Highlights
The Vatican
The Catholic Holy See has its own country, Vatican City, in the centre of Rome, its collection of artefacts from the history of Christianity making it well worth a visit. St Peter's Basilica is the most important church for Catholics around the world, in which the Pope holds mass every Sunday, and at which millions of pilgrimages end every year. The Vatican museum itself is extraordinary, showing the wealth accumulated by the Catholic Church throughout its history. Don't miss Michelangelo's masterwork on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – one of the most famous and recognised paintings in the history of man. We recommend visiting Vatican City in the morning if you want to avoid the queues.
Villa Borghese Park
Stunning year round, though particularly beautiful in springtime, Villa Borghese Park, in the northern part of Rome, offers green space dotted with lakes, temples, statues, a zoo and several museums. It is also the home to the Galleria Borghese, the city’s most famous private art collection that houses works of masterpieces from icons including Caravaggio, Titian, Rubens and Raphael.
The Colosseum
No trip to Rome would be complete without visiting the mighty triumph of architecture, the Colosseum. Inaugurated in AD 80, this impressive 50,000-seat Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, held violent gladiatorial combats. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Colosseum was abandoned and was plundered of its precious travertine and marble. The striking building is spectacularly lit up at night, adding a certain ghostly magic to its exterior – you can almost hear the roar from the Roman crowds.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is a remarkable 2000-year-old architectural gem; once a temple, it is now a church and is the best example of Rome’s ancient monuments, and one of the most significant buildings in the western world. Built by Hadrian, the Pantheon has stood since around AD 125. Considered the ancient Romans’ greatest architectural achievement, until the 15th century it was the largest cupola in the world and is still the largest unreinforced concrete dome in existence.
Trevi Fountain
The spectacular Trevi Fountain takes up the entire side of the 17th-century Palazzo Poli, famously pictured in the 1960 film, La Dolce Vita. Designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732, the Trevi Fountain depicts sea-god, Oceanus, in a shell-shaped chariot being led by Tritons with seahorses. It is tradition to throw a coin into the fountain and an estimated 3,000 Euros are wished upon each day!