Rome attractions

One of the most historic of Rome’s seven hills, Capitoline Hill is the site of Piazza del Campidoglio—the elegant public square designed by Michelangelo, which overlooks the Roman Forum and features the monumental Cordonata staircase. It is also home to the Capitoline Museums, dating from 1471, displaying treasures including ancient Roman sculptures and works by artists such as Rubens, Titian, and Caravaggio; the institution is considered the world’s oldest public museum.

If you hear a Roman refer to the “wedding cake building,” they’re talking about one of the city’s most famous landmarks: the enormous, white marble Victor Emmanuel II Monument (Vittoriano) dominating Piazza Venezia. Built to honor King Victor Emmanuel II, the site is home to massive statues, war memorials, and a glass elevator that connects to a terrace with panoramic views of the Eternal City.

Lovers of trompe l’oeil optical illusions will want to look up when inside the 16th-century Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola). Painted by Andrea Pozzo, the frescoes on the flat ceiling use perspective to create a false dome, and his seemingly boundless Rise of Saint Ignatius into Paradise on the vault is among the most captivating baroque masterpieces in Rome.

The haunting chapels beneath Rome’s church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini served as the burial chambers for Capuchin friars for centuries. As there were more bodies than space, older graves were dug up, and bones of the dead were used to create intricate designs decorating the chapel walls and ceilings. Today, these bone decorations are one of the most unique sights in Rome.

Presumed to be set over the tomb of St. Paul, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is one of four papal basilicas in Rome and among the city’s most important Christian sites. The 4th-century church, located south of Rome’s old Aurelian Walls, has a striking interior decorated with 80 columns and extensive frescoes and mosaics, plus a beautiful Romanesque cloister with unique twisting columns.

Located just 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Rome, the Port of Civitavecchia is a popular jumping-off point for shore excursions to Italy’s capital. Home to some of the world’s most important art and architecture and bursting with bustling piazzas and restaurants, Rome is a highlight of any Mediterranean cruise. Other Civitavecchia shore excursions include Orvieto, Bagnoregio, and the Etruscan sites in Tarquinia and Tuscania.

One of the main avenues in Rome’s historical center, Via del Corso is a rare straight street in an area known for its maze of winding lanes. Bookended by two of the city’s best-known piazzas, Piazza Venezia and Piazza del Popolo, Via del Corso attracts locals and visitors to its stores and historic buildings and offers access to some of Rome’s top attractions.

Nicknamed the “lasagna church” due to its layered history, Rome’s Basilica of San Clemente offers wonders above and below ground. The interior of the 12th-century church is richly decorated with Cosmatesque mosaics considered among Italy’s best. Below the surface are two levels of ancient ruins, including a fourth-century basilica with medieval frescoes, a Mithraic temple, and the remains of an imperial Roman mint.

In a city filled with elegant squares fit for royalty, this handsome piazza behind Campo de’ Fiori stands out. It’s home to the grand Farnese Palace (Palazzo Farnese)—now the French Embassy—additional noble palaces and two striking fountains decorated with lilies, the symbol of the Farnese family for whom the piazza and palace are named.

In a city of famous fountains, Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers (Fontana delle Quattro Fiumi) stands out. Located in the center of Piazza Navona, this baroque, 17th-century masterpiece continues to delight hundreds of years later with its ornate animal sculptures, soaring Egyptian obelisk, and cliff-like base decorated with male figures representing the Danube, Ganges, Nile, and La Plata Rivers.

Caravaggio’s The Calling of Saint Matthew, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew are the undisputed headliners of the 16th-century Church of Saint Louis of the French (Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi). Commissioned by the Medici family and located near Piazza Navona, this church houses rare examples of the baroque artist’s works still hung in their original location.

The exact borders of the Historic Center of Rome (Centro Storico di Roma) are the subject of much debate among Romans and visitors. However, according to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic Rome encompasses the area within the ancient Aurelian Walls, as well as Vatican City and the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Filled with millennia of art and architecture, the area encompasses the Eternal City’s most famous sights from imperial Rome to the present day.

Trajan’s Market (Mercati di Traiano) was ancient Rome’s version of the modern-day shopping mall, but it also housed offices for the Imperial Forum. Today, it hosts the Museum of the Imperial Forums (Museo dei Fori Imperiali), which features exhibits on ancient architecture and the many ruins of central Rome. This vast, layered semicircle is one of the most interesting areas of Rome’s Imperial Forums, offering insight into ancient Roman urban planning and everyday life.

Of Rome’s 30-odd bridges over the Tiber River, only Ponte Sisto directly connects Trastevere with Campo de’ Fiori—two of the historic center’s liveliest neighborhoods. Take the short walk across for views of Tiber Island and the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica or to watch street performers entertaining tourists. From the riverbanks, look up to admire the bridge’s graceful arches and the papal coat of arms covered in travertine marble.

Ponte Sant’Angelo, or the Sant’Angelo Bridge, is a marble pedestrian bridge spanning the Tiber River between Castel Sant’Angelo and the historic center of Rome. The most beautiful in the city, Ponte Sant’Angelo was built by Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 136 to access his mausoleum and later lined with 10 monumental angel statues based on designs by Bernini. Today, it provides an unforgettable approach to St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.

One of the oldest forums in Rome, the Forum Boarium (Foro Boario) was the site of an ancient cattle market and has a pair of temples dating to the Republic. For all that history, though, it remains one of Rome’s quieter attractions. That makes this a favorite spot among those seeking a taste of Roman heritage without the crowds that form at nearby sites like the Piazza della Bocca della Verità (Mouth of Truth).

One of Italy’s best-preserved archaeological sites, Ancient Ostia (Ostia Antica) was once a thriving port city home to roughly 50,000 inhabitants. As the Roman Empire expanded, Ostia was eventually abandoned and buried under silt as the course of the Tiber River changed. This layer of mud protected the town’s dwellings and commercial structures from the ravages of time, which is why the Ostia Antica archaeological park is considered by some to be the “better Pompeii."

Inaugurated in 1904 and built on the site of the former Rome Jewish Ghetto (Ghetto Ebraico di Roma) overlooking the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere), the Great Synagogue of Rome (Tempio Maggiore di Roma) is a living testament to one of Europe’s oldest Jewish communities. Celebrated for its unique Assyrian-Babylonian architecture and art nouveau interiors, it’s home to the Jewish Museum of Rome (Museo Ebraico di Roma) and remains an important place of worship.

One of the legendary seven hills on which Rome was built, Aventine Hill (Aventino) features prominently in the Eternal City’s founding myth (it’s the hill that Remus is said to have chosen). A quiet residential district, Aventine Hill offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, as well as sweeping views of the rooftops of Rome and St. Peter’s Basilica, including through a keyhole on the gate to the Knights of Malta.

St. Peter’s Dome (Cupola di San Pietro), one of Italy’s most famous monuments, doesn’t technically stand on Italian soil—it sits atop St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, surrounded by Rome on all sides. Michelangelo’s architectural masterpiece is a symbol for Catholics around the globe and, as the highest dome in the world, offers spectacular views across St. Peter’s Square and the Roman cityscape. Reachable by elevator and stairs, this sky-high perch is a highlight of any Vatican visit.

One of Rome’s most interesting public parks, the Aqueduct Park (Parco degli Acquedotti) is home to the remains of two ancient aqueducts, Aqua Felix and Aqua Claudia, and the second-century Villa delle Vignacce. Part of Appian Way Regional Park, this 593-acre (240-hectare) expanse, located just outside the city center, is a popular respite from the bustle of downtown Rome—and one of Europe’s largest urban parks.

One of the liveliest squares in the heart of Rome, Piazza della Rotonda is lined with bustling bars, historical cafés, and alfresco restaurant tables. The piazza was built around the Pantheon, one of the city’s most famous ancient monuments, although its fanciful Renaissance marble fountain also draws focus.

Beloved by both pilgrims and art aficionados, the Church of St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli) displays the chains believed to have bound Saint Peter when the Romans imprisoned him in Jerusalem. First built in the fifth century, the church today is also home to Michelangelo’s Moses, a Renaissance masterpiece he sculpted for the unfinished monumental tomb of Pope Julius II.

The Column of Marcus Aurelius (Colonna di Marco Aurelio) is a majestic Roman victory column in the heart of Piazza Colonna. Modeled after the more famous Trajan’s Column (Colonna di Traiano), it features similar carvings spiraling upwards from its base to the capital. Atop the column—if you can spot it—sits a statue of St. Paul, which was added by Pope Sixtus V in the 16th century. It’s the clear highlight of the piazza, to which it gives its name, and is a symbol of Roman political life.

One of Rome’s famed seven hills, Caelian Hill (Celio) was a wealthy residential district under the Roman Republic. Today, it is home to the ancient Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo and the Basilica of St. Stephen in the Round (Basilica di Santo Stefano Rotondo), as well as Villa Celimontana, one of Rome’s nicest parks, and a wealth of medieval and Roman remains. The Colosseum views are spectacular.

Vibrant Testaccio offers an authentic taste of Italy. This historically working-class neighborhood has evolved into an off-the-beaten-path foodie destination and a nightlife hot spot that is loved by locals and visitors alike. Aficionados of Roman cuisine flock to the bustling Testaccio Market (Mercato Di Testaccio) for dishes such as cacio e pepe and supplì (deep-fried risotto balls).

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo (Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo) is the most important church in central Rome’s sweeping Piazza del Popolo. With a 17th-century facade designed by Bernini, chapels by Bramante and Raphael, and museum-quality art by Pinturicchio and Caravaggio, the church is a highlight on any tour of Roman art treasures, architecture, or Catholic sights.

Perched on Quirinal Hill, the highest of Rome’s historic seven hills, Quirinal Palace (Palazzo del Quirinale) is the official residence of Italy’s president. Formerly a royal residence, the palace boasts dozens of sumptuous, art-filled halls around a stately central courtyard and a beautiful garden with expansive views over Rome.

There’d be no Rome without the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere). The Eternal City was founded on its banks several millennia ago, and the river remains just as indispensable to the Italian capital today. People come here to jog, ride bikes, or walk between neighborhoods. Forget the straight and orderly rivers of Paris and London; unlike the Seine or the Thames, the Tiber is meandering and unruly. It’s the perfect symbol for Rome itself, and shouldn’t be missed on a trip to the city.

The heart of Rome’s bohemian Trastevere neighborhood, Piazza di Santa Maria fills by day with young families and tourists dining at sidewalk restaurants and sunbathing on the steps of the square’s central fountain. Come evening, students and revelers flock to the many trendy bars around the piazza—it’s one of Rome’s favorite gathering spots—and the steps of the ornate Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere (Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere).