Rome Highlights
A curated tour of Rome's most iconic ancient monuments, Baroque masterpieces, and timeless neighborhoods — ordered for an ideal visit flow across the Eternal City. For Vatican City stops, see the dedicated Vatican City Highlights trip.
Trip Stops
- 1
The world's largest ancient amphitheater, opened in 80 AD and capable of holding up to 80,000 spectators. Gladiatorial combats, animal hunts, and even mock naval battles were staged here. Fun fact: the Colosseum's original name was the Flavian Amphitheatre — it was nicknamed 'Colosseum' after a colossal statue of Emperor Nero that once stood nearby.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 2
The beating heart of ancient Rome, where senators debated, merchants traded, and triumphal processions marched. Julius Caesar was cremated here after his assassination in 44 BC. Fun fact: the Forum was buried under layers of debris for centuries and used as a cow pasture — called 'Campo Vaccino' — until excavations began in the 19th century.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 3
One of Rome's Seven Hills and the mythological birthplace of the city, where Romulus is said to have founded Rome in 753 BC. Roman emperors built their grand palaces here overlooking the Forum. Fun fact: the English word 'palace' derives directly from 'Palatine' — because so many imperial residences were built on this hill.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 4
The world's oldest public museums, founded in 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV donated a collection of ancient bronzes to the Roman people. Perched atop Capitoline Hill with breathtaking views of the Forum below. Fun fact: Michelangelo redesigned the hilltop piazza in 1536 — including its distinctive star-pattern pavement — though it wasn't completed until 1940.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 5
Also known as the Vittoriano or Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland), this colossal white marble monument was built between 1885 and 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. It is 135 m wide and 70 m tall, houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and offers a free panoramic lift to one of Rome's best 360° rooftop views. Fun fact: Romans have affectionately (and critically) nicknamed it the 'Wedding Cake' and 'Typewriter' for its gleaming white bulk — and locals joke that the terrace offers the best view in Rome precisely because it's the only spot from which you can't see the monument itself.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 6
Rome's best-preserved ancient building, originally built by Agrippa around 27 BC and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian between 118–125 AD. Its unreinforced concrete dome — 43.3 meters wide — remained the world's largest for over 1,300 years. Fun fact: the 9-meter oculus (open hole) at the dome's apex is the building's only light source, and on April 21st (Rome's birthday), a beam of light hits the entrance exactly at noon.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 7
One of Rome's most spectacular Baroque squares, built on the site of the ancient Stadium of Domitian (86 AD). Home to Bernini's monumental Fountain of the Four Rivers (1651), representing the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Río de la Plata. Fun fact: until the mid-19th century, the piazza was deliberately flooded every summer to create a shallow 'lake' where Romans splashed and socialised.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 8
Rome's largest and most famous Baroque fountain, standing 26.3 m tall and 49.15 m wide, completed in 1762 after 30 years of construction. It marks the terminal point of one of ancient Rome's great aqueducts, the Aqua Virgo (19 BC). Fun fact: approximately €1.5 million in coins are thrown into the fountain each year; the money is collected nightly and donated to charity.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 9
The widest staircase in Europe, with 135 steps connecting Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church above. Built between 1723 and 1725, they were a favourite gathering place for artists and poets, including John Keats, who died in the house at the base. Fun fact: despite the name, the steps were funded by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier — the 'Spanish' name comes from the nearby Spanish Embassy to the Holy See.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 10
One of Rome's finest art museums, housed in a 17th-century villa inside the lush Villa Borghese gardens. It holds dramatic marble sculptures by Bernini and striking paintings by Caravaggio. Fun fact: entrance is strictly limited to 360 visitors per 2-hour slot — one of the most exclusive art experiences in Europe; tickets must be booked weeks or even months in advance.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
- 11
Rome's most atmospheric medieval neighbourhood, with cobblestone streets, ivy-covered ochre buildings, and vibrant piazzas. Home to the stunning 4th-century Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere. Fun fact: 'Trastevere' means 'beyond the Tiber' in Latin — it was historically the immigrant and working-class quarter of ancient Rome, a character it proudly retains today.
📍 Rome, Lazio, Italy
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