24 Tourist Attractions in Rome You Can’t Miss

Rome is an ancient city with a rich, vibrant culture and history. It’s full of stunning architecture and breathtaking views, not to mention delicious food! If you’re headed to Rome for vacation or business, there are plenty of activities to enjoy while you’re there. Here are tourist attractions in Rome to make your trip more memorable. From exploring the ruins of the Colosseum, visiting Vatican City, and admiring Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings to sampling some of Italy’s best cuisine, discovering hidden gems around every corner in Trastevere, or taking a romantic gondola ride through picturesque canals – you won’t ever be bored during your stay in this beautiful Italian capital!

Santa Maria Maggiore

Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in Rome; Standing there since the fourth century, Pope Liberius saw the Holy Virgin directing the building of a church where snow fell on its slope the next day. Even when the time of year was August, flakes fell on Esquilehill the following day, and the basilica was established there. Mass is a celebration at home from the fifth century. It is divided into three sections with 40 marble and four granite columns. The apses added in the 13th century have mosaics on Old Testament and New Testament themes, masterpieces of the famed Roman mosaic artists.

Vatican City

Vatican City is the smallest independent country on Earth, and only a square kilometer is covered mainly by Vatican walls. Inside are the Vatican palace and gardens, St Peters’s basilica, and St Peter’s Square. This compact area provides many interesting attractions between its museums and magnificent basilica. In St. Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo’s masterpiece Pieta, as well as statues and altars of Bernini, among others. The Singular Chapel, with impressive frescoed walls among the undisputed highlights of the Vatican museums. Michelangelo was famous for his famous works of art.

Colosseum

A visit to the Colosseum has long been among Rome’s top activities. You’ll never go anywhere else without visiting this place. The building had been used in various forms of entertainment from 70 to 80 AD but mainly for gladiators. At the time, the theater had about 100,000 attendees. For the best view of this historical building, take a tour. Then, step inside and enjoy the Colosseum in full. If you do not plan on going, be aware that ticket lines are typically insane, and they only take in certain people per hour.

Roman Forum

Walking through a forum now situated in a busy modern town, it’s as if we were in Rome for a few hundred years. Although what survives in that center of Roman history and politics has just a tiny fraction of its original splendor, standing and fall columns, its triumphal arches and remains of their walls continue to impress, even though the history of the Roman Forum is still the same. Roman political and religious life revolves around this place together with Court, Trade, and Meeting places.

Castel Sant’Angelo

Castel Sant Angelo was built by Hadrian king 135 AD. There’s a beautiful museum and a wonderful place to enjoy sunsets. Views from the top of the hill are spectacular and worth seeing. The museum is five stories, and inside there are catapults and the papal residence used by the Pope during the plague in 590 AD. Take a walk through Castels! Ponte Sant Angelo must be seen. Sunset and the lights of the bridge and the Castel make for one of Roma s most beautiful sites.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona remains reminiscent of the Roman stadium built here by Emperor Domitian. Its west side was inhabited and reconstructed by Borromini in the Baroque style. Its façades, campaniles, and domes demonstrate that Baroque architecture blends convex and concave surfaces with piers. In the tombs of Sant’Agnese is discovered the Asgardian 1653 Miracle of Saints Agnes and the remains of the Roman mosaic floor of the church.

Altare Della Patria – Altar of Fatherland

The Altar of the Fatherlands is a vast marble masonry structure nicknamed the “Wedding Cake” or the “Typewriter.” It was built in honor of Italy’s original monarch, Vittori Emmanuell II, and is located in the vibrant Piazza Venezia. Above this imposing staircase is the equestrian giant sculpture of King Victor Emmanuel and statues containing a couple of horses thrown over him in homage to the goddess Victoria. The view from the steps from Piazza Venezia is beautiful. Still, it is also worth taking an elevator from the ground floor to the roof of the building for a view between the two chariots and a panoramic terrace.

Baths of Caracalla

Caracalla completed the work in 216, but they weren’t just baths. It was a complete sporting center with sand and water pools, a pool with dry and steam saunas, a gymnasium, a sports center with a social room garden, and a pooled library. It covered an area of 300 square meters and incorporated massive hall structures supported by massive columns and piers. Currently, it can accommodate up to 1200 visitors. The floor of the building was covered with marble mosaics and frescoes; despite their destruction, their splendor remains visible. Address: Via DELL’ESTIVALO DE CALCASCA 51 Rome.

St Peter’s Basilica

Afterward, walk into St Peter Square to see the star attraction that is St. Peter Basilic. Basilica del Pietro. Although beautiful from the inside, you can only appreciate the beautiful architectural work of Michelangelo and Bernini when you walk in. Keep looking for the Pieta of Michelangelo at the entrance, right, and if a statue of Peter’s father is on the side him, his toe must be removed from the devotees whose hands are touched. Bernini’s intricate Baldachin forms the centerpiece, with Saint Peters’s tomb directly beneath them and Michelangelo’s famous dome above.

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain – Rome’s most famous fountain, located near the center. Since its opening in 1743, the building has been considered by many the best tourist attraction of Rome. This is often seen in “La Dolce Vita.” After its 2014 sandblast facelift — paid for by Roman fashion brand Fendi at $2.4 million – the fountain’s gorgeous white Travertine Stone Statues from Oceanus. Travertine has been used to construct many of the walls and columns in Colosseums. Generally, roads leading to Centro Storico are connected by three routes, the vie, hence the name Trevi.

St Peter’s Square

Strangely, Rome’s most intriguing places are located within Vatican City. This independent state is a famous pilgrimage place around the globe where St. Peters’ Square sits at its heart. The rectangular square is impressive. The building is surrounded by an extensive set of columns surrounded by famous statues and statues of previous popes. A central obelisk attributed to Nero’s circus enhances the square’s impressiveness.

Villa Borghese Gallery and Gardens

Borghese was an essential member of the Roman family’s legacy. Originating from Sienna, their families migrated to Rome in connection to the papacy. Scipione Borghese, a nephew to Paul V, is a cardinal. He used this status and wealth to build and furnish Villa Galleria Borghese with the best Renaissance art. Besides paintings by Caravaggio and sculptures by Bernini, the impressive collection of pictures in the palace is amongst the finest in the group, which contains many masterpieces. Artists should always include that as their favorite tourist destination in Rome.

A significant park for Rome, Borghese Gardens contains several attractions, including two museums, the newest being Villa Borghese. The gallery was constructed as a party house and housed the Borghesian collection of paintings and sculptures; it includes works by Raphael, Titian Caravaggio & Caravaggio. Villa Giulia also has its summer house at the Park. Other villas were built at the 1911 Rome Expo in Italy.

Pantheon

The ancient Roman Pantheon was one of the finest preserved monuments. It occurred despite Pope Gregory III having removed the gilded bronze roof tiles and Pope Urban VIII ordering that it be cleaned up. In the 80s, the Pantheon was rebuilt following fire damage, and the resulting brickwork illustrates extraordinary technical skills among Roman architects.

Spanish Steps

A second important tourist attraction in Rome is the Spanish Steps. A Spainman did not create the Spanish steps, but the architect of Italy, Francesco Sancti. Their names originate from proximity to Spain’s embassy. The Spanish steps are suitable for a relaxed evening on a gelato table and watching the city’s people. Artists have come here for muses or models since the early 1700s, but now the location has become a photoshop. Two delightful squares topped the 138 steps—Piazza Trinita Monti- with twin tower churches outlining the area and the splendid Spagna Piazza.

Vittorio Emanuele II Monument

Vittorio Emanuele II Monument, considered one of the national symbols of Italy, was not much appreciated by the Roman king. The massive neoclassical building looms around Capitoline Hill, the symbol of ancient Rome, and looks out over the later city on the Piazza Veneto. Built between 1885 and 1935, this equestrian monument represents King Vittorio Emanuele, the First King of United Italy. The burial ground of unknown soldiers and museums from the Italian unification is here in Rome. An elevator takes you to the top to view Rome 360 degrees. Location: Via Venezia, Rome.

Palatine Hill

A short walk to the Roman Forum is often overlooked and is an important archaeological site, Palestine Hill. This is Beverly Hills in Rome. It is my favorite place in town. Walk around to enjoy peace in Romes’s historic elite area and enjoy a quiet spot. The Palatine Hill was first sought after due to its spiritual links as Roman philosophers Romulus and Remus believed their remains were found at Lupercal Cave under the mountain. During this time, there were luxurious homes of emperors. Your Colosseum ticket includes an additional trip to Palisades hill and skips lines.

San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica of St. John Lateran)

St John Lateran is a church of great importance in Rome, as would be expected of a Catholic church. The building has retained its original shape from its founding to the age of Constantinople. It is now on the market. Its facade, however, represents primarily Baroque decorative details and is an excellent example from that time. Alongside mosaic tiles on the apse, you’ll also notice the lovely wooden ceilings dating back as early as 16. The octagonal Baptistery in Fonte looks familiar. Constantinus erected the oldest Christian baptism in the world.

Church of San Clemente

One of Rome’s old churches, San Clemente, also carries one more fascination: a multitude and a history built by each age on the previous one. You may descend from the 12th-century church into an earlier church – this basilica has 4th-century Romanesque frescoes of New Testament scenes. Then there is excavated groundwork for a Roman house from the Second – Century. There is a statue of the godmother in the sanctuary. You can explore the old streets that once occupied the Roman neighborhood from the foundation walls.

Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine stands near the Colosseum and is a city structure of its most ancient origins. It was built in 315 AD to celebrate Constantine winning the battle of Milvia. This is 21 m in size, which is very sturdy compared to other buildings of that height. It has exquisite artwork with a beautiful façade and some exciting architectural features. After your stay in Colosseum, take a moment to explore one of Rome’s most fantastic attractions.

Palazzo Doria Pamphilj

Roman art is housed at the magnificent baroque galleries, staterooms, and the cathedral at Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. Représenting work by European artists of the 1700s through the 1700s, the collection includes works by Filippo Lippi and Raphael, along with important Caravaggio works. The Innocent X portrait is a highlight of Velázquez’s collection. One of the Pope’s images is a Bernina-inspired sculpture.

Capitoline Museum

Two palaces at Piazza Campidoglio house Europe’s largest art museum, established in 1470. The highlight of their collections is the bronze Hellenistic sculptural boy with a Thorn from the 4th century AD; and the statue of a 4.4-meter-long thorn. Other more modern sculpture includes a Medusa head made in 1820 by Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Piazza del Popolo & Santa Maria del Popolo

Symmetrically at its most central location on the intersection of a triangle of streets that includes Vittoria Corsi, Romes’s most extensive shopping area, Piazza del Popolo was built at the beginning of the 19th century to provide the northern entrance for the city. The Egyptian obelisk, Flaminio, is positioned over one fountain and surrounded by four white marble lions fluttering water through four round travertine pools. On both ends of Via Course are twin churches, Santa Maria del Miracoli and Santa Maria at Montesano. On the opposite side of the main piazza is Santa Maria Basilica.

The Mausoleo di Augusto

During a 14-year project, the Roman tomb was built and opened in 2021. Before this, a public house had been closed for more than 90 years. It is the most recent and the most spectacular building that was rediscovered recently. The Mausoleum of Augustus was founded in 44 BC as the emperor’s burial site. His burial is the most miniature circular tomb of all time, with an estimated length of 91 meters. Until 1936 it had served various purposes, such as the amphitheater, bullrings, or concert hall.

Catacombs and Via Appia Antica (Appian Way)

Both underground burial locations are situated in the Via Appia Antica and are well-preserved. San Callista is a 300 x 400-meter complex multi-story. Saint Calixtus had six sacred chapels built between 295-231 with pagan and early Christian paintings. The papal chapel, the burial grounds of most martyred Popes from the second century to the third century, has a Greek inscription.

Final Thoughts About Tourist Attractions in Rome:

Rome is a city full of culture, art, and history. So whether you’re looking for a quiet relaxing spot or an adventure filled with awe-inspiring attractions and monuments, Rome has something for everyone. From the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill to the Capitoline Museum and Basilica of St John Lateran – there are countless places to explore in this ancient city. Allowing yourself time to wander through these sites will give you insight into the vibrant past that makes Rome special today. So make sure to experience all that Rome has to offer!