Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Rome is truly unique. No other city can match its architecture, art and history, and no other city can offer so many possibilities to discover breathtaking locations. If you want to experience all the Rome Italy tours and attractions, you will need more than the usual ten to fifteen day vacation.
In Rome, you will equally find the disadvantages of the modern era —noise, heavy traffic and pollution. At first glance, especially in the summer, the city may seem too hectic to feel good, but they are a part of the present, because Rome has a present too, not just a glorious past.
The best way to approach this city is indirectly. Take a little while to observe a city. Avoid jumping abruptly on the tourist attractions; buy a coffee, take a walk through the squares – Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori are two of the best – and some of the oldest neighborhoods. They will help feel the city.
When you are ready for tourist attractions, a good map and a minimal sense of direction will lead you where you want, because it is not so difficult to get directions in the old town.
Monumental Ancient Attractions
When in Rome, you absolutely have to visit at least some of these sites and sink in ancient culture and history:
- The Coliseum
- The Pantheon
- The Baths of Caracalla
- The Circus of Maxentius
- The Mausoleum of Caecilia Metella
- The surviving portions of the aqueduct
- The Baths of Diocletian
- Domus Aurea
Museums You Don’t Want To Miss
Do not miss the National Museum of Rome, with a huge collection of Roman sculptures, and other archeological ancient pieces such as the Museum Capitoline and the Museum Villa Giulia; the art museums: Borghese Gallery, National Gallery of Ancient Art of Barberini Palace, National Museum of Modern Art, Vatican Museums. They are all full of marvelous collections. Be it art, antiquities, ethnography or anything else you might be interested in, you can find it in Rome.
You’ll Want to Try Authentic Roman Cuisine
You will have the chance to taste dozens of goodies: dishes with artichokes, pasta alla carbonara or alla amatriciana, stuffed and fried pumpkin flowers, and many more. For dessert, you can try Italian ice cream and coffee, everything sprinkled with Italian wines … Crazy!
So Many Great Churches…
There are over nine hundred churches, many of them ancient, that deserve a visit. Among the most famous, visited by pilgrims from all over the world, are Basilica di San Pietro (St. Peter’s Cathedral), perhaps the most famous religious edifice of Christianity, Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura, Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, and San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura.
Even the small churches have their own charm and story to tell. For example, San Clemente, which is a catholic church built over an ancient Christian basilica, dating from the fourth century, incorporating, among other parts, a section dedicated to the god Mithra —in other words, a pagan place of worship, which makes you wonder what else may lie below.
Other things that should not be missed are the Vatican, the summer musical events, all the palaces, villas, gardens, the fountains and, last but not least, simply the view and the atmosphere: the narrow streets that end in little squares with baroque fountains in the middle; old houses with splendid architectural details; picturesque gardens on roofs, courtyards decorated with sculptures; tasty Italian food odors; small cafes and restaurants… and much, much more.
There are so many things to discover here, that you simply cannot cover everything during one trip. Click the button below to enter our photo gallery and have at least a glimpse of all the Rome Italy tours and attractions that are waiting for you.
