Attractions places in Rome

Rome is regarded as one of the world's most beautiful ancient cities, and contains vast amounts of priceless works of art, palaces, museums, parks, churches, gardens, basilicas, temples, villas, piazzas, theaters, and other venues in general. As one of the world's most important and visited cities, there are numerous popular tourist attractions.


Rome is a city and special comune (named "Roma Capitale") in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy and also of the Province of Rome and of the region of Lazio. With 2.9 million residents in 1,285.3 km² (496.3 sq mi), it is also the country's largest and most populated comune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The urban area of Rome extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of around 3.8 million. Between 3.2 and 4.2 million people live in Rome metropolitan area. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio (Latium), along the shores of Tiber river. Vatican City is an independent country within the city boundaries of Rome, the only existing example of a country within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states.
Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, since its legendary founding in 753 BC. Rome is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. It is referred to as "The Eternal City" (Latin: Roma Aeterna), a central notion in ancient Roman culture. In the ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization. Since the 1st century AD, Rome has been considered the seat of the Papacy and in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic.


 

The origin of the legend is unknown. In fact, Rome, like many other cities, was founded by the Etruscans in the 8-9th century BC. Palatine and Capitoline hills had a very strategic location; moreover, there was a river Tiber which supplied people with water.

According to historical documents, the downfall of the Etruscan dynasty was brought upon by the king Tarquin's son lack of self-restraint. He dishonored a certain Lucretia, a lady of high society, which led to her suicide. Lucretia's relatives and friends didn't stop at getting vengeance only on the offender, but raised a large-scale riot against the Etruscan rule.

Churches of Rome

 St Peter's Basilica 

  

 

Found in the Vatican City, it is near where the Pope resides, and it is one of the most important centers for Christian pilgrimage, and is commonly regarded as the "home of the Roman Catholic Church", since it is where St.Peter set up the first Christian Church.

Basilica of St John Lateran   

 

 

The official ecclesiastical seat of the bishop of Rome (pope), it is a major tourist attraction in the city, and Rome's cathedral. 

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore

 

 Another exceedingly important Roman Catholic church in the city, it is also one of the four basilicas of the city, a Marian church, and a papal church too.

Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls  

 

 

Another of the four great basilicas of Rome, too a very important and visited religious building.

Sant'Andrea della Valle

 

 

Located in the Sant'Eustachio rione of Rome, it is known for its ornate Baroque/Renaissance facade, and rich interior.

The ancient of monuments in Rome

Colosseum

 The Colosseum, Rome's second and the world's 39th most popular tourist attraction, with 4 million tourists a year.Arguably one of Rome's most famous and iconic monuments, it is one of the Roman world's biggest amphitheatres and is one of the city's most visited attractions. It is regarded as being a wonder of the medieval world.

Roman Forum 

 

 

  The Forum of ancient Rome, and the centre of the city's politics and business at the time. The Roman forum is located in between the Palatine hill and Capitoline hill in the center of Rome. It is one of the most popular and most visited sights of Rome and it is also sometimes known by its original name “Forum Romanum”. It is the main area where the ancient roman civilization was developed. The Roman forum was the political and economic centre of Rome during republic. Citizens of Rome sometimes refer the location as “Forum Magnum “or sometimes just “Forum”. The important and the oldest structures of the ancient Rome city are located inside the forum which also includes royal residence “The Regia” and a complex “Vestal Virgins”.

Pantheon  

It is a classical building in the city, originally built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt in the early 2nd century AD. A near-contemporary writer, Cassius Dio, speculates that the name comes from the statues of many gods placed around the building, or from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens.

Secular edifices, Parks, and Public spaces

 Trevi Fountain  

One of the most recognizable and iconic monuments in the city, the Trevi Fountain was designed and completed in the 18th century. Tourists come to the fountain in order to throw a coin, which is, according to a local legend, supposed to bring good luck. It was also famous for having featured in a major scene of Federico Fellini's 1960 La Dolce Vita.

 

Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna  

 

One of the city's top attractions, the flight of 138 stairs is the biggest in Europe^. They are topped by the Trinita dei Monti church, and below there is the large Piazza di Spagna. The Piazza di Spagna is also a major shopping destination in the city, and hosts several designer boutiques such as Missoni. 

  

Via del Corso 

 

One of Rome's busiest, biggest and most important streets, the Via del Corso used to be called the Via Lata. It is one of the very few streets in the city to be completely straight, and contains several monuments, palaces, hotels, restaurants, shops and other forms of commerce in general.

  

Via del Babuino and il Babuino speaking fountain 

 

Another of Rome's top shopping streets, it too contains some major fashion boutiques, including Gente, Etro, Emporio Armani and Prada Casual, but also several young designer-wear and knitwear stores, antique shops and jewelers. The street also contains il babuino, one of Rome's speaking fountains (a fountain where several people discuss and voice their political and social ideas). Once, the fountain was covered with political graffiti and different notices, messages and placards, yet, all of this has been removed and anti-graffiti paint has been sprayed around the fountain, since several complained that all the messages and slogans were ruining the appearance of the street. Via del Babuino also contains the Church of England All Saints Church, for Rome's Anglican community.

  

Via Veneto 

 

One of the city's most expensive, famous and luxurious streets, it was epitomised in the 1950s and 60s in Federico Fellini's 1960 La Dolce Vita. Today, it contains several exclusive apartments, grand hotels and elegant shops.

  

Antico Caffè Greco 

 

A historic and ancient cafe, it was founded in 1760 in the Via dei Condotti, it has 18th and 19th century interior decor. It has hosted several intellectuals and important foreigners, such as Lord Byron, Goethe, Liszt and Keats.