BEST OF ROME

The "Eternal City" is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Once the capital of western civilization, Rome has incredible antiquities, gorgeous piazzas, stunning fountains, great food, and a wonderful ambiance. The saying "All roads lead to Rome" was a truism during the Roman Empire and the city displays the landmarks of Ancient Rome in a spectacular fashion.

The Colosseum
The world famous profile of the Colosseum remains a dramatic sight, but you need to tour inside for a revealing look into its history. The arena was designed to hold more than fifty thousand spectators while the lions and gladiators did their work.

Piazza Campidoglio/Capitoline Hill
The Capitoline Hill was a seat of power in ancient Rome and remains a center of government even today. The Capitoline's Piazza Campidoglio, is a good place to start your tour of Ancient Rome. The Piazza and its buildings were constructed and in some cases modified based on plans created by Michelangelo.

The Roman and Imperial Forums Area
The ruins of the Forums mark the historical center of the city and contain the remnants of the seats of power of ancient Rome. Expect to spend an afternoon at the Forums, or less if you simply want to take a quick walkthrough. Be warned, it is a fascinating area and you will soon find yourself trying to translate Latin dates and Latin script as you wander this breathtaking piece of history where Caesar and other emperors of the Roman Empire once walked.

The Temples of Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans worshipped various gods and goddesses and built imposing temples to honor those they particularly feared.

Examples of the most important of these include the temples of Saturn, Castor and Pollux, and another commemorating the goddesses Venus and Roma.

Some temples were named for emperors who were deified and the most important of these are the ruins of the Temples of Caesar and Vespasian.

The Temples of Ancient Rome
The ancient Romans worshipped various gods and goddesses and built imposing temples to honor those they particularly feared.
Examples of the most important of these include the temples of Saturn, Castor and Pollux, and another commemorating the goddesses Venus and Rome

Arch of Constantine
Located between the Colosseum and the Roman Forums, Constantine's Arch is the largest and best preserved of the ancient Roman arches. It provides a sense of history and demonstrates the grandeur of the Roman Empire. Take some time to examine the details of this impressive monument.


Trajan's Market.
One of the earliest permanently covered shopping arcades, Trajan's market, from the 1st Century, is the best-preserved of the ancient markets in Rome. It is located in the Imperial Forums.a.
Some temples were named for emperors who were deified and the most important of these are the ruins of the Temples of Caesar and Vespasian.

The Pantheon
The Temple of the Pantheon is one of the true glories of ancient Rome and one of the best preserved sites in the city. The Pantheon is located where, in earlier times, Agrippa had constructed a temple to commemorate the Roman Gods. The Emperor Hadrian commissioned the Pantheon including the spectacular rotunda and the marvelous dome that have survived the centuries.

Castel Sant'Angelo (Hadrian's Mausoleum)
Castel Sant Angelo offers panoramic views along the Tiber and is one of Rome's outstanding architectural monuments. The building has served Roman emperors as a mausoleum, several popes as a fortress (it is still connected to the Vatican by a passageway) and as a bulwark of the defensive wall that once surrounded Rome.