So sad the Piazza Venezia and its' surrounding area was under construction during the time of our…read morevisit. This is one of the most iconic and central squares in Rome, and I can even see some of its' elegance peeking out from behind the construction area.

A must stop if you're looking for free things to do. There are options to pay like they have a…read moremuseum and some other stuff otherwise you could totally walk through the piazza completely free. Many picture areas and has bathrooms, though it was crowded.

The Spanish Steps are absolutely breathtaking!!…read more The Spanish Steps connect the Piazza di Spagna below with the stunning Trinità dei Monti church above. The Trinità dei Monti is worth a visit when you're here, it's full of history, artwork and phenomenal statues. The area around the Spanish Steps are chock full of fabulous restaurants and high end shops. The views from the top after climbing the 135 steps are glorious. You can see the Spanish embassy in the square below from the terraces above. We ate at a local Trattoria that did not disappoint. It has became a cultural hub for artists, writers and royalty. A luxury shopping landmark, and a quintessential symbol of Roman glamour, culture, and social life. I've been before and will come back. Such a sight to see and I LOVE Italy!!

With the planters of flowers leading to the church and old buildings on the sides, it looks…read morepicturesque. The 135 steps had some landings along the way. Fortunately, in spite of the tourists, there was some room to walk on the stairs although it would be nicer if people moved to the side instead of just stopping and standing on the stairs or in the middle of a landing. Other than saying you climbed the steps, I wasn't sure of the big attraction. The view from the top was okay but not a panoramic view of the city. Go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Vittoriano monument for a fantastic view of Rome. Much higher climb but it is also offers a free view from the balconies including the Colosseum.

This is one of the Major Papal Basilicas in Rome, located a bit farther from the city center…read more English name is The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Accessible via train and Taxi or bus. The train is located about a few minutes walk behind the church. We were able to visit this Basilica 3x. For the Jubilee Year 2025, 2x. This Basilica is very huge and has paintings of all the Popes and the apostles. A must see Basilica! It also houses St. Paul the apostle's tomb where his remains lie. It also has the Holy Chains - in a reliquary, which bound St. Paul. On our 2nd visit to Rome, it was still covid time and this I consider by far probably the less crowded of the Basilicas. They have a museum which you give a donation of 1euro to explore. I also find their gift shop the biggest and have the most choices of religious souvenirs. Their cafe is also loaded with gelato and variety of snack items. Definitely a must see when in Rome. January 2026

The Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Italian: Basilica di San Paolo Fuori le Mura) is…read moredefinitely a must-see if ever in Rome because this basilica is special for so many reasons! My hubby and I visited during our 1st trip to Rome (on September 30, 2023) while celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary (yep, love was in the air! ;) I came across this basilica when researching attractions located near/around the Airbnb that we were staying at in the Ostiense neighborhood and after reading about it, I just had to add it to our Rome itinerary. See the many pics and videos included w/ this review from our visit on 09/30/2023 -- just know that despite my best efforts, they don't fully capture just how beautiful and impressive this basilica is in person. And these pics & videos definitely couldn't capture what I felt when I 1st walked inside and saw the beautiful, gold ceiling that looked like it was glowing! (Brief History) This basilica was built above the tomb of St. Paul in Rome and is one of the 4 major basilicas of Rome. It was consecrated AD 4th century. It's also the 2nd largest church in the Italian capital after St. Peter's. Located inside is the sarcophagus of St. Paul. (Special-ness Specs) -- Gallery of The Popes -- (see the pics & videos included w/ this review) Inside the basilica there are 5 rooms w/ the central one having 80 granite and marble columns and there you will see the portraits of every past pope since St. Peter -- 266 total (awesome display) -- Doors at St. Peter's -- (see pics & videos) 1. The Holy Door - one of the four holy doors is located here, holy doors are only opened every 25 yrs during Jubilee (2025 is the next Jubilee in Rome) 2. The Byzantine Door--the door dates back to the 11th century has 54 panels 3. Outdoor courtyard w/ the beautiful St. Paul monument (Additional helpful info) -- Free to visit but bring some cash so you can leave an offering -- There is a dress code - no knees, stomach, or shoulders can be shown. During our visit there were plastic, disposable shawls at the front door once you entered into the basilica that visitors were asked to use if they were wearing shorts that had their knees showing or if they had on a sleeveless top on. -- not as crowded/busy as St. Peter's basilica so you're able to take your time during your visit Rome has so many beautiful and historic basilica's and during our time in Rome, we did get to experience so many of them and yes, while each of them were special in their own way, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside The Walls was my favorite and I'm so very grateful that I was able to experience such historic beauty. Till next time, Rebecca visiting from Austin, Texas (United States) on 09/30/2023

Vittoriano, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland. The Monument…read moreto king Victor Emmanuel II was built starting in 1885, designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, and inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate the 50th. See it as you walk around downtown Rome.

This building was right down the road from our hotel and we passed it a number of times. It is…read morebeautiful with nice statues on the front and back of building. I climbed up the back of building and caught the sunset.

The Monument to Victor Emmanuel II is hard to miss, and we stopped here on our way back from the…read moreColosseum. We ended up taking our time walking around the building and the square around it, because at every corner there was something that made us stop for a second look. The whole area is a dream for anyone who enjoys history. Even though it's an enormous, modern structure compared to the ancient ruins nearby, it plays a major role in Italy's story as it honors Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. The bright white marble, the long staircases, the huge bronze statues, and the views from the terraces all add to its presence. Inside is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which gives the monument a more solemn side. We were both exhausted by the time we got there, but still didn't want to rush it. The only thing missing is more signs explaining what you're looking at; there's so much detail and so much history layered into one place. Still, it was a great experience and well worth the time to explore.

This is the monument to Victor Emmanuelle who defeated the Austro-Hungarian forces and unified the…read morevarious kingdoms to form modern day Italy. It's called the " wedding cake " since it's all while. VE's statue is the crowning figure on the central podium. Amazing views of Piazza Venezia and nearby archeological sights.

The Colosseum is one of those rare places that somehow lives up to the hype…read more The exterior alone is breathtaking, but once inside, it's hard to fully comprehend the scale, history, and engineering of what you're looking at. Walking through the structure and surrounding grounds, I found myself imagining what it must have been like nearly 2,000 years ago. Thousands of spectators filling the stands, roaring crowds, and gladiators stepping into the arena knowing they were the main event. What fascinated me most was learning that the arena was even flooded for certain spectacles. It's incredible to think about the level of ambition and ingenuity involved in creating entertainment on that scale so long ago. I also enjoyed spending time exploring the areas around the Colosseum, which are beautiful in their own right and filled with layers of history. This isn't a place to rush through. Give yourself several hours, take your time, and let your imagination do some of the work. A must-see when visiting Rome and one of the most memorable historical sites I've ever experienced.

I've always loved reading about Roman history, so finally seeing the Colosseum in person this…read moreOctober was incredible. Even in the "off season," it was busy, which shows how high up the list it is for any visitor. Walking through the structure and looking down into the arena from above, I could really picture the energy of the crowds and the events that once took place there. The Colosseum is huge, up to 50,000 people once packed inside, and it was used for all sorts of public spectacles, not just gladiator fights. I'd recommend taking a guided tour if you can; it helps skip the ticket line and gives context that really adds to the experience. Also, make sure to explore the area around it--the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are right next door and worth the time. If you're in Rome and even a little curious about history, the Colosseum is absolutely worth seeing. It really brings ancient Rome to life.

5 euro regular admission but I paid the 4 euro price for students. Well worth it if you want to…read morereset your nasal passages from car exhaust and cigarettes. The grounds are very large and you could spend hours here. You very much feel like you're in an isolated nature preserve and not in Rome. There's also a stone staircase with a fountain at the top that's just lovely. Keep going up to the garden's western limits and it's a short walk away from the Garibaldi monument and Fontana dell'Acqua Paola (once you leave you can't get back in)

Free to visit and get some of the most breath taking views of Rome. The gardens of the Janiculum -…read moreGianicolo in Italian - are composed of the remains of the gardens of Papal and aristocratic villas. Of themselves the gardens are like many Roman parks - a few trees and some scrubby grass. But the amazing terracing and the views of Rome are unbeatable. Take an afternoon off having visited the nearby Vatican and just laze here - there are plenty of bars and cafes so lunch or an afternoon ice cream are possible.

Buy a ticket online before you come, since we went by several times and there was always a long…read moreline. If you already have your online ticket, there was a very short line to the left to get inside. The Pantheon was built originally as a Roman temple and later changed into a church in the 7th century, so it is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome. The Oculus, circular opening at the top of the dome lets in light and rain. The ceiling above is a work of art. Statues and art around the perimeter also delight the eyes. You can even pray at the pews in front of the altar. Inside, tombs of Raphael, Victor Emmanuel II, and Umberto I and others. Next to the Sistine Chapel, this was one of the most crowded places we visited.

In a city overflowing with ancient landmarks, the Pantheon is standout! The sheer height and girth…read moreof the structure is awe-inspiring. The building has survived nearly 2,000 years while empires, wars, and centuries. This structure was completed around 126 AD and still stands strong today. The pantheon speaks to craftsmanship and the importance of great work.

Cool Piazza at the Northern City Wall and also a gateway to Villa Borghese. This piazza has an…read moreobelisk, two churches, two fountains and also restaurants. There is a huge shopping area with parallel streets of shops, one that goes to Piazza di Spagna, at the base of the Spanish Steps. Five Stars!

I came I saw and I conquered. Wow, what a great place is this blessed City. You could spend hours…read morein this area. Great restaurants and shopping too.

One of the absolute highlights of my trip!…read more It was very busy when I visited in the afternoon, but I was expecting that. Even so, I decided to pay the €2 to access the lower section of the fountain -- and I'm so glad I did. The queue moved quickly, and once I saw the fountain up close, I was completely in awe. At that point, the €2 felt like nothing at all. I also went back another morning at 6 am, and it was a completely different experience. There were only a handful of people around, the sunrise was beautiful, and the atmosphere felt calm and magical. With no staff present, people were simply moving the fences to walk down closer to the fountain. I would highly recommend visiting -- it's easily one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

After all these years, it was nice to come back back & see this amazing fountain again…read more I can do without the crowds but unless u are here at the crack of dawn or late night I don't see how u can avoid the crowds. Beautiful fountain, well kept for sure one of those things that u should take the time to see while visiting Roma.