5 of the Best... Rome

There are few cities on earth that boast a history as significant as the 'Eternal City'. Ancient Rome is one of the most well known and studied ancient empires, thanks not only to its presence in history lessons - but in the likes of film and cinema as well! The heart of the Roman Empire (which spanned from the River Nile to the north of Britain) is found in iconic Rome - and this is the focus of the article. I'm going to delve into '5 of the Best...' sights to see in Rome, and in turn, share historic info and travel tips along the way. From the Roman Republic through to the Renaissance and into the modern age - Rome has so much to see and experience. I hope it is an enjoyable read; welcome to Rome!

1. St Peter's Basilica

We begin in the smallest state in the world: the Vatican City. Rome is unique in that it's not only the capital city of Italy, but it's also home to the 'micro-nation' of the Vatican. Italy and the Vatican have of course not always been separate entities - for a long period of time during the 'Papal States', the city was united. However, history is always evolving, and in 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed and granted the Vatican City (Holy See) statehood. This was brokered during the rule of Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI, and helped settle a turbulent era in Roman politics, whereby the Pope had openly been encouraging practising Catholics not to recognise the Kingdom of Italy. Whilst small, the establishment of the Vatican under the rule of the Pope, ensured a future for the papacy in Rome, as the head of over a billion global Catholics. And it's this, which leads us onto the awe-inspiring St Peter's Basilica - a landmark that is one of the world's most treasured sacred spaces...

Built upon the site believed to be where St Peter was buried, this is one of the most visited places of pilgrimage anywhere. St Peter was one of the most prominent of Jesus's twelve apostles, and thus this has been a special place for centuries. It was in AD 67, when St Peter's martyrdom happened as Emperor Nero persecuted Christians. The present basilica in which we see today though, is not as old a structure as one might think. The original Constantinian church there was becoming dilapidated in the 14th century, and thus Julius II decided upon a grand reconstruction in 1506.

This would lead onto the creation of one of the greatest achievements of the Renaissance. With the contributions of artistic masters such as Raphael and Michelangelo, the new St Peter's Basilica continues to stand today as a symbol of Catholicism and the city of Rome. Visiting St Peter's is free, although the queues to enter vary hugely depending on the time of day. There's a charge if you wish to climb the 551 steps to the top of the dome (a lift can be used for a portion of these, but the final 320 steps up to the top are very claustrophobic). If you ascend Michelangelo's dome, the views offer a fitting reward; you can see out across the entire grounds of the Vatican state, whilst also pinpointing famous Italian sites in Rome. Visiting St Peter's is undoubtedly worth it regardless of whether the dome is climbed. Highlights in the church itself include the statue of St Peter, and in particular, Bernini's stunning baldachino. Placed over the high altar, this bronze sculpted canopy rises 66 feet and its twisted columns are replicas of ones from the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.

Also, my favourite view and photograph to capture during a visit there, is the look skyward from the baldachino towards the resplendently decorated interior of the dome. Michelangelo was not only the mastermind behind this though - he also crafted the much adored 'Pieta', which can be seen near the entrance to the church. An interesting fact, and perfectly understandable when considered - is that this famous Renaissance artist suffered from severe neck and eye strain... it would have been such painstaking work painting the ceiling! In the neighbouring Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel can be visited, of which is believed to be his most famous masterpiece. A visit to the Vatican City is of course a highlight of visiting Rome, and in my opinion, if you're prioritising one place to visit there with limited time available, St Peter's Basilica is the best place to experience.

2. Roman Forum

We move now to the second of five in this article, and in doing so we're moving historically from one of the pinnacles of the Renaissance, to the heart of Ancient Rome: the Roman Forum. This present day amalgamation of historic ruins was once the central point of the city of Rome, during the time of the Roman Empire. The 'Foro Romano' (in Italian) is located in a marshy valley between two of the city's most fabled hills: the Capitoline and Palatine hills respectively. The ruins here are so well preserved, and whilst there is lots of 'rubble', there is so much that is still standing as well, and therefore providing us in the present day with a historic jewel to explore. Visiting the Roman Forum is stepping back through time - it's an evocative experience whereby we can imagine the ancient Roman people going about their daily lives. And it's because of this, that the Roman Forum features in '5 of the Best... Rome' - undoubtedly one of the top sights to see in the Italian capital.

One of my favourite viewpoints in all of the city is the wonderful panoramic vista that can be attained from the Capitoline Hill; it's a short walk from the statue of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius on Piazza de Campidoglio, that brings us to this awe-inspiring perspective of the Roman Forum. The remaining huge pillars of the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vespasian are right before you! Interestingly, Vespasian was the emperor at the helm for the construction of the Colosseum - which can be seen behind the Roman Forum when looking from the Capitoline Hill. Worth noting as well, is that atop this hill, is the Capitoline Museums. This is a splendid collection of antiquities, with one of the collection's headlines being a bronze statue of Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf, which is a symbol representative of the founding of Rome. This symbol is something that can be seen in many places in Rome; Romulus founded the city on the 21st April, in the year 753 BC.

Whilst there's great views of the Forum to be had, entering the cobblestone streets of this historic place is the best way to feel the pulse of history. The 'Via Sacra' (Sacred Way) is the oldest street in Rome, and it once ran right through the Forum, from the Arch of Titus up to the Capitoline Hill. Traversing the remains of the sacred way sees the visitor pass the likes of the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Romulus and the Arch of Augustus. Superb signposts and information boards are available throughout the site, which help to bring it all to life. The adjacent ruins up on the Palatine Hill are well worth exploring too - a ticket includes combined Forum and Palatine Hill complex entry (a 'combo' trio in conjunction with the Colosseum, enables these to be visited across two days).

3. The Colosseum

It's natural to move onto the aforementioned Colosseum from the Roman Forum, as in ancient times these weren't tourist sites with separate entry - they combined as the beating heart of life in the historic centre. One was home to commerce, trade and faith, whilst the other was opened to entertain the people of Rome! The Colosseum, also known as the 'Flavian Amphitheatre' (after Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian Dynasty), was opened in AD 80. It was down to the reigning Emperor Titus to open the project which Vespasian had started, after his predecessor passed away in AD 79. In order to mark the grand opening of the Colosseum, Emperor Titus ordered 100 consecutive days of games to be staged. It's said that over 5,000 animals were slaughtered during this time - epitomising the blood-thirsty spectacles that took place on the mighty arena floor. The 50,000 seat capacity of this legendary stadium, was certainly capable of welcoming the masses!

The name 'Colosseum' was adopted in the Medieval era - with it referencing the gargantuan statue of Emperor Nero that stood nearby. This amphitheatre (two theatres facing each other) was a fitting replacement in Rome to the 'Domus Aurea' (the 'Golden House'), a.k.a Nero's pleasure palace, that stood before in this central location. After a period of neglect following the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the Colosseum endured plundering during the Renaissance, whereby the travertine and marble were prized for use elsewhere - such as the Palazzo Venezia. In modern times, the pollution as a result of city traffic following the Industrial Revolution left a significant mark on this ancient marvel. Because of this, a major restoration happened to clean-up the Colosseum. This took place between 2014 and 2016, and has ensured that this site is better placed to welcome thousands more visitors each day into the future. Adding to its global acclaim, the Colosseum was voted as one of the 'New 7 Wonders of the World', alongside the likes of the Taj Mahal and Petra, when it was announced in July 2007 at the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon.

In terms of visiting the 'Colosseo' - the aforementioned combined ticket with the Roman Forum is a fantastic option. By pre-booking a ticket online, it enables you to skip the long lines for tickets on the day, and therefore allows more free time for exploring. Different ticket options are available in terms of what's included, like access to the arena floor for example, is an add-on. Inside, a visit provides many great perspectives of the amphitheatre, whilst there are also interesting depictions and remnants of the past in an interesting museum area on an upper floor. Without a doubt, no visit to Rome is complete without experiencing the Colosseum - so whilst some tourist sites in the world may be dubbed as 'over-rated' and worth skipping - this is certainly not the case for the Colosseum!

4. The Pantheon

We move on now to Rome's best preserved ancient monument: the Pantheon. The reason why the Pantheon is so well preserved is because it was never abandoned like the Colosseum; the Pantheon has been in consistent use for around 2,000 years. The striking Pantheon we see today dates from AD 118 to 125, when this Roman temple was reconstructed by Emperor Hadrian, following two previous temples (one dates back to 27 BC), being destroyed in AD 80 and AD 110 respectively. One of these was burnt down, before on the other occasion a lightening strike caused its downfall. This is a testament to the enduring magnificence of the current construction, that's still with us today.

This term 'Pantheon' (comes from Greek: 'pan' meaning 'all', and 'theos' meaning 'god') refers to all the gods - whereby the many different deities of the Roman Empire could be worshipped. Hadrian's original temple was dedicated to the classical Roman gods, however in 608 it was consecrated as a Christian church, ultimately coming into line with the embrace of this faith in society. The 'Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres' is the official name of the Pantheon Church, and it's most definitely a highlight of a walk through the timeless 'Centro-Storico' (historic centre), of this truly Eternal City.

The mammoth 16 Egyptian granite columns and triangular pediment create a stunning exterior facade, with the dome rising above it more visible the further away you are to the monument itself. The Piazza della Rotonda is the public space in front of the Pantheon, and once you enter inside the building itself - it provides a splendid perspective of the magnificent dome. The engineering skill of this era was simply incredible. Created with a dome centre oculus (8.7 metre diameter hole) as the primary source of light - this was the largest dome in the world for over a thousand years, when it was finally eclipsed by the cupola of Florence's Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, in the 15th century. The circle central space features decorative features all around, with a typically ornate altar. One of my personal favourite photos to capture of the Pantheon though, is when this spectacular piece of history is illuminated after dark. The 11.8 metre high columns glow as people enjoy a 'passeggiata' (evening stroll) through the cobblestone streets - and taking a while to capture this is a photographer's dream. The evening atmosphere here is wonderful - Rome at its absolute best!

5. Trevi Fountain

Moving onto the final selection of '5 of the Best... Rome', we take a short walk from the Pantheon, to arrive at the world-famous Trevi Fountain. It shows the incredible attraction of this area of Rome to feature two of these five that I've chosen, in such close proximity to each other. However, I couldn't choose between the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain - therefore my conclusion was that both were justified of inclusion! Legend says that if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the Trevi fountain, you'll return to Rome - and as a result of this, an average of 3,000 euros per day is swimming in the pool. The money collected goes to charity, and this tradition has increased the allure of this otherwise majestic piece of architecture. Crowds flock to the Piazza di Trevi all year round, all day round - with the illumination after dark extra special!

Completed in 1762, the Trevi Fountain is called as such, because 'tre vie' refers to the three roads that converge at where the fountain is found. Nicola Salvi designed this fountain in the early 18th century, and in doing so, reflected the history of Rome in the inclusion of ancient gods. The god of the sea, Neptune, features in a shell-shaped chariot led by Tritons and two sea horses. One of the horses is docile and the other is wild, which represent the changing energy and unpredictable nature of the sea. Abundance and Solubrity flank the statue of Neptune, of whom is the Roman version of the Greek god, Poseidon. I love how the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain's construction date to entirely different time periods - yet both amongst the decorative streets of the Italian capital, feel typically Roman. The Renaissance and modern architecture so often takes inspiration from the ancient people that achieved so much, and whose legacy is alive and thriving in Rome today.

Honourable Mentions

Rome has so much more to offer than the five sights that I've selected for this article, and whilst I've alluded the likes of the Capitoline Museums already, here's a few more of the best of the rest...

*Galleria Borghese: art gallery featuring stunning sculptures such as Bernini's 'Apollo and Daphne'.

*Vatican Museums: the other best sight to see in the Vatican along with St Peter's; one of the most expansive collections of art anywhere in the world, and a visit includes the famous Sistine Chapel.

*Victor Emmanuel II Monument: gleaming white structure that celebrates the unification of Italy.

*Piazza Navona: one of Rome's most treasured piazzas, near to the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain.

*San Giovanni in Laterano: official seat of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope!). Near to the Scala Santa holy stairs - said to have been brought from Jerusalem by Constantine's mother, St Helena.

By Aaron Woodruff

Lessons & Joys of Travel

12/11/2025