Essential Rome destinations: Roman sights of Forum Romanum & Palatine – The Forum Romanum was the centre of the ancient Roman Empire. During your visit to the Forum Romanum, you will walk past Roman excavations and the archaeological park full of old temples, arches, market halls and other important buildings built there by different emperors. Next to the forum lies Palatine Hill, where you will find excavations of imperial residences. More info ‘Roman Forum’ Recommended: The best way to visit the Roman Forum is with a guided tour, so you can better understand the history of the archaeological excavations. Most tours will combine a visit with the Colosseum and Palatine Hill (view the options for guided tours). One of the most remarkable of Rome landmarks, the monument of the first Italian king Vittorio Emanuelle II, is located next to the Piazza Venezia square. The building is also called the ‘Altare della Patria’ – the altar of the fatherland – and commemorates the unification of Italy. Romans also use nicknames for it such as ‘typewriter’ and ‘wedding cake’. Discover more information at things to do in Rome.
Walking through the forum, now in the middle of a throbbing modern city, is like stepping back two millennia into the heart of ancient Rome. Although what survives of this center of Roman life and government shows only a small fraction of its original splendor, the standing and fallen columns, its triumphal arches, and remains of its walls still impress, especially when you consider that for centuries, the history of the Forum was the history of the Roman Empire and of the western world. Roman political and religious life was centered here, along with the courts, markets, and meeting places.
Free things to do in Rome : Visit the Art at Galleria Nazionale Di San Luca , Located at the Piazza dell’Accademia di San Luca, this art gallery is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday. and the last Sunday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Accademia di San Luca was founded in 1577 as an association of artists in Rome, with the purpose of elevating the work of artists in the eyes of the community. At the museum, you can enjoy selected works of Raffaello, Canova, and Van Dyck among other famous names.
Of course, we must highlight the Vatican Museums, one of the most extensive art collections in the world. Raphael, Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci are some of the painters present in this exhibition. But the Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly the highlight. This room, where the cardinals hold the Conclave to elect the new Pope, is famous for its impressive ceiling fresco and the mural painting of the Last Judgement, both painted by the legendary Michelangelo in the 16th century. Words cannot explain it, it’s pure beauty! The Pantheon is one of Rome’s best-preserved ancient structures. Originally, the Pantheon was built as a temple dedicated to Roman gods and was later converted to a Christian church. Built almost 2000 years ago, this massive structure is still considered an architectural masterpiece. Perhaps its most astounding element is its crowning dome, which still boasts the title of having the largest unsupported concrete dome on the planet. Find extra info at lvtsk.com.
Near Campo dei Fiori yet blissfully uncrowded, Palazzo Spada is a striking historic palace built in the 16th century and redesigned by Roman architect Borromini in the 17th century. Inside there’s a rich art collection with Renaissance and Baroque masters, and outside there’s a peaceful courtyard where eight impressive colonnades create a mesmerising optical illusion. The palace itself is exquisitely Baroque, with elegant, perfect symmetry and ornate decorations. Inside, there are walls plastered in frescoes, immaculate stucco work, and grand halls of opulent, gilded marble. Palazzo Spada houses an incredible art collection, with paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts by artists including Titian and Caravaggio. Don’t miss the Borromini Perspective Gallery, a masterclass in optical illusion where a corridor appears to be much longer than it actually is.
Castel Sant’Angelo – Castel Sant’Angelo was built to be a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian and his family. Built in 123 BC, it later was turned into a fortress and castle by the popes. It was once Rome’s tallest building. The ashes of other emperors were buried there, but scattered when the Visigoths invaded in 410. It also served as a prison, but today the castel is a museum. Among the most well known sights in Rome, film buffs will recognize it as a setting from “Angels and Demons”.
St. Peter’s Basilica. One of the holiest sites for the Christian faith, the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican, as it is so-named is one of the greatest examples of Renaissance architecture and one of the largest churches in the world. It contains the burial site of Saint Peter, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ and the first Pope. St. Peter’s Basilica is best known for its enormous dome, designed by Michelangelo in the 16th century.