Also consider visiting Rome's most impressive ruins with a live guide. The best tour to avoid the long lines and also see the underground of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum is this one!
People’s Square | Rome monuments
ITINERARY THROUGH THE MOST FAMOUS ROME MONUMENTS
Monuments of Piazza del Popolo – People’s Square
We begin this walk from the ancient northern gateway to the city. The Porta Flaminia or Porta del Popolo opens through the Aurelian Walls. Emperor Aurelian had the walls, 19 km long, built in the 3rd century AD for defensive purposes against the barbarians.
The Porta Flaminia leads to the Piazza del Popolo, the guardian of incredible monuments. I will now illustrate some of them.
People’s Gate – Porta del Popolo
This majestic entrance consists of two facades, inner and outer.
The exterior facade was renovated in the 16th century and features statues of Saints Peter and Paul, protectors of Rome.
The inner facade was still remodeled in the 17th century by Bernini in honor of Queen Christina of Sweden’s visit to Rome in 1655.
Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo
Passing through the Porta del Popolo you enter a corridor that leads to the square. On the left, you will find the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo.
The church is very old; it has this name because it was built at the expense of the people in 1099. The site is where the ashes of Emperor Nero were said to be kept.
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo holds a collection of Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. The highlight is the two paintings by Caravaggio in the Cerasi Chapel.
The paintings depict the Crucifixion of St. Peter and the Conversion of St. Paul and you can see them for free!
With your back to the Porta del Popolo, walk to the square, the most beautiful antechamber to the historic center of Rome. In front, you find the spectacle of the Fountain of Lions with the Twin Churches, as the locals call them, in the background.
Fountain of Lions and Obelisk
The white marble fountain is the work of Roman architect Giuseppe Valadier from 1823. It consists of four circular basins topped by four Egyptian-style lions spitting water.
The Egyptian Obelisk dates back to the time of Pharaoh Seti (14 century B.C.). The Roman Emperor Augustus moved it to Rome along with other Egyptian obelisks to celebrate the conquest of Egypt in 10 BC.
Twin Churches
The Church of Santa Maria in Montesanto (left) and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (right) for an optical effect look the same but are actually different. The architect Carlo Rainaldi built them in the 17th century.
You might enjoy looking at them for a while and figuring out the differences.
For example, the dome of Santa Maria in Montesanto has a dodecagonal base, while the dome of Santa Maria dei Miracoli has an octagonal base.
Once you have explored the piazza, you could climb the old stairs leading you to the Pincio Terrace, part of the Borghese Gardens, to see one of Rome’s prettiest views.
Curiosity 1: During recent archaeological excavations, 2 funerary monuments were found under the twin churches. These are two pyramids quite similar to the Pyramid of Caius Cestius in the Testaccio district.
Curiosity 2: From Piazza del Popolo depart three streets known as "The Trident", realized during the urbanistic renovation of the 16th century. The central street, Via del Corso is the shortest way to get to the Colosseum from Piazza del Popolo.
Landmarks in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna – Spanish Steps
From Piazza del Popolo, walk along Via del Babbuino to reach one of the tourists’ favorite landmarks in Rome Italy: the Spanish Steps in Piazza Di Spagna.
There are a few remarkable monuments to check out in this piazza.
Spanish Steps
The elegant and scenic stairway was designed by architect Francesco De Sanctis in 1720.
The 136 steps were meant to connect the square, where the fountain is located, to the hill where the Church of Trinità dei Monti stands.
Before the staircase was built, there were two steep paths that could not be traveled by carriage.
The Spanish Steps hosted the scene of some famous movies set in Rome, such as Roman Holiday and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
At the foot of the steps is the building that houses the Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
It was here that the poet John Keats rented a room in 1820 in hopes of recovering from tuberculosis. He died there about three months later.
The house is today a museum with a library dedicated to Romantic poetry. You can visit the room where poet John Keats spent his last days, which features the original furniture.
La Barcaccia Fountain
The fountain depicting a sinking boat was sculpted in 1629 by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The choice of subject for the fountain perhaps depended on the fact that the water pressure at that point was low.
Or perhaps the Barcaccia is reminiscent of a flood that caused the Tiber River to overflow, sending boats all the way into the square.
Church of Trinità dei Monti
In ancient Rome, a grandiose villa known as the Horti Luculliani stood in place of the church.
In the late 15th century, King Charles the Eighth of France purchased the land to dedicate it for religious purposes.
The current appearance of the church dates back to between 1520 and 1585. The facade is slimmed by 2 bell towers at the base of which two clocks mark the time in Rome and Paris.
The chapels inside preserve valuable paintings, including a Virgin Mary in a dress with an unusual pink color that was a pilgrimage spot.
The Trevi Fountain in Rome | Rome monuments
Fontana di Trevi – Trevi Fountain
It takes you about 15 minutes to walk from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain.
This is the most famous fountain in Rome, and you will find a crowd awaiting you there unless you visit at 6 in the morning.
The good news is, the artwork is so impressive that you’ll be able to enjoy it from every corner of the tiny square.
There’s water in this site thanks to the work of Roman commander and architect Agrippa, an intimate friend of Emperor Augustus.
In 19 A.D., Agrippa built a 20-kilometer aqueduct that conducted water from the Acqua Virgo spring from outside the city to the square where the fountain stands today. The aqueduct is still intact today.
For centuries, the Trevi Fountain was nothing else than a huge tank. In the 18th Century, Pope Clemente the 13th finished financing (with taxes) the renovation of the fountain.
The group of statues as we see it today is an artwork of the sculptor Pietro Bracci.
It represents the god Ocean striding into the sea aboard a shell. On either side of the figure, two horses depict the two qualities of the sea, calm and stormy.
Why is everyone throwing coins inside the fountain?
Because one of the legends about the Trevi Fountain says, if you do it (giving your back to the fountain), you’ll have a chance to visit Rome again.
The Altar of the Fatherland, view from the Monte Mario Hill | Best views in Rome
4. Altare della Patria – Altar of the Fatherland
The majestic, bright building which dominates Venezia Square at the heart of Rome’s historic center was built between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century.
It honors the first King of Unified Italy Vittorio Emanuele the 2nd. That is why it is also known as “The Victorian.”
This is one of the most recent among Rome’s monuments. To build it, some medieval-era buildings were torn down.
All the artworks in the Altar of the Fatherland represent the Italian Risorgimento and the principles at the base of it.
The monument resembles a classical temple. If you take one of the 3 elevators (ticket €12) that bring you to the terrace on the rooftop, you will enjoy one of the best panoramic views in Rome.
Fun fact about Rome's Altar of the Fatherland: Locals nicknamed it “the typewriter”...because of its shape.
Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
This landmark and the next one on the list rise on Capitoline Hill, the place where some important buildings of the royal and republican Rome were located.
The Capitoline Hill has two summits, the Arx and the Capitolium, and between them, a small depression called the Asylum. The Church of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli is found on the Arx, and you’ll reach it through a wide stair designed by the architect Vignola in the 16th Century.
Before it became a Christian church, the place was the Temple to Juno, one of the three most important deities of the Romans, dating back to the 4th Century b.C.
The church in the Romanesque style as we see it today is a work from the 13th Century.
Pilgrims always visited the Ara Coeli Church to ask for miracles and blessings. It was a common habit to climb the staircase on one’s knees and to beg in front of the wooden statue of the “Saint Child”, that had been baptized in the River Jordan.
After you have visited the church, which has free access, you can discover some more famous monuments in Rome Italy, on Capitoline Hill.
Here is the Rome landmarks map so you can track your itinerary.
Piazza del Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill
On the side of the Ara Coeli Church, there’s another impressive Renaissance staircase by the Vignola.
At its base, two fountains in the shape of lions, originally belonging to the Temple of Isis in Rome, will welcome you to one of the most fascinating piazzas of Rome.
The current disposition of Campidoglio Square was designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti during the Renaissance. The buildings surrounding the piazza are way more ancient.
The statue in the center represents Emperor Marcus Aurelius, an example of correct government.
The fountain at the bottom of the piazza is known as the “Fountain of the Goddess Rome”. The deity is sitting at the center, while the other two sculptures on its sides represent the river Tiber and the Nile.
The twin staircase behind the fountain brings you to the Senate Palace, which has been the seat of Rome’s government since the 12th Century.
The other two buildings overlooking the square host the Capitolini Museums (here you’ll also find the famous bronze statue with the she-wolf nursing Romulus and Remo, mythical founders of Rome).
TIP:
From the terrace in Piazza del Campidoglio, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Roman Forum with all the Roman monuments and ruins.
ITINERARY THROUGH THE MOST FAMOUS LANDMARKS IN ROME, PART 2: MOST ANCIENT RUINS
By now you should know that your exploration of Rome’s historical center will make you tired at the end of the day. TIP: Choose your accommodation wisely in one of the cutest neighborhoods of Rome near the city center, so it won’t be too complicated to go from your room to the attractions.
Where to stay in Rome: View from the Campidoglio
The Roman Forum
If you’ve been following this itinerary so far, the first look at the Roman Forum you’ll have it from the terrace behind the Senate Palace on Capitoline Hill.
To have an even better bird’s eye view of the ruins, you need to walk along the pedestrian road “Via Dei Fori Imperiali”.
This magnificent road runs from Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. It functions as a boardwalk from which you can admire both the Roman Forum and the Imperial Forum, with the Colosseum standing majestic in the background.
The Roman Forum is an area enclosing some of the most ancient ruins of palaces, temples, and basilicas of ancient Rome.
The term “basilica” in Roman times meant something different than what it meant in the Christian Era. Formerly, it addressed a rectangular, covered building with three naves divided by columns and was destined for assemblies, courthouses, trades, and orations.
You can access the Roman Forum from Via Dei Fori Imperiali or from the entrance in front of the Colosseum. Walk on the “Sacred Road”, which cuts the Roman Forum from East to West, and look at the different ruins.
TIP: Remember to reserve your Roman Forum entrance tickets in advance. The ticket also allows access to the Colosseum arena.
The Palatine Hill
This is the place where the legendary king Romulus founded Rome, which at the beginning was as small as this hill itself.
The research confirmed the existence of a village dating back to the 8th Century b.C, which is the period attributed to the kingdom of Romulus.
The basement of one of these archaic houses has been transmitted as the “house of Romulus”, honored and restored through the ages.
A cave on the slope of Palatine Hill was identified as the site where the Romans celebrated the cult of the god Faunus Lupercus and the most archaic festivities. This cave, as tells the myth, is where the newborn Romulus ad Remo were found and bred by the she-wolf.
On the Palatine Hill, which you can access with the same ticket as the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, you will find ancient Roman landmarks and villas from other eras:
- the Villa of Emperor Augustus,
- the Villa of his wife Empress Livia
- the Renaissance Farnese Gardens
The Imperial Forum
Between the 2nd and the 1st Century b.C., following the military wins of Ceasar, Rome had become the capital of an Empire.
Ceasar used part of the war’s booty to acquire the land next to the Roman Forum and to build new public spaces.
His successors Augustus, Vespasian, Nerva, and Traianus expanded Caesar’s works.
The Forum of Trajan is the best kept of all, with its palaces known as “Markets of Trajan” that today even host exhibitions.
The “Trajan’s Column”, on the short side of the Forum of Trajan, hides the tomb of the Emperor and the Empress at its base. The spiral of low relief running along the surface of the column shows scenes and symbols of the wars against the Dacians.
Both the Imperial Forum and the Roman forums’ were plundered during the Middle Ages, their marble was used to build new buildings outside the historic center.
The lustrous floors of the fori were removed to give space to plantations for the community.
Artistic treasures like sculptures and marbles were seized by the papacy during the Renaissance and are now displayed in museums.
Inside the Colosseum | Rome monuments and landmarks
The Colosseum
The Colosseum is the most iconic monument in Rome and Italy.
The works for the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the name by which it was known in ancient times, started under the Empire of Vespasian (69-79 AD) and ended about 30 years later.
This area had been previously occupied by the park and lake of the deceased Emperor Nero, the Domus Aurea.
The Colosseum reflected the will of the Roman government to give something back to the citizens, entertaining them with games and brutal shows.
Access to the games was free and the arena could seat up to 78.000 spectators. The greatness of the building is remarkable even today.
The foundations could bear the weight of 100.000 cubic meters of travertine marble and 300 tons of iron connecting the blocks together.
The Colosseum has an elliptical shape and develops on 4 levels. The system of gates, stairs, and corridors was conceived in a way that all the people could exit the arena in a matter of minutes.
Only if you access the structure you’ll have an idea of how it felt to be inside and observe the battles.
The interior is partly collapsed, so you can’t see anymore the bleachers but with a basic ticket, you can freely walk around the perimeter and have a 360 degrees view of the interior.
If you wish to, you can visit the Colosseum’s underground and understand how performances were staged. You will visit the dungeons, the gladiators’ halls and the elevator they used to lift the beasts.
You can check out the availability of the underground tour here.
TIP: in case you travel during the torrid Roman summer, consider taking an evening/night tour (6 PM-10 PM): it will be one of the most rewarding things you can do in Rome by night, as the Colosseum is all lit up.. TIP: This is the best night tour of the Colosseum.
How did the Colosseum break?
In the mid-14th century, a terrible earthquake caused the Colosseum walls to break and partially collapse.
There were other earthquakes but the one in 1349 was the most powerful.
ROME LANDMARKS ITINERARY PART 2 – FROM THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS TO THE PANTHEON
The Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus used to host cart races and it’s still nowadays one of the most impressive stadiums in the world.
The bleachers are mostly covered with soil and grass, now, making it a perfect park to relax for a while before heading to the next landmark.
Concerts happen here during the summer, or on New Year’s Eve.
The Circus Maximus is a public area where you can spread your towel and have a picnic.
The Domus Aurea
Of all the monuments in Rome, the Domus Aurea is the one that influenced immensely the artistic trends of the following centuries.
Emperor Nero stands out in the history of Rome for his kinks and demands. His own supporters, as well as Roman historians and his successors, severely judged his conduct as immoral, his pulses excessive.
Nero looked up to the style of the Hellenic mansions when he conceived the sumptuous abode called Domus Aurea. It became his main residence in 66 AD.
The palaces of the domus had incredibly long porticos, pavilions, a park with different species of wildlife, and an artificial lake.
The same lake was drained by Nero’s successor to make room for the Colosseum. The majority of rooms were destined for leisure and banquets.
Nero loved the arts and considered himself an artist. Rare polychrome marbles, fountains, pools with sulfur and marine water, frescoes, and bas-relief were all over the place.
When the Domus Aurea started being unearthed during the 16th Century, perfectly preserved Roman paintings were discovered. Renaissance artists were amazed at that sight and the artistic genre “grotesque” was born.
This revival current in painting had enormous success throughout Italy and was chosen for the decoration of many Renaissance mansions like the Farnese Palace of Caprarola, a picturesque town near Rome.
The famous Renaissance painter Raffaello himself explored the excavation and studied the frescoes for days.
How can you visit the Domus Aurea?
The remains are underground. Access to a guided itinerary of 220 meters through 32 rooms is possible from the Colle Oppio Park in Via Labicana.
Only 25 visitors are admitted at a time and the guided tour is mandatory.
Booking your visit in advance will ensure you find a spot. The Domus Aurea is open only at weekends.
Check availability and reserve a spot for the tour here.
MIND:
If you visit Rome in winter, the temperature inside the Domus Aurea will be about 4 degrees.
The Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano
The Basilica of San Clemente is a monument that shows clearly the historical layers of Rome. It is accessible by a short walk from the Colosseum.
At ground level, there’s a cathedral from the 12th Century dedicated to Pope Clement 1st. The cathedral has three naves and splendid mosaics on the apsis. One of the chapels displays Renaissance frescoes telling the story of St. Catherine’s life.
During the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th Century, archeological excavations have revealed two more ancient levels.
Beneath the basilica is another, from the early Christian period, dating back to the 4th century AD. The walls have frescoes from the 8th and 9th centuries. Here are the remains and tomb of St. Cyril.
Still below the early Christian basilica are buildings from the Roman period that include:
- a Roman domus with several rooms
- a temple dedicated to the Cult of Mithra, of Eastern origin and in vogue throughout the empire.
- massive walls that must have belonged to a public building, perhaps a mint.
- a spring
You can visit all the levels but you must book the visit online in order to get access.
The temple of Hercules Victor in Piazza Bocca della Verità, photo from Wikimedia
Piazza Bocca Della Verità
Walking from the Circus Maximus to the Theater of Marcellus, we find another piazza with some of the most ancient monuments of Rome.
We begin our exploration from the monument that gives the square its name.
Mouth of Truth
The pronaos of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin has held the “Mouth of Truth” since 1632.
It is a stone slab carved with eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a beard. It is thought to have originally been a manhole that filtered water into the Cloaca Maxima, which is located nearby.
The Cloaca Maxima, built by the last of the 7 kings of Rome, the Etruscan Tarquinius the Superbus, allowed for the reclamation of the immense Velabro swamp.
After the cloaca was built, markets developed in the area, such as the cattle market and the Forum Boarium.
According to a medieval legend, the mouth was used to uncover lies. If someone was suspected of treason, they were forced and put a hand inside the mouth of truth.
If the person was dishonest, he would never be able to get his hand back!
The stone is extremely popular among locals, and that’s why you’ll see people in line to take a photo in front of the Mouth of Truth.
Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin
The Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin is very ancient. It was founded during the 6th Century on a much older pagan temple dedicated to Hercules.
Inside the church, you can clearly see the intersection between the Roman and Medieval layers.
Temple of Portunus
On one side of Piazza Bocca della Verità, in front of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, there are two ancient Roman Temples.
The Temple of Portunus, the protector of ports and rivers, was probably erected in connection with the near commercial Port Tiberinus, around the 4th or 3rd century BC. This makes it the oldest building in Rome still standing.
It was converted into a church during the 9th Century, dedicated to Saint Mary Egyptian, a protector of the women of low virtue.
Temple of Hercules Victor
The circular temple in the Mouth of Truth Square is dedicated to Hercules Victor. The deity protected merchants working in the nearby Forum Boarium.
It was a wealthy olive oil merchant, Marcus Octavius Herennius, who erected the temple in the 2nd century BC.
This temple is the oldest marble building in Rome.
In the 12th century, the temple was converted into a Christian church.
Theater of Marcellus
This is the only theater of ancient Rome you can still admire in the city.
The travertine arcades of the building are similar to the ones of the Colosseum, but not so tall. Caesar started the construction of the theater and Augustus completed it just in time for the “Centennial Games” of 17 AD.
The monument could sit about 15000 spectators and hosted theatrical representations as well as music and poetry competitions.
After the Roman Empire had adopted the Christian religion, the Theater of Marcellus was slowly abandoned and became a quarry to extract materials for the new churches.
The monument that witnessed the assassination of Caesar
If you’ve enjoyed this itinerary through Rome’s monuments and landmarks so far, you should also stop in Largo di Torre Argentina Square.
Have a look at the ruins at the center of the square, a few meters lower than ground level.
The remains of columns, basements, stones, and walls you see belonged to temples of important deities.
There are temples dedicated to Goddess Fortuna (a huge head belonging to the votive statue of the goddess is resting inside the Capitoline Museums) and Feronia.
The building identified as the Senate Hall is the place where Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 b.C.
The dome of the Pantheon
The Pantheon – locals’ favorite of all Rome monuments
The Pantheon is the most incredible monument in Rome, less popular than the Colosseum, but dearest, to locals.
It is also the best-maintained among all Rome monuments. It’s got the look we see today from the renovation at the time of Emperor Hadrian, around 120 AD (it is also one of the oldest buildings in Rome.)
Get inside and experience the harmony of its design. The precision of this architecture, perfectly rounded, with identical height and width, will mesmerize you.
Standing near the center of the structure, admire the solemn coffer ceiling of what still represents one of the biggest domes in the world.
The Pantheon has only one window, called oculus. It consists of a hole at the top of the vault, from which a beam of light gets in and hits different parts of the surface, depending on the time of the day.
Artists and kings are buried inside the place, which was born as a temple to all deities, and later declared a Catholic church.
The Pantheon is a must-visit landmark in Rome, and the area surrounding it is one of the best to stay in Rome for the first time.
ROME MONUMENTS AND LANDMARKS PART 3 – PIAZZA NAVONA TO THE VATICAN
If you love to discover one of the most interesting free things to do in Rome, follow the recommendation of a local and head to the Piazza Navona.
This piazza holds a special place in the locals’ hearts. Every Roman as a kid has been taken here by their parents to enjoy the sweets and the carousel during Christmas.
Piazza Navona is home to Rome’s oldest Christmas market. Here, on the morning of January 6, people celebrate Epiphany and the Befana, Italy’s Christmas witch.
Piazza Navona is also a sublime meeting point, with marble benches and three Baroque fountains (the central one was designed by Bernini).
In the background, baroque buildings and the fascinating Church of Sant’ Agnese in Agone, will make you feel like you’re part of a painting.
Fountain of the Four Rivers
The central and most majestic fountain in Piazza Navona was designed by Bernini and completed in 1649.
From the 4 sides of a rock-shaped marble monolith rise 4 figures.
They represent personifications of the greatest rivers then known: the Nile, Rio de la Plata, Ganges, and Danube.
In the center of one of the most famous sculptures in Rome is placed one of the Egyptian obelisks of Rome.
Stadium of Domitian
The reason Piazza Navona has an elongated shape is explained by discovering that in ancient Roman times it housed a stadium.
The remains of the stadium are located about 5 meters below street level.
The stadium was inaugurated by Emperor Domitian in 86 BC. The role of the structure was to host Greek-style athletic games, including singing and poetry competitions.
Church of St. Agnese in Agone
One of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Rome actually dates back to the 8th century. The Church of St. Agnese in Agone is one of the highlights of the Parione neighborhood. Architects Rainaldi and Borromini renovated it in the 17th century.
The church was founded on the site of the martyrdom of St. Agnes, a young woman who was tortured and killed for refusing the prefect of Rome.
St. Angel’s Castle
The imposing Medieval fortress known as Castel Sant’Angelo awaits you on the right bank of the Tiber.
In front of it, the charming pedestrian bridge Ponte Sant’Angelo is one of the best photo spots in Rome.
The bridge is decorated with statues sculpted by Bernini and his pupils. The statues depict angels carrying the instruments of Christ’s passion and Saints Peter and Paul.
The history of St. Angel’s Castle is complex. Once there was no castle but the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. The emperor had it built in 135 B.C. to house his family’s tomb.
In the 5th century AD, Emperor Honorius had the mausoleum included in the route of the Aurelian Walls for defensive purposes. Then it began to be called a “castle.”
The castle and the bridge have witnessed brutal murders over the centuries, you wouldn’t guess it because the structure is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The Archangel appeared to Pope Gregorio Magno in 590 AD, during a religious procession aimed at stopping the plague.
In the 15th century, a pope had the “passetto,” a secret passage from St. Peter’s to the castle, built.
In this way, the popes could take refuge in the castle to flee enemy attacks.
The castle is now a museum (an adult ticket costs €15).
The Vatican Museums
One of the most popular museums in the world stands in the heart of Rome, enclosed in the Vatican State.
The Vatican Museums display a huge part of the artistic treasures and artifacts that the popes have been collecting over the centuries.
The highlight is the frescoes by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, while the other numerous exhibitions include:
- The Egyptian collection
- the rooms of Raffaello
- the Museo Profano
- the collection of geographical maps
- the Etruscan Museum
The average visit, which aims at the Sistine Chapel and everything on the way, lasts a couple of hours.
Booking a ticket on the Vatican Museums’ website is highly recommended if you don’t want to spend half day in a line! I advise you to reserve a place well in advance. You can do that here.
The Cathedral of St. Peter is part of the Vatican State as well.
If you love a hike, you can try and climb the 537 to the top of St. Peter’s Dome, from where you will see the best panoramic view of the city center.
Baths of Caracalla
Walk about 1 km from the Colosseum in the direction of the Appian Way and you will find the Baths of Caracalla.
Here is one of the grandest thermal complexes of antiquity.
The hot and cold water baths could accommodate about 1,600 people. The baths were equipped with every comfort and richly decorated.
Emperor Caracalla commissioned its construction in 212 AD.
Pyramid of Cestius
The pyramid at the center of Ostiense Square is the funerary monument of Caius Cestius, an important Roman magistrate who died in 18 BC.
It is said that after Augustus conquered Egypt, there was a real fashion to imitate the Egyptian style.
The interior contains the barrel-vaulted burial chamber with frescoes of nymphs and winged victories.
It is to this era that the 4 such pyramids that arose in Rome date from.
This is certainly not one of the best known monuments, but precisely because of its distinctiveness it constitutes one of the historical sites in Rome to check out, at least from the outside.
Square Colosseum
We now come to a contemporary landmark of Rome that is inspired by the Colosseum.
A symbol of the Eur District, in the southern part of the city, stands the Palace of Italian Civilization, also known as the “Square Colosseum”. The Square Colosseum is one of the most famous building in Rome.
The building arose in 1938 as part of the massive works that led to the construction of the Eur District, an icon of twentieth-century Italian architecture.
The structure repeats the architectural technique of the arch as many as 216 times. The materials used are reinforced concrete and marble.
Its purpose was to represent the Exhibition of Italian Civilization during the 1942 World’s Fair.
Today the building houses the headquarters of the Fendi fashion house.
Conclusion
I’m sure this tour across Rome’s monuments and famous landmarks in Rome will cause you to have a thousand pictures on your camera and sore feet!
If a walk through all these monuments seems overwhelming, select only a few of them.
As for the Roman monuments in Rome, the most satisfying visits are to the Colosseum and the Pantheon.
On the other hand, among other famous monuments in Rome from other epochs, I recommend you absolutely see at least the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona.
Consider reading something about the best food in Rome and where to eat it so that you can get some reward for all the time and energy you’ve dedicated to the city 🙂
Let me know in the comments how many of these Rome landmarks you have visited during your trip to Rome!
Download the printable Rome monuments list!
FAQs Famous Landmarks and Monuments in Rome
How many monuments are in Rome?
As for the monuments of ancient Rome, there are more than 200 of them.
They include amphitheaters, porticoes, gardens, circuses, basilicas, forums, theaters, palaces, markets, bridges, columns, and so on.
The churches of Rome, on the other hand, are more than 900.
So the total count of the landmarks of Rome exceeds 1,000.
What are 5 famous monuments and tourist attractions in Rome?
The 5 most famous historical sites in Rome are
- Colosseum
- Trevi Fountain
- Roman Forum
- Spanish Steps
- Sistine Chapel
Who owns Rome monuments?
The heritage of Rome’s historic monuments is managed by the City of Rome and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Holy See’s properties in Rome belong to the Vatican State.
What monuments did Augustus build in Rome?
Emperor Augustus built in Rome:
- the Pantheon
- the Mausoleum of Augustus in Piazza Augusto Imperatore
- The Ara Pacis
- The Sundial
- The Baths of Agrippina
- the Temple of Neptune
Further Readings
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