Knowing your way around what is popularly called the Eternal City is not as easy as you might think. Rome has quite a lot of historically significant places that everyone visiting here should see. You will possibly feel like you have time travelled to the past. From the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City to the ruins of Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, let me guide you through the destinations you would not want to miss here at any cost.
1. Vatican City
The Vatican is the smallest state on the globe that is independent. The area of this state is literally just 0.49 km2. About half of this city is gardens decorated with old sculptures and fountains. This is a complete monarchy ruled by the head of the Catholic Church. The pope also plays an important role in the governance of this city. The most remarkable highlight of the Vatican City is, of course, the well renowned Sistine Chapel. It is located inside the Vatican Palace. It is mainly known for its Renaissance frescoes, painted by Michelangelo which provides not only an extraordinarily beautiful interior to the chapel, but also the transparent history of Rome’s ancestors. Another thing you can’t afford to miss out on are the Vatican Museums. It has a collection of 54 paintings by some of the greatest artists of all time like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. This collection is worth more than €15 billion.
2. The Colosseum
The Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheater, is a large amphitheater covering 6 acres of land. It can fit upto 50,000 people. This first opened its gates between 80 and 82 AD. It has been well maintained and was modified multiple times. It is four stories high and has a total of 80 entrances. This is not just an old structure. Activities still regularly happen here and you can be a part of it too! Here is the link for you to check out what events are available at the time of your travel and the complete details for it. There are private cruise shore excursions and Circus Maximus Virtual Reality Game available in the activities as well.
3. Trajan’s Market
This is known to be the oldest shopping mall on earth and also the first shopping center of Rome. It was built between 116 and 112 AD. It is an enormous complex with ruins of important structures. The floors are made of marble and the market has three levels of stairs. You will also be able to find the remains of a library. The ceilings and the passages that you will see here are exactly how they were built, unlike the walls that even though still stand erect, are a part of the ruins now. This used to be the shopping spot for the common people in those days and you could buy meat, oil, fruits, vegetables, and spices here. Trajan was known to be a kind ruler who wanted his people to not feel like they didn’t have enough. He also lowered the taxes for this purpose and spent more royal wealth than before in providing for children who could not afford basic needs.
4. Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of the oldest resources for water in the city of Rome and is known to be one of the most popular fountains on earth. It was built in 19 BC. A unique fact about this place is that it is believed that throwing a single coin into the fountain would confirm that you will come to Rome again, fall in love, and get married. According to tradition, the coin is supposed to be thrown using the right hand over the left shoulder, and because of this belief, roughly €3000 are thrown into the fountain every day. That means that over €1 million is thrown into the fountain every year. It is illegal to reach out into the fountain and take any money from it, although you will still find some people doing it anyway.
5. Tiber Island
This island is in the shape of a boat, which was artificially made that way through a construction technique known as the opus quadratum. The Tiber river divides Rome into half. This place is so peaceful, you could just grab a book, come sightseeing here, pick a spot close to the Tiber river, and just when you start to feel tired, sit under a tree and just read. There are also a few places to eat around. One recommendation is Sora Lella, a restaurant that serves authentic Roman food. It has been running since 1940. There are two bridges that connect the river to the city. One is Ponte Cestio and another one is Ponte Fabricio. These are both very well preserved, especially considering the fact that Ponte Cestio was built in 46 BC and Ponte Fabricio was built in 62 BC.
6. Spanish Steps
Even though the original purpose of the Spanish Steps was to connect the Bourbon Spanish Embassy and the Trinità dei Monti church with the Holy See and Spanish Square, it is a famous spot for meetings. It has 135 steps in total with a blend of terraces, curves, and straight flights. If you are just using this to reach the Bourbon Spanish Embassy and the Trinità dei Monti church, you can also use the lift next to the Metro Station.
7. Altar of the Fatherland
As you can see in the picture below, the monument of Altar of the Fatherland is in the shape of a cake because of which the local crowd often refers to it as the Roman Wedding cake. It provides an amazing view of the city, which you can enjoy even further by purchasing a ticket to the rooftop, which costs only €10. There is no cost for entry here. This is a popular spot for taking pictures. The timings are 9 am to 7 pm. It is open every day of the week, so this will not add to your rigid schedule. Could this trip be more perfect?
8. Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine
Located in the Roman Forum, the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine was made in the year 313 AD. This is the largest building in the Roman Forum. It used to serve as a courthouse, meeting hall, and council chamber. The original color of it was white. The theme was similar to that of most Roman baths and basilicas.
