Things to Do and See in Rome

Rome, the capital, better known as the “Eternal City,” “caput mundi,” and “the navel of the world,” is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world. The city boasts one of the richest cultural offerings in the world: the magnificent Vittoriano, the Capitoline Museums, the Imperial Forums with the Colosseum—now an iconic symbol of the capital—and the Arch of Constantine, as well as the Circus Maximus and the Pantheon, a temple dedicated to the Olympian gods commissioned by Emperor Hadrian, which houses Raphael’s tomb. Not to mention the marvelous squares such as Campo dei Fiori, with the statue of the heretical philosopher Giordano Bruno at its center; Piazza Navona, home to Bernini’s splendid Fountain of the Four Rivers; Piazza di Spagna, dominated by its famous staircase; Piazza del Popolo with its distinctive twin churches; and Piazza Venezia, with the imposing Vittoriano monument, behind which stands the Campidoglio. Also known as the capital of Christianity, Rome boasts numerous places of worship, starting with the famous St. Peter’s Basilica located in Vatican City, the world’s smallest state in the heart of the capital. Elsewhere in the province, we highlight Tivoli, whose name is linked to the famous Villa Adriana, Villa d’Este, and Villa Gregoriana. Another World Heritage Site is the Etruscan necropolis of Banditaccia in Cerveteri, where visitors can admire Etruscan funerary architecture. Notable seaside resorts include Ladispoli, Fregane, Fiumicino, and Ostia Lido.