Our Top 5 Attractions & Must - Sees in Rome, Italy

1. The Colosseum a.k.a. Colosseo

One of the 7 Wonders of the Medieval World

You have never been to Rome if you have never paid a visit to one  of the greatest works of Roman architecture, built in the 80AD, known as the Colosseum.

Rooms for Gladiators

During the olden days, the Colosseum was once an amphitheatre used to host gladiatorial shows as well as dramas, mock sea battles and animal hunts which could accommodate more than 50,000 spectators at a time. Its huge capacity made it essential that the venue could be filled or evacuated quickly. Its architects adopted solutions very similar to those used in modern stadiums to deal with the same problem, such as having a huge number of entrances and exits at calculated points.  According to some historians, around five hundred thousand people and millions of wild animals were killed as part of the games in the Colosseum during the period when it served as a place of entertainment. 

Inside the arena

The Colosseum today is one of the most popular attractions in the world receiving millions of visitors each year. When visiting the Colosseum, do remember to get your ticket online beforehand to avoid long queues. A daily pass of Colosseum + Palatine Hill (mentioned in more details below) + Forum  (mentioned in more details below) can be bought in many online sites. If possible, spend a few more € and take a guided tour inside the arena. This will give you a chance to learn more about the history of this wonderful place.

Warning! When you're outside the Colosseum, beware of some barbarians who dress like gladiators offering photo-shoots. They can be very persistent and rude at times and a photo with them will cost more than your 3-in-1 daily pass.

Open daily :
   - October - January 15 (9am - 3pm) 
   - January 16 - February 15 (9am - 4pm) 
   - February 16 - March 17 (9am - 4.30pm)
   - March 18 - April 16 (9am - 5pm)
   - April 17 - September (9am - 7pm)


2. Palatine Hill a.k.a. Palatino

Stadium of Domitian

Rome was built on seven hills, and the Palatine Hill is situated in the central hill on the site of the oldest parts of the city. It is believed that this hill is the birthplace of the glorious Roman Empire.

Fountain

Ruins Villas

Standing above the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is a large open air museum which contains the ruins of ancient palaces, buildings and several large villas that belonged to wealthy Roman families. The southern end of the hill contains the remains of the palace of the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus. Close to the Palace lie the huge bath ruins of the emperor. The northern section of the palace of Septimius Severus houses the stadium. This stadium was built together with the adjacent palace of Domitian. Domitian’s palace forms the largest, oldest and most domineering tourist attraction in the whole of the Palatine hill site. 

Entrance from Colosseum

Arch of Constantine

It will only take you about 5 minutes walk to get to the Palatine Hill from the Colosseum. Along the way, you will pass by the famous Arch of Constantine (excellent backdrop for picture taking) before reaching the stairway entrance to the Paletine Hill.

3. Roman Forum a.k.a. Foro Romano

Ruins of the Forum

The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic centre. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts. When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum was forgotten, buried and destroyed.

Rostra (large platform for speakers to stand on)

The Arch of Septimius Severus

Although what is left today are just columns and stone blocks, the first view of the Forum will always leave you breathless and give you a brief glimpse of how great the Romans once were.

Palatino (far top) & Foro

Spectacular view of Foro from Palatino

To truly enjoy these 3 places, allow yourself a whole day to slowly walk and experience the beauty of each architecture and understand the story behind every building. There are 2 ways to walk this tour; either start from the Colosseum and end at the Forum or vice versa. If you missed the online ticket, it's advisable that you start at the Forum instead to avoid the long queue at the Colosseum. The nearest Metro station to this area is the Colosseo station.

4. Trevi Fountain a.k.a. Fontana di Trevi 

Fontana di Trevi

The Trevi Fountain is Rome’s most beautiful and famous fountain and it attracts hundreds to thousands of visitors per day. The fountain is so beautiful that it has been used  for some movie scenes such as Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn. The location of this fountain is a little difficult to find and you should try to get your hands on a full map of Rome (some hotels and B&Bs will provide a full map of the city depicting landmark tourist attractions for free when you check-in) to keep you from getting lost because this beautiful picturesque city is full of narrow streets and quaint little alleys. The Trevi Fountain is situated in the heart of the city centre, crammed in among a maze of narrow streets and alley ways along Via Del Lavatore.

Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio Church opposite Trevi Fountain

Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back towards the fountain. The money will then be used to subsidise a supermarket for Rome's poor population.

Sea God

You will find many artists sketching and painting the attractions of Rome in the Trevi area. Try to bargain for a good deal if you're interested to make it a souvenir for yourself or friends. For those you who are planning to visit this fountain, the best time would be late evening to enjoy both the day and night views of this magnificent Trevi Fountain. The closest Metro station is at Piazza Barberini.


5. The Pantheon a.k.a Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres

Perfect Dome

The Pantheon is one of the greatest spiritual buildings in the world. It was built as a Roman temple and later converted into a Catholic Church. Due to this conversion by Emperor Phocas, the Pantheon was saved from complete destruction.

Tomb of Raphael

Tomb of King Umberto 1

The perfectly-shaped dome building is the burial place of several important Italians including the artist Raphael. Today, it remains an active church, a major tourist destination and also a popular place for wedding for the Romans.

Oculus

The wonder of this building is due not only to its perfectly symetrical round-shaped dome  (43m wide and 43m height) but also to its only source of natural light from the open centre of the dome, known as the Oculus. The circular hole measuring 30 feet in diameter, allows sunlight to flow through the interior of the Pantheon symbolizing the linking of the temple and the heavens on high. As the sun moves, striking patterns of light illuminate the walls and floors made of yellow marbles, granite and porphyry.

Verdict :

 Sandal says :

• Trip Experience - 9/10 (Love all the attractions)

• Value for $$$ - 8/10 (€9 for 3-in-1 (Colosseo + Palatino + Foro) daily pass? worth it!)

• Recommend to a friend? - Definitely (where else can you find a big open air museum?)

Toothpick says : 

• Trip Experience - 9.5/10 (Love the architecture and the history)

• Value for $$$ - 9/10 (Value for money if you appreciate old historic buildings)

• Recommend to a friend? - Absolutely (Buzz me if you are going =), I would be delighted to visit Rome again)