Must see places
The
Colosseum
Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre it is the largest monument of
ancient Rome.
Started by Vespasian in 72 A.D., it was completed by Titus and
restored by Domitian who added the flights of steps. The
circumference of its ellipsis is 527m; the architecture of the 57m
high external wall consists of three rows of arches on pillars while
a fourth row of pilasters with small openings crowns the edifice.
The protruding corbels supported the poles of the awning for the
protection of the public against the sun and rain (Velarium). Each of the four
entrances had three flights of steps (one each for the gladiators,
citizens and the populace). The central area is 76x46m, around which
runs the podium reserved for the Emperor and the Senate.
OPENEING TIME: Summer -8.30 a.m.– 7.15 p.m. (6.15)
Winter - 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m.)
ENTRY: € 8.00 (the ticket is also valid for the Palatine)
Metro: B (Colosseo)
Bus: 3, 60, 75, 81, 85, 87, 117, 175, 186, 204, 673
The
Roman Forum
The oldest relic of ancient Rome and it extends from the foot
of the Capitol, passes below the Palatine down to the Colosseum, and
it is crossed by the Via sacra. Major monuments: Basilica Emilia,
remains of the magnificent edifice erected by Marcus Emilius Lepidus
in 179 B.C. and re-built by Augustus. Then the Curia, the ancient
Senate House, erected by Tullius Ostillius and re-built by Caesar
and Diocletian. Within are preserved the Trajan Plutei, balustrades
of the speakers tribune
sculptured with events of Trajan. In front is the Tomba di Romolo,
indicated by the "Lapis Niger".
OPENING TIME: 8.30a.m. - 1h before sunset
Free entry
Metro: B (Colosseo)
Bus: 117, 85, 87,186
The Palatine
This is Rome's oldest hill, populated since the 9th century B.C., where
Romulus founded the first settlement of Rome. Subsequently it became
the site of the palatial homes of rich citizens and, from Augustus
onwards, of the Emperors. The Casa di Livia, wife of Augustus, is
believed to be his original house: it is an example of a wealthy
Roman home with the "triclinium", dining room and the "tablinium",
reception room: there are also some important paintings (1st century
A.D.).
OPENING TIME: Summer 8.30 a.m. - 7.15 p.m (6.15)
Winter - 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m.)
ENTRY:€ 8.00(the ticket is also valid for the Colosseum)
Metro: B (Colosseo)
Bus: 117, 85, 87,186
Santa Maria Maggiore
One of the four Patriarchal basilicas (the others are S.Pietro, S.
Giovanni in Laterano and S.Paolo fuori le Mura).
Traditionaly the basilica was founded by the Pope Liberius (352-366)
after his vision of Vergin Mary on the spot where miraculously the
snow fell on August, 5, in 365. Hence the name Basilica Liberiana or
Santa Maria ad Nives. The
interior retains the aspect of the Paleochristian basilica with
towering architraved columns, despite the late 16th century wooden
ceiling.
OPENING TIME: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Winter 6 p.m.)
Metro: A (Termini); B (Cavour)
Bus:14, 16, 70, 71, 75, 84, 105, 204,360,590, 649, 714
San Pietro in Vincoli
This basilica was erected in the 5th century by the Empress Eudoxia
to preserve St.Peter’s chains. Restored by Cardinal Della Rovere
(1475) and modified in the 18th century by C. Fontana. The three
nave interior contains plundered columns. At the end of the
principal nave is the Mausoleum of Julius II, an uncompleted work by
Michelangelo, commissioned by the Pope Julius II
for St. Peter’s church in the
Vatican.
Only the Moses is indisputably the work of the master (1513): the
statues of Leah and Rachele were started by Michelangelo and
completed by his pupils.
OPENING TIME: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (Winter 6 p.m.)
Metro: A (Termini); B (Cavour)
Bus:14, 16, 70, 71, 75, 84, 105, 204,360,590, 649, 714
San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome's cathedral, built in the 4th century by Pope Melchiade on land
of the Plauzi Laterani (hence the name), reconstructed on a number
of occasions. The present style is Boromini, who restored the
interior for the 1650 Jubilee. The central entrance has bronze
doors, from the Roman Curia.
ADDRESS: Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano
OPENING TIME: 9 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.
Metro: A (San Giovanni)
Bus: 3, 16, 81, 85, 87, 117, 186,218,590, 650, 714
The
Trevi Fountain
This scenic and monumental fountain flanking Palazzo Poli, was
designed by N. Salvi (1751); the water rushes over a rocky cliff
into the chariot of Oceanus drawn by two horses (work of P.Bracci),
surrounded by other allegorical figures. Whoever throws a coin into
the fountain over the shoulder will return to Rome! This
splendid fountain is a must while in Rome.
Metro: A (Barberini)
Bus: 61, 62, 150, 175, 492, 590
The Pantheon
This is the most
impressive and best preserved of all Roman monuments: built by
Agrippa in 27 B.C., it was reconstructed in the Hadrian period.
In the Middle Ages it was consecrated with the name Santa Maria ad
Martyres. It consists of an extraordinary cylindrical body covered by a cupola
(43.3m), with an opening (9 m tall) to provide
the light. Within are the sepulchres of Italian kings (Vittorio
Emanuelle II, Umberto I and Margherita) and the painter Raffaello
Sanzio.
OPENING TIME: 8.30 a.m. – 7.30 p.m.
Sun. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Free Entry
Metro: A (Spagna)
Bus:30, 40, 46, 62, 63, 64, 70, 81,87,116, 186, 204, 492
Piazza della Repubblica
Popularly known as Piazza Esedra, this wide circular piazza was
opened after 1870, surrounded by buildings (designed by Koch) which
follow the perimeter of the Doicletian Baths. In the centre is the
Fountain of the Niads, by M.Rutelli (1901), Rome's finest modern
fountain.
Metro: A (Repubblica)
Bus: H, 40, 60, 64, 70, 170, 116T
Piazza Barberini
The slightly rising trapezoidal square is one of the city’s
important points, on to which converge four main streets (del
Tritone, Barberini, Vittorio Veneto, Sistina) and other minor roads.
In the centre is the splendid Fontana del Tritone, designed by
Bernini (1637) with four dolphins whose tails hold aloft the
Barberini armorial bearings, while a Triton blows through a large
shell sending a fountain of water gushing upwards.
Metro: A (Barberini)
Bus: 61, 62, 150, 175, 492, 590
Piazza Venezia
This is
a large square on which converge the main streets of the city.
Dominating the square, at the far end is the Monument
to Vittorio Emanuelle II, designed by G. Sacconi, it was commenced
in 1885 and completed in 1911. The architecture is inspired by
Classic styles: two fountains, symbolic of the Tyrrhenian (right)
and the Adriatic (left), flank the stairway to the Altare della
Patria, with its statue of Rome with bas-reliefs by A. Zanelli. The
Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was placed here in 1921, in memory of
the fallen of the 1915-1918 war. Two flights of steps lead to the
monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, by E. Chiardia (1888-1901); the
monument is crowned by a classic portico on which are two winged
charioteers, the work of C. Fontana and P.Bartolini.
OPENING TIME: Winter 9.30 - 16.30
Summer 9.30 - 17.30
Metro: A (Spagna)
Bus: 46, 60, 84, 85, 87, 175, 916
Piazza Navona
This is the most characteristic square of Baroque Rome, built on the
remains of Domitian’s Stadium, of which it retains the shape
(240x65m). Traditionally it was the scene of festivals and sports.
The three fountains: Fontana del Moro (in front of Palazzo Pamphilj)
designed by Bernini; Fontana Dei Fiumi (centre) an outstanding work
by Bernini (1651), who conceived four statues personifying four
rivers and four continents (Ganges
(Asia), Danube (Europe), Rio
della Plata (America), Nile
(Africa), arranged around a rocky
cliff surmounted by an obelisk;
Fontana del Nettuno, with 16th century basin and statues of 1873,
placed there later to render it symmetrical with the Fountain of the
Moor.
Metro: A (Spagna)
Bus: 70, 81, 87, 116, 186, 492, 628
Piazza di Spagna
This is one of the most elegant squares in Rome and it is dominated
in the centre by Fontanna della Barcaccia (it has
the shape of a boat, hence the name) by P. Bernini, father of
Lorenzo Bernini. On the right is the facade of Palazzo di Spagna
(1647), Spanish Embassy to the Holy See. Rising from the square is
the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (designed by F.De Sanctis,
1723-26) divided into three sets of 138 steps: at the top is a
Roman obelisk erected by Pius VI (1789) and
the Church Trinità dei Monti.
Metro: A (Spagna)
Piazza S. Pietro
This is the heart of the Vatican City and masterpiece of Bernini
(1656-57), who conceived it with two hemicycles with four rows of
Doric columns (284) crowned by 140 statues of Saints and by emblems
of Alexander VI, the whole enclosing the immense 240m-long
elliptical area. In the centre is the Egyptian obelisk (25,5m high)
brought from the Nero's Circus. The square is dominated by the facade of the Basilica
of S.Pietro (45.44m high, 114.69m wide) built by C.Maderno between
1607 and 1614.
Metro: A (Ottaviano, San Pietro)
Bus:19, 23, 32, 34, 46, 49, 62, 64,81, 92, 913, 990, 991
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