Rome, Italy
Rome is the capital of Italy, and has been a major city in human civilization.....
1. The Pantheon The Pantheon is one of the great architectural achievements of the ancient world. Located in the northwest corner of Pigna, the Pantheon was completed and dedicated during the early years of the 2nd century A.D. by Roman emperor, Hadrian. While it was first a temple dedicated to the “pantheon” of Roman gods, it became a church in the 7th century, a move that helped it survive the ensuing centuries.
2. The Colosseum
The Colosseum was the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire and remains one of the most impressive buildings ever constructed. It showcases the majesty of the empire, as well as its brutality, as it’s impossible to admire the architecture and grandness of the Colosseum without contemplating the death and bloodshed that played out within it. Nevertheless, it is without a doubt one of the world’s great monuments.
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3.Roman Forum
Roman Forum was the center of public life in ancient Rome. Located next to the Colosseum and surrounded by government facilities and other important buildings – it was the venue of major public events such as elections, criminal trials, processions, or public speeches.
The legend says that Rome was founded by Romulus who killed his twin brother Remus after the two of them have been raised by a she-wolf. Romulus is supposed to be buried under the Roman Forum.
The area is now a big open-air museum featuring relatively well-preserved ruins of old buildings. If you don’t want to visit the museum, you can see a big part of the forum from the public street above.
4.Villa Borghese
Villa Borghese is a large public park comprising of numerous several, buildings, villas, museums, and other attractions. The park is located close above Piazza Del Popolo, one of Rome’s main squares.
The garden was created in 1605 from a former vineyard, and in the 19th century, the park was designed to its current form and was purchased by the city of Rome for public use.
Terrazza Viale del Belvedere, situated close to Casina Valadier, offers amazing view towards the city. Terrazza del Pincio is a place with another beautiful panoramic views of Rome.
5.Vatican City
Located inside the city of Rome lies the world smallest sovereign state, Vatican City. Located on the Vatican hill (Vatica or Vaticum means garden in Latin), Vatican City, or officially Vatican City State has been the residence of pope since the year 1377. Did you know that Vatica or Vaticum means a garden in Latin? Covering the area of 110 acres (44 ha) and with only about 1,000 people, the Vatican is the smallest state in the world by both area and population While the central area is closed to the public, there are many attractions everyone visiting Rome can see. St. Peter’s Square and Basilica are an impressive example of Renaissance architecture. You can visit the Vatican Museum, displaying a collection of 20,000 works of art, including Roman sculptures and Renaissance masterpieces, including one of the most famous frescos in the world by Michelangelo, located in the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the tour. If you want to see the Vatican museums, be sure to enter from a different street.
6. The Spanish Steps
Spanish Steps are a colossal stairway of 135 steps connecting the Spanish Embassy with the Trinità dei Monti church. The steps were built in the 18th century by a French diplomat and took only two years to complete.
As the widest stairway in Europe, Spanish Steps quickly gained recognition and eventually became one of the main Roman attractions. According to the tradition, sometime during the spring, the part of the steps is decorated with flowers, making an extraordinary sight.
At the bottom of the Spanish Steps, there is Piazza di Spagna with famous Fontana Della Barcaccia, dating back to the early Baroque period.
7.Trevi Fountain
Have you been told to throw a coin into the Fontana di Trevi?
Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height, Trevi Fountain is also the largest fountain in the city. The origins of the fountain go back to the year 19 B.C., in which period the fountain formed the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct. The first fountain was built during the Renaissance, under the direction of Pope Nicholas V. The final appearance of the Trevi Fountain dates from 1762, when after many years of works at the hand of Nicola Salvi, it was finalized by Giuseppe Pannini. Interestingly enough, the name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. The myth of the Trevi Fountain Why are there always people in the fountain throwing coins into the water and taking photos of themselves? The myth, originating in 1954 with the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain," goes like this:
If you throw one coin: you will return to Rome.
If you throw two coins: you will fall in love with an attractive Italian.
If you throw three coins: you will marry the person that you met.
In order to achieve the desired effect, you should throw the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. An interesting statistic is that approximately a million euros worth of coins are taken from the fountain each year. Since 2007 this money has been used to support good causes.
8. Campo Dei Fiori
The Campo de’ Fiori (Field of flowers in English) is one of the main squares of Rome. It is lively both during the day; with its flower, fruit and vegetable market, and by night; when the terraces are packed with people. The Piazza Campo dei Fiori, which was once a field of flowers, and thus the name, was paved in 1456 under Pope Callistus III. Thanks to the prominent buildings surrounding the piazza, such as Palazzo Orsini, the Campo de’ Fiori became a very popular part of Rome frequented by the most influential historical figures. Its popularity drew new businesses to the area, opening workshops, inns and taverns making this neighborhood one of the most prosperous of the city. Moreover, Campo de’ Fiori was the location where a horse market took place twice a week. Public executions took place in this square, which is nowadays commemorated by the impressive statue of Giordano Bruno, in the centre of the piazza. The Italian philosopher was burnt at the stake in 1600 for heresy. The monument was built in his honour in 1889. Twenty-first century Campo de’ Fiori The Campo de’ Fiori is currently one of the most beloved parts of the city. Since 1869, every morning from Monday through Saturday it houses a market well-known for its flowers and fruit and vegetable. After the sunsets, the area becomes one of the best meeting places in Rome thanks to its wide variety of restaurants, cocktail bars and terraces.
9. Piazza Del Campidoglio
Michelangelo wanted the square to face St Peter’s Basilica, the political centre of Rome, instead of the Roman Forum. He also proposed the construction of another palace, Palazzo Nuovo, which would face Palazzo dei Conservatori. This palace, in its turn, would have a new façade. The Palazzo Senatorio’s front would also be redesigned so that all the buildings and the square would work harmoniously. An imposing bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius was erected in the centre of the square. It is currently housed in the Palazzo dei Conservatori and in the square stands a replica of the Roman Emperor instead.
The execution of the plans took so long that Michelangelo didn’t live to see his work completed. Nevertheless, his designs were followed meticulously and finished several centuries laterThe Piazza del Campidoglio is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome, attracting millions of visitors every year. Its popularity is also due to its proximity to the Capitoline Museums and the legendary sculpture of the Capitoline Wolf, situated between the Palazzo Senatorio and Palazzo Nuovo. The bronze she-wolf on top of the column is a replica. The original is housed in the Capitoline Museums.
10.The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican City, of Rome and of the world in general. It is known as much for its decoration, as for being the temple in which popes are chosen and crowned.
The construction of the building was carried out between 1473 and 1481 during the mandate of Pope Sixtus IV, to whom it owes its current name. The architect responsible for the construction was Giovanni of Dolci and it is the only work that he is remembered for.
What grabs the attention in the Sistine Chapel is not its architecture, but the frescoes that completely cover the walls and the ceiling. Some of the most important artists who worked in the chapel are Botticelli, Perugino, Luca and Michelangelo.