List Of The 10 Best Must-Visit Attractions In Rome

Italy’s capital is a fascinating city that offers a wide range of tourist attractions. From ancient ruins to world-class galleries and lively piazzas, fall in love with Rome and all its beauty with list of the 10 best must-visit attractions.

* Pantheon

In a city of ancient ruins, the Pantheon is the best preserved out of all of them. The temple – believed to be over 2,000 years old – was originally dedicated to the pagan gods. Guided tours reveal how the building has been an intrinsic part of Rome since its consecration as a church in the seventh century, inspiring Italy’s master Renaissance painters, including Raphael (the artist chose the Pantheon as his final resting place). Most impressive, however, is the soaring concrete dome inside, the world’s largest and crowning architectural achievement of the ancient Romans.

* Circo Massimo

Home of chariot racing in the sixth century, Circo Massimo once held up to 250,000 spectators and was among the most important public spaces in Rome. On top of the races, it also hosted classic gladiator battles in front of the roaring crowds. Today, the city still holds large outdoor concerts in the space, which lies at the base of the Palatine and Aventine Hills, both of which provide panoramic views over the ancient city. This small-group tour also visits Terme di Caracalla before heading to the stadium.

* Baths of Caracalla

In a city where there were hundreds of public bath complexes, Terme di Caracalla is among the most important and impressive that remain. Constructed in the third century, the original bath complex covered up to 25 hectares (62 acres), the second largest in the whole of Rome. Today, the central bathhouse makes up most of the remains; the Rome Opera even hosts impressive musical and ballet performances inside the ruins.

* Galleria Borghese

After the Vatican Museums, the Galleria Borghese contains the most famous collection of art in Rome. Once the private collection of the noble (and immensely wealthy) Borghese family, it passed into the hands of the Italian government at the beginning of the 20th century and has since been counted among the greatest art museums in the world. There are countless highlights to see, but the most impressive works are Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome Writing, Bernini’s The Rape of Proserpina and Titian’s Sacred and Profane Love. The gallery is on the grounds of Villa Borghese.

* Villa Farnesina

A 16th-century villa located in Trastevere, Villa Farnesina was built for the banker Agostino Chigi and is among the finest buildings in Rome from the Italian Renaissance period. The interior dazzles visitors with its beautiful frescoes from the Italian masters Raphael, Sebastian del Piombo and Peruzzi. After exploring the impressive villa, the guided tour, which is led by an art historian, delves into the surrounding Trastevere, among the city’s most charming neighbourhoods and a favourite spot for noble Roman families to build their summer villas.

* Capitoline Museums

Dating back to 1471, the Capitoline Museums are the oldest public museums in the world. The collection contains Italy’s finest ancient sculptures, bronze statues and busts, all of which were amassed by Pope Sixtus IV during the 15th century. There is also a gallery displaying an impressive collection of Medieval and Renaissance art. Small-group tours put the entire complex into context as they explain how Michelangelo came to design the entire area.

* Museum of the Ara Pacis

The Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) is a large marble sculpture built in the year 9 BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus led its transition from a republic to an empire after the assassination of his great-uncle, Julius Caesar, ushering in one of the longest eras of relative peace in Roman history. The altar is now housed inside the Ara Pacis Museum, a contemporary glass building (the only one built in Rome’s historic centre since World War II) designed by American architect Richard Meier.

* Piazza Navona

Showcasing Rome in all of its splendour and glory, the Piazza Navona is an enormous open-air square with Baroque fountains, street artists and a healthy dose of gawking tourists. The impressive Sant’Agnese in Agone Baroque church dominates one side of the piazza, while in the centre is Bernini’s famous Fountain of Four Rivers. But there’s a treasure buried beneath this busy spot. Delve underneath to find the Stadium of Domitian, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and athletics venue for ancient Rome, where athletes competed in running, gymnastics and other sports and slaves battled as gladiators.

* The Spanish Steps

Connecting Piazza di Spagna with the impressive Chiesa della Trinità dei Monti, the Spanish Steps is among the busiest tourist hotspots in Rome. Financed by a French diplomat to connect the church to the piazza, the steps were constructed in 1725 and became a popular spot for English travellers on their Grand Tours in the late-18th century. That popularity endures, and today, the steps are among the best locations in Rome from which to people-watch.

* Piazza Venezia

Another of Rome’s most important squares, the Piazza Venezia lies in the heart of the city, with important historical buildings, museums and art galleries surrounding it. At its centre is the eye-catching Vittoriano Memorial, honouring Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of a united Italy. Most impressive of the buildings is the Palazzo Venezia, where Mussolini would famously make his speeches from the balcony of the Globe Room to roaring crowds below. The palazzo is now a museum dedicated to Renaissance art, ancient bronze statues and Medieval weaponry.