Travel to Rome Italy The 10 Best Vacation Spots in Rome Your Travel Guide to Fun in Rome
God Creates Man Sistine Chapel Ceiling Detail Painted by Michelangelo
Rome, the ancient city and birthplace of western civilization, on the banks of the Tiber River, is the most popular vacation spots in Europe for travelers. Rome's history covers two and a half thousand years. But the glory of Rome is eternal.
Even though Rome is a vibrant contemporary city, the best attractions for visitors are the ancient treasures. With 3,000 years of history to revel in, Rome is a living museum of timeless architecture, churches, galleries and ruins. Travel back in time with us, as we visit some of the vacation spots in Rome. You'll see masterpieces in oil and marble, art and architecture inspired by Roman and Greek genius.
Romulus and Remus Founders of Rome Capitoline Museums, Rome
According to tradition, two twin boys, Romulus and Remus, were rescued and nursed by a wolf. They grew up and founded Rome in 753 BC. Rome was built on seven hills near the Tiber River. As the city grew, Roman soldiers conquered and ruled Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for over four hundred years. By the fourth century AD, Rome was the capital city of the powerful Roman Empire. Then during the Middle-Ages and the Renaissance, Rome was ruled by powerful popes like Alexander VI and Leo X, who transformed the city into a centre of the arts.
Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy, with 2.7 million residents and 500 square miles. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Relax, take a long lunch , watch the world go by, grab a gelato, stay up late and stroll under the stars. This Mediterranean city enjoys six months of summer. And winter temperatures are a comfortable 50 to 60 degrees. In spite of the crazy driving and the sneaky pickpockets, Rome has many attractions to offer tourists.
"I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free."
-Michelangelo
Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, Vatican City, Rome
Vatican City is a city-state ruled by the Catholic pope. With only 120 acres, it is the world's smallest nation. The ecclesiastical treasures that await you here are beyond compare. Inside Vatican City, you'll tour the vacation spots, the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square.
The Sistine Chapel is the Pope's personal chapel. Everyone comes to see Michelangelo's monumental work, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He also painted the huge altar wall called The Last Judgment.
Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum has 4 miles of displays. and 5,000 years of art treasures, from the Sumerians and the Egyptians, Greek and Romans and the Renaissance. Its collection includes the Apollo Belvedere, for many centuries considered the world's most perfect work of art. There's the Laocoon, a bronze of Hercules, Raphael's Resurrection tapestries, Diana the goddess hunter, and decorations suitable for papal palaces. Raphael's painting of The School of Athens is an important group portrait of geniuses from ancient Greece to the Renaissance. Leonardo Da Vinci's moving painting of St. Jerome done in 1482 is also here.
Pieta by Michelangelo St. Peter's Basilica, Rome
St. Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City, is the richest and grandest church on earth, with Michelangelo's design and Bernini's decorations. Right here Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in A.D. 800. It is the home of Michelangelo's masterpiece in marble, the Pieta, a sorrowful mother Mary holding the body of Christ after it was released from the cross. Michelangelo designed the dome of the building. Bernini did the impressive altar canopy. Faithful pilgrims stop to kiss the foot of the bronze statue of St. Peter, done by di Cambio. Statues of saints and popes look down on you. The splendor of marble, gold and art was meant to impress visitors with the power of the Church. Religious relics here are said to be a fragment of the True Cross and the bones of St. Peter.
The Pantheon, Rome's best preserved monument, was built by Emperor Hadrian in 120 A.D. It was a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. It is an architectural wonder and a popular tourist attraction. Each column is a single 40-foot piece of granite. Inside, the central dome was designed with an opening, called an oculus, through which sun and rain enter. It houses the tombs of Raphael and Italian kings and queens, guarded by statues.
The Roman Forum was the political, religious and commercial center of Ancient Rome, where the most important temples and halls of justice were located. The Via Sacra is the main street of the Forum, leading from the Colosseum to Capitol Hill. It starts at the Arch of Titus, past the Senate building, past Palatine Hill and up to Capitol Hill. Here 2,000 years ago Mark Antony spoke at the funeral of Julius Caesar, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." Many of the old buildings, temples, and palaces are still standing.
School of Athens by Raphael Detail of Plato and Aristotle Fresco, Vatican City, Rome
The Borghese Gallery, Galleria Borghese, is a must-see vacation spot in Rome, a museum of sculpture, paintings, and an overwhelming art experience. In this 17th century villa, Cardinal Borghese gathered beautiful objects from every age. Bernini's statue of David ready to take on Goliath, Canova's sexy sculpture of Bonaparte's sister posing as Venus, Bernini's Apollo and Daphne, Bernini's The Rape of Proserpine, Caravaggio paintings of David, Titian's Sacred and Profane Love are a few of the memorable items. Gathered under one roof are madonnas, pagan gods and goddesses and Christian heroes. You must make reservations for the Borghese in advance, and you're only allowed a 2-hour visit to absorb all the splendors.
The Colosseum, officially called the Flavian Amphitheater, was an arena for gladiator contests and public spectacles, a place of blood sports and death. "Hail, Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!" Gladiators, Christians, slaves, and wild beasts fought in front of 50,000 bloodthirsty people who voted, thumbs up or thumbs down, if they should live or die. A 100-feet tall bronze statue of Nero used to decorate it.
Trevi Fountain, Fontana di Trevi, is a ritual vacation spot for tourists. In the fountain, the god-like Neptune drives his chariot drawn by two seahorses. The fountain is often used as a movie setting. You remember the song ,"Three coins in the fountain." Toss a coin into the Trevi, and wish for good luck.
The Capitoline Museums, Musei Capitolini, are two palaces on a plaza designed by Michelangelo. These buildings are the settings for works of ancient sculpture, rare bronzes and lifelike marble portraits. Memorable art includes Marcus Aurelius in bronze from the second century, the Dying Gaul sculpture of a fallen soldier, and a fifth-century BC Etruscan bronze of the famous She-Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Paintings by Caravaggio and Tintoretto are among the treasures.
The Discus Thrower, 460-450 BC National Museum, Rome
The National Museum of Rome, Museo Nazionale Romano, has five locations. The Palazzo Massimo alle Terme is the vacation spot for major Greek and Roman statues, frescoes and mosaics, early jewelry, household objects and coins. You'll see the painted statue of Minerva, Julius Caesar who was assassinated by his Senators, Emperor Augustus who proclaimed that he was a god, his scheming wife Livia, Alexander the Great who conquered Greece, Egypt and Persia, The Boxer at Rest, The Discus Thrower, and Apollo the sun god.
The Spanish Steps are the iconic vacation spot and gathering place for tourists. 138 marble steps lead from the luxury shopping zone of Plazza di Spagna up to Trinita dei Monti church and some of the best views. They are named for the Spanish Embassy nearby. The English poet John Keats died in an apartment near the Spanish Steps. He is buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome. The English poet Percy Blysse Shelley is also buried here.
The Ancient Port, Ostia Antica. is a 30-minute train ride south. Here are the ruins of Rome's ancient port, blocks of apartments, mansions of the rich, pagan temples, a Jewish synagogue and a Christian basilica. Theatres, taverns, shops, public baths the firemen's quarters, and the altar for live animal sacrifices are still visible. There is a museum of statues from the second and third century A.D. The port thrived as a defense outpost and commercial center until the Tiber River changed course and malaria drove everyone away.
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