Rome is packed with spectacular sights and it's hard to figure out which ones to see
as the entire city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Hi guys, my name is
Rok and I’m a tour guide and I can’t wait to show you the Best things to do in Rome, Italy.
The best place to start is Piazza Venzia as from here
every street leads to one of the main tourist attractions.
Square is dominated by a colossal white monument called Vittoriano from 1871.
Monument is dedicated to the first king of unified Italy riding on the horse. As you can
see unification of Italy was a very big thing. The square sits under one of the seven hills
where, according to the legend, twins Romulus and Remus founded Rome.
You should climb up the steps as from the top of the monument you will get
great views. You can also take a lift to the lookout point at the very top of the monument.
Rome united the entire Italy in the third century BC and for 700 years it remained a capital city
of the Roman Republic. With the collapse of the Empire it took another 1400 years
until Italy became united again and Rome was declared its capital city.
Right behind colossal monument is one of the founding hills of Rome.
On the top of the Capitoline hill is a renaissance square designed by famous Michelangelo.
It’s elliptical courtyard is surrounded by three buildings and in the middle
stands a statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Here is Rome’s city hall with a clock tower
and inside two renaissance palaces opposite to each other is a popular Capitoline museum.
Left from the City hall is a replica of famous bronze sculpture Capitoline Wolf,
depicting the legend of the founding of Rome. And right behind the City hall is the heart of
ancient Roman Empire. Between Capitoline and Palantine hills was the main town square of
ancient Rome. This was a centre of public and political life of the Roman Empire.
Here are the oldest remains, buildings, arches and temples. Today Forum is one of
the most important archeological sites in Italy. Despite the destruction at the end of the Empire,
some of Forum’s structures managed to survive. One of them is this triumphal
arch dedicated to emperor Titus who was victorious in the Siege of Jerusalem.
Another one is Temple of Romulus that served as an entrance to the church that is still in use.
Remarkably it still has original bronze doors,
one of just two Roman doors that have survived to this day. And they can still be locked.
As Forum Romanum was the most important center of the Empire, the neighbouring Palantine Hill became
the seat of imperial power. One of well preserved palaces was home of Rome’s first emperor Augustus.
Forum Romanum, Plantine Hill and Coloseum are part of one archeological park and for the best
experience and access you should get a combined Full Experience ticket valid for two days.
Besides Roman heritage, Rome also has world’s oldest and most impressive churches.
This is the first church in the world built in honour of the Virgin Mary.
This huge basilica is dating back almost 1600 hundred years and its mosaics are one of the
oldest representations of the Virgin. Despite centuries of reconstructions
and expansions with different architectural styles, the basilica kept its original structure.
Athenian marble columns predates the church as they were reused from ancient Roman buildings.
Mosaics of the central nave and the triumphal arch are original, dating to the fifth-century. Unique
coffered ceiling in gilt wood is apparently covered with the first gold Columbus brought
back from America. Church is full of chapels and artworks and has a funerary monuments of
three popes. Here is also the highest bell tower in Rome, marking the importance of this basilica.
Rome has other churches built on the top of its hills,
and in front of one of them is the most famous stairway.
In front of the 16th-century French monastery church is one of the widest, longest and most
popular staircases in Europe. 135 steps were built in 1725 to connect church with the Spanish
Embassy located at the lower Piazza di Spagna or Spanish square, hence the name Spanish steps.
Steps feature irregular butterfly-shaped design and have became very popular after being used
as a backdrop in the 1953 Oscar winning movie Roman Holiday. The best time to see Spanish steps
is on April 21st when Rome celebrates the anniversary of its founding,
and the steps get covered with flowers. Not far from the base of the stairs is a
fountain with a sculpture depicting a flood from the 1500s when an ugly little boat was
stranded on this spot. But Rome has much more spectacular fountains and squares.
This is the most beautiful Baroque square in Rome featuring three fountains.
As you can see the square is huge and unusually long. Well this used to be an ancient Roman
stadium used for athletics and horse racing, but after the fall of the Empire, houses replaced the
stands and the athletics field became a square. Transformation to a Baroque masterpiece happened
in 1600s when Pope Innocent X decided to built a palace for his family on the square. Famous
sculptor Bernini created the central Fountain of the Four Rivers. Four marble statues around
ancient obelisk represent major rivers of all four until then discovered continents. Small church,
dedicated to a young christian girl Agnes who became martyred on this ancient Roman stadium,
was rebuild into one of the most magnificent Baroque architectures in Rome. Beautiful and
lively square attracts artists and the surrounding cafés and restaurants spread their tables around.
You can even take a peak under the square where are the remains of the original Roman stadium.
And in that beautiful palace in the corner is an art museum.
But there is one small square in Rome with even more spectacular fountain.
The largest and the most famous fountain used to be a meeting point of three streets,
hence its name Three Street Fountain. Original fountain was built by the Romans as this was the
end of the aqueduct. Current fountain from the 1700s combines the entire front side of
the palace with a triumphal arch and mythological statues. It is dedicated to the Roman God Oceanus
riding a shell shaped chariot. The two horses are symbolising
the changing tides as one horse is calm and obedient, while the other is boisterous.
Left to the Roman good is a statue symbolising abundance while the right one represents health.
The fountain featured in many movies and thanks to the movie Three Coins in the Fountain
approximately a million euros worth of coins are taken from the fountain
each year and donated to a charity. Fountains in Rome run all year so you can
enjoy them also in winter months. This spectacular fountain was commissioned by a pope Clement XII,
so now let’s take a look at a beautiful castle with a secret corridor used by popes.
The Castle of the Holy Angel was built in the 2nd century as a circular mausoleum
for emperor Hadrian and his family. Due to its strategic position on bank of the river
it was soon converted to a military fortress. With the fall of the Roman Empire the castle
changed many hands until it became part of the Papal States and in 1870 it became part of Italy.
A legend from the times of a plague talks about Archangel Michael. He appeared on the top of the
mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague and so the castle got its name.
Popes fortified the castle and connect it to St Peter's Basilica with a covered,
fortified corridor that came useful in 1527 when Rome was attacked and the castle
served as the refuge of Pope. Now it serves as a museum,
showing the history of the structure. Castle is connected with the other side of
the Tiber by one of the most beautiful bridges in Rome. Each side of the bridge is lined with five
angels carrying objects related to the suffering of Jesus. From the bridge you can see straight to
the seat of the Pope so let’s take a look inside the smallest country in the world.
Vatican City is an independent city state surrounded by the city walls. Its 600 residents
include the Swiss Guard that has been protecting the pope since 1506.
There is no border control and you can enter freely, but you have to respect a dress code,
as both men and women must cover their shoulders,
upper arms, and knees. Besides serving as a seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope, the
Vatican also treasures one of the world's greatest art collections inside The Vatican Museum.
This is one world’s top museums with 54 galleries, where you shouldn’t miss the 120
meters long corridor titled Gallery of Maps, Raphael’s Rooms once used as Pope
apartment and Pinacoteca with the collection of almost 500 paintings from great masters.
But the highlight is a world famous Sistine Chapel accessible only through the museum. Chapel was
named after pope Sixtius IV who commissioned it and was painted by the greatest Renaissance
painters. Unfortunately it is strictly forbidden to take photos or videos inside the chapel,
although you can do it around the rest of the museum.
Chapel is still in use for the papal conclave, where a new pope is selected.
Huge elliptical square, framed by two sets of colonnades with statues of saints,
leads to the largest church in the world. Its impressive dome designed by Michelangelo rises
for 136 meters right above St. Peter’s grave. St. Peter’s Basilica was built over Apostle
Peter’s Tomb as he was executed and buried here by Roman Emperor Nero who accused Christians of
burning down Rome. When the Roman Empire finally embraced Christianity, Emperor Constantine began
the construction of the first church. Original church was replaced by the present basilica
in 1626, after 120 years of its construction. One of the greatest Renaissance architectures
was designed by the best artists and architects, including Michelangelo and Bernini. Breathtakingly
spacious interior of the church offers amazing attractions. Most impressive is Michelangelo's
world famous sculpture ‘La Pieta’. Also impressive is Bernini’s eight story high bronze canopy,
placed over St. Peter's tomb right under the dome. Interestingly a bronze statue
of St. Peter has his feet worn down by numerous pilgrims over the centuries.
Entrees to the Square and the Basilica are free of charge, but to avoid long queues
you can buy skip-the-line tickets that I will link in the description below.
Besides the biggest church in the world Rome also has the best preserved ancient Roman building in
the world. It was build in the year 118 by emperor Hadrian and still has the largest unreinforced
concrete dome in the world. In the middle of the dome is a hole called oculus that enables
visitors to be in direct contact with the heavens and serves as a source of light. Its name Pantheon
comes from Greek and means ‘devoted to all gods’ as the temple was dedicated to the twelve Gods.
It is almost completely intact as it has been in continuous use,
and since 609 serves as a Catholic church. Its grand interior is one
of the most perfect spaces ever constructed as it could accommodate a perfect sphere.
The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are exactly the same. Originally,
the ceiling was clad with bronze, but was later removed and most likely reused for weapons.
But despite small changes this remains to be the most preserved Roman building and a must see in
Rome. Before we jump to the best thing to do in Rome I would like to thank you for the thumbs up.
If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them in the comments below. And to be
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And here is the most famous landmark of Rome and the largest ancient Amphitheatre ever built.
Massive freestanding Colosseum made of stone and concrete was opened to the public in the
year 80 and its five levels could seat more than 50,000 spectators. It hosted gladiator fights,
contests between men and wild animals and even mock naval battles as the arena could be folded.
This very impressive structure even had a retractable canvas ceiling to protect visitors
from the scorching sun. This iconic building provided games and fun for over 500 years.
In medieval times it was used as a church and later as a fortress. It was damaged by lightning
and earthquakes and over time all the marble seats and decorative materials disappeared.
Colosseum is a spectacular ruin that became the symbol of Rome.
As mentioned before, the best way to experience the Colosseum is to get a Full Experience ticket.
It is valid for two days and besides Colosseum also includes Forum Romanum and Palatine Hill.
Next to the Colosseum is one of the three surviving Roman triumphal arches. This one is
dedicated to emperor Constantine, the founder of Constantinople or modern day Istanbul,
for stopping the civil war in the Roman Empire. For the best Rome experience I made a list of
my favourite tours and essential tickets in the description below.
But before you go to Rome you should check my video about Rome Travel Tips available
in the top right corner. Thanks for thumbs up and for watching, and see you next time.