Indulge yourself inside the Beauty of Rome
Rome tours are one of the ultimate wishlists of many travelers. This city is a travel destination especially for those who are into history. With the uncountable number of art galleries, museums, palaces, and old villas you will get to witness how famous people back in the days led their lives.
Roman architecture has been influenced by many different periods of history. It was most famous during the Renaissance and Baroque ages and is still the capital of Christianity.
History
The ancient city of Rome was founded in 713 B.C.E. by Romulus and Remus. The town was situated on the coast of central Italy. Ancient Roman cities were built in such a way that the grand buildings were in the middle. Where colosseums, markets, theaters, and bathhouses surrounded the buildings.
By 200 B.C over 50,000 miles of roads were built which are still used now. Ancient buildings like the Colosseum and Roman Forum which were built long ago still stand strong today. This is all because of the cement and concrete which was used back then.
While on the Rome tours, you can take in some of the city’s breathtaking grandeur. Some of them have been mentioned in this article.
Sites to see in Rome
Colosseum
The construction of the Colosseum began back in 72 AD by Emperor Vespasian, it took around 8 years to complete the development. The building measures 188 meters in length, 156m in width and the height is 57 meters.
Back in the day, the Colosseum could accommodate up to 50,000 people where the seating arrangement was done according to how high they stood in the society. The building was used by the Roman Emperor and people who used to enjoy watching fights between animals, battles amongst gladiators, and also for the execution of prisoners.
While taking the Colosseum underground tour, you can see the place where gladiators and wild animals were kept hostage. You can also see the arena where the gladiators used to battle against each other. Along with the arch of Constantine (symbol of Christian faith), the Hypogeum ( backstage used by gladiators before going out to battle), Ludus Magnus( training school for gladiators), and more astonishing places.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum stands near to the Colosseum. Basically, it was used as a place for daily shopping at the beginning. But then in 500 B.C, it became an important site where political, administrative, and religious activities took place in Rome.
The Roman Forum has a few structures which include: Temple of Saturn, the Senate House, the Temple of Vesta, and many more.
The structure had been changed a number of times in order to keep up with the designs of other buildings within that particular period of time. Although the forum was destroyed back in 410 A.D, luckily it was discovered again in 1803. If you visit you will be able to see the architectural fragments and ancient ruins that were left.
Borghese Villa and gardens
The Borghese gallery lies in the Borghese gardens on Pincian Hill. It is well known for its huge collection of paintings and ancient sculptures. There are many things to see in the Borghese gallery. Some of them are the sculpture of David, Caravaggio’s paintings, Status of the sleeping Hermaphroditus, and many more.
Just outside the gallery is the beautiful garden standing on a huge space of 80 hectares of land. Over there you can enjoy the beautiful lake, fountain, zoo, and many other attractions.
The park is one of the largest in Rome and situated just outside the Borghese Gallery. It has a total of 9 entrances and many paths which lead to around 100 attractions. The garden occupies a space of 80 hectares of land and it is located on Pincian Hill. Cardinal Scipione Borghese developed the park.
Vatican city
While you’re taking in the sights of Rome, don’t forget to take one of the renowned Vatican tours. The Vatican City houses many world-famous ancient sites and works of art.
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are must-sees on your itinerary. When you tour the Vatican with a guide, you can visit gorgeous landmarks and discover intriguing trivia and facts about the city.
Castel Sant’ Angelo
Also known as the Castle of the Holy Angel was used by Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum. In fact, after Michaelangelo ended the plague by his presence in 590, Pope Pius II decided to name the castle after Angelo.
The name came when Archangel Michael was seen at the top of the castle. Right at the time when the great plague that destroyed the city came to an end. Pope Gregory took Archangel’s presence as a symbol and decided to name the castle after him.
Castel Sant’ Angelo is a museum now a museum where a number of gems are kept for public viewing. You can also get to see the footprints of Archangel. There are five floors inside the castle with rooms decorated with renaissance paintings.
Piazza Navona
Originally the square was used as a Roman athletics stadium back in the days. Approximately 30000 people could be accommodated at the stadium at a time.
Currently, the Piazza has three fountains and a church. The names of the fountains are:
Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi ( The fountain of four rivers), Fontana del Moro ( The
Fountain of the Moor) and Fontana del Nettuno ( The Fountain of Neptune).
Spanish steps
The Spanish steps were built between 1723-1725 by Francesco de Sanctis. At the top of the staircase, you will get to see the statue of King Louis XIV.
There are a total of 138 steps which are situated between a mix of curves, terraces, and straight flights. They have been designed in the Roman Baroque style. At the lower staircase, there is a fountain that represents a sinking ship, it goes by the name of Della Barcaccia.
Catacombs
Roman catacombs are known to be some of the oldest in the world. These are underground galleries that have been used for centuries as cemeteries are known as Catacombs. The Catacombs were finally completed in the 5th century. It was used to bury Jews, Pagans, and the first Christians of Rome.
The place can also be identified as an underground art gallery since framed paintings and frescoes can also be found there. The place is famous for holding the most valuable artworks of the Christians.
The catacombs have to be entered by staircases which are steep and eventually lead to several floors underground. The walls have slots that are used to keep dead bodies. Each wall has many positions so that no space is wasted. Catacombs can be defined as a city underground.
In the city of Rome, there are above sixty catacombs. These are made up of underground tunnels. Here you can find thousands of tombs. The dead bodies were wrapped up in sheets and placed in niches.
Pantheon
Till now the Pantheon is known to be one of the most remarkable monuments of Rome. The construction was completed during 126-128 AD. The word Pantheon means ‘honor all Gods’. The building stood as a temple to the Gods, especially because of its unique design. When Michelangelo took a first look at the building he remarked that the work was done by angels rather than humans.
The main attraction of the Pantheon is the massive dome, which has a hole on the top. For 1300 years the dome was the largest. Even today it is still known as the largest dome in the whole world which is unsupported
Villa Doria Pamphili
The Villa was built back in the 17th century by the Pamphill family for residing purposes. But now the Villa represents an astonishing park which is located outside the ancient Roman walls. Apparently, this park is the second biggest public park in Rome. In fact, this garden is so big and rich in plants that once upon a time it was named, ‘Bel Respiro’ meaning ‘Deep Breath”.
There is plenty to see in this massive garden which includes:
- Lily’s fountain: it is a symbol of the Pamphili family located in the park in such an area that you can catch a view of both the lake and canal in front.
- Belvedere lake: this natural lake is surrounded by birds and plants which is pleasant scenery for visitors.
- Doria Pamphili Chapel is the funeral chapel of the Pamphili family built in neo-gothic style. It was constructed at the end of the 19th century by Alfonso Doria Pamphili.
- Deer valley: occupying a space of 60,000 square meters which was used for deers to live in freedom and also as the family’s private hunting reserve. Unfortunately, it was abandoned for many years but in 2000 renovation works were carried out for public viewing.
Rome Rose Garden
This particular garden was established back in 1931 and covers approximately 10,000 sq meters. It is situated on Aventino Hill opposite the Circus Maximus.
The site was used as a cemetery for the Jewish. The garden first started with 300 roses. Unfortunately in 1950 during the second world war, the original garden was damaged, but luckily the roses bloomed again later on.
Now the public garden holds over 1100 varieties of roses, where many of which are gifts from all over the world. The main aim of the rose garden is to display the different groups of roses such as hybrid roses, rose shrubs, hybrid roses, and many more.
Interestingly the park has a separate section for testing roses for determining whether or not they are suitable for public and private gardens.
Book skip-the-line tickets
If you want to avoid wasting valuable time standing in long queues in order to enter the various historic sites and museums then it is highly advisable to book entry tickets in advance. Also, you can avoid crowds inside the museums and galleries as the ticket can be booked according to off-peak hours.
Booking tickets in this method is also advisable for those who want to save money, as usually the tickets are sold at a discounted price. Some of the tickets also include an audio tour and tour guide which will make the tour more interesting for you.
Advice for visiting Rome
- Make sure that you are vaccinated against Covid-19 and are carrying your certificate. Also, the fact that you are not suffering from the virus must also be included.
- If you are planning to visit during the summer then do make sure that you carry a bottle of water at all times. Since the heat goes up to 30 degrees Celsius, it can cause dehydration.
- It is highly recommended to dress up decently when you go to visit churches otherwise you may be denied entry.
- When it comes to exchanging currency in Rome airports and railway stations are unprofitable. Hence it is better to buy Euros in the city where there are plenty of exchange offices.
Finally
Rome, the historical city, is full of beauty. There are plenty of sites, monuments, and gardens that you can visit. Above the topmost attractions have been mentioned which you definitely must keep in mind to look at. Those who are interested in dark history must visit the catacombs to find out about all the hidden secrets.
If you want to get away from the city rush then I would recommend you to take a stroll in the breathtaking gardens which are full of fountains, flowers and a variety of plants.