So much history here. It was hard for me to imagine what once was an empire to be neglected into…read moreruins but that is what happens when empires fall and there is no money for maintenance. People pillaged and plundered these buidings and repurposed the material to build other things elsewhere. This is located right next to the colosseum and you can get a combined admission ticket to see both. FYI that there are metal detectors and scanners at the security checkpoint. I got a lot of steps in that day! Many of the paths here to not connect so need to double-back much of the time. Five stars!

Some countries have ghost towns, dusty abandoned places where you might find an old gas station or…read morea closed mill. Italy has the Roman Forum, an awe-inspiring collection of ruins, the remains of the heart of ancient Rome. Founded in the 8th century BC, the Forum was the center of city life until around the 6th century AD. Temples and government buildings, a thriving marketplace, a compound of vestal virgins. Meetings and speeches, trials and gladiator battles--this place was happening over two thousand years ago. The Forum fell into disrepair, the temples and shrines abandoned by the 8th century. It was ruthlessly dismantled and exploited, especially during the Italian Renaissance, when its materials were extracted for building projects. Like, for example, St. Peter's Basilica. Seems like a mistake to convert downtown ancient Rome into a marble quarry, but hindsight 20/20 and all that. What remains standing in 2025 is absolutely incredible. The ruins are well preserved and quite legible, at least with the help of a guide (we took a Forum and Colosseum tour with Crown Tours, which I'd highly recommend). It was downright surreal walking around those grounds, imagining the life of ancient Rome. I mean Julius Caesar hung out here, among buildings he had erected. If you're visiting Rome for the first time, I'm sure you're planning to hit the Colosseum. Don't miss the Roman Forum while you're there. It's just as amazing, a unique, transporting journey into the rich depths of history.

The Trevi fountain was crowded...super crowded...for good reason. The fountain is extremely…read moredetailed, with cascading water and towering statues. Visitors and locals took part in the tradition of tossing a coin over their shoulder into the fountain for good luck. Trevi Fountain encapsulatesits beauty, drama, and romance of Rome. Absolutely spectacular...one of our favorite Rome landmarks!

This was our first stop in Rome and to be honest it was the worst. The fountain itself is large…read moreand beautiful, but the mass and rows of tourists pushing to get their selfies and willing to stand in line and pay 2 Euros to get a selfie left a bad taste in my mouth. I refused to pay the 2 Euros and stand in the long line to get a self indulgent picture. Although Trevi fountain wide and impressive, I liked the 1651 Baroque Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) by Bernini at is at Piazza Navona better. One of those River Gods had some impressive, muscular thighs. 8-)

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.

The Colosseum is the most incredible thing I've ever seen on this planet. Nothing prepares you for…read morestanding in front of it in real life. The scale, the power, the history, everything about it is absolutely breathtaking. You can feel the history the moment you step inside. Knowing what happened there centuries ago gives you literal shivers. It's emotional, intense, and awe-inspiring all at once. Every stone tells a story, and it makes you feel so small in the best way possible. This is not just a landmark, it's an experience that stays with you forever. If you come to Rome and don't see the Colosseum, you missed everything. Rating: 10/10 -- unforgettable, unreal, legendary

Vatican City s is both a functioning state and a sacred place, a center of global religion and a…read moretreasure house of art. As the residence of the Pope and the heart of the Catholic Church, it carries immense cultural and historical influence, drawing millions of visitors each year. Yet within its walls, there are quiet corners, gardens, and moments of stillness that offer space for reflection. Vatican City, officially theVatican City Stateoften shortened asthe Vatican, is alandlockedsovereigncity-state. It is ruled by thepope and anenclavewithin the city ofRome, Italy, and serves as the administrative center of theCatholic Church. Vatican City is governed by theSeeofRome, commonly known as theHoly See, itself asovereign entity under international law, which maintainsits temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence.Vaticanis also used as ametonymfor the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and theRoman Curia. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via theLateran Treatybetween the Holy See and theKingdom of Italy, which spoke of it as a creation. With an area of 121 acre and a population of about 1K , it is thesmallest sovereign state in the world both by areaandby population. It is the only country in the world with a population of under 1,000 people. It is among theleast populated capitalsin the world. As governed by the Holy See, Vatican City State is anecclesiasticalorsacerdotal-monarchicalstate ruled by the pope, who is thebishop of Romeand head of theCatholic Church; the highest state functionaries are allCatholic clergyof various origins. The Holy See dates toearly Christianityand is the principalepiscopal seeof the Catholic Church, which in 2018 had about 1.329billion baptized Catholics in the world, in theLatin Churchand 23Eastern Catholic Churches. After theAvignon Papacy(1309-1377) the popes have mainly resided at theApostolic Palacewithin what is now Vatican City, although at times residing instead in theQuirinal Palacein Rome or elsewhere. Vatican City contains religious and cultural sites such asSt Peter's Basilica, theSistine Chapel, theVatican Apostolic Library, and theVatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. Theeconomy of Vatican Cityis supported financially bydonations from Catholic believers, by the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. Vatican City has no taxes, and items are duty-free.

Whatever you do, download physical tickets and take screenshots of EVERY ticket. Being able to scan…read moreQR codes are a huge issue when visiting. It was awesome to visit the Sistine Chapel and see all the amazing artifacts, but the staff can be really Jekyll & Hyde. We had tickets for Saint Peter's Basilica Dome and one employee was incredibly rude after lying to us about where to go & initially refused entrance to us stating "the line was closed" after making us go back n forth for 20 minutes of where our stroller needed to go. However, when I sternly reminded her she TOLD us did she honor our tickets. Sadly, we kept running into numerous people having the same issues about tickets. The reception is really bad inside and outside. Also being an umbrella, baseball cap and jacket regardless of what the weather looks like outside. We got caught in the rain and had to buy £10 ponchos and umbrellas despite multiple people stating it won't rain. Also, it is not very friendly with strollers. You can certainly do it with a travel stroller or have a way to carry your child, but it can be quite miserable. Just keep that in mind.

I'm a huge Yelp user when traveling and thought ... why do a food tour?!?! Well with my family of…read morefour it was amazing to relax and just let our tour guide Robbie take control! He showed us approx 10 different places with smoking from each. He has a sincere personality very warm and welcoming. It was like being with extended family. We got to Meet two other families one from England and one from Australia both were very interesting and warm. An absolutely great night of people, food, and drink. We did the drink package but wasn't necessary as those who did not still got a little wine along the way. If you like... coffee, Prosecco, spritz, pizza, beer, cheese, rice balls, wine, cheese, more wine, cannoli, pasta and gelato... this tour is for you! I can only hope you get to Meet Robbie!

Rome may not have been built in a day, however you can sample some of the best in Italian cuisine…read morein just one afternoon. Secret Food Tours offers three-hour long tours that take you on a gastronomical adventure throughout the heart of Rome. This experience is more than just delicious food, which is what makes Secret Food Tours so unique. The tour explores Piazza Navonna, a city square ripe with history, as well as the Campo Dei Fiori Market, offering sightseeing as well as culinary escapades. Along with four other visitors, we embarked on a daytime tour, which started at an intimate café in Piazza Novanna. Our tour guide Tomasso was a local Italian and incredibly knowledgeable about the city square and its rich background. Here, he introduced us to the finest Italian coffee, freshly brewed for our group. I sipped a cappuccino, which alerted my taste buds with rich, full-bodied flavor and an airy foam. I was awake and eager for the next stop. While enjoying three different types of real Roman style pizza at Forno Campo de Fiori, our tour guide made us feel so welcomed. He took great pride in his city, and it showed in his passion for both the locales and the food. Next we stopped at a specialty shop, known for fried balls of risotto, called Suppli, which basically solidified my trust in anything this delicious city had to feed me. Crispy on the outside, warm and creamy on the inside. I was excited to visit the Campo Dei Fiori Market, which as our guide informed us is the oldest market in the town. With so many fresh and beautiful vegetables, it's easy to see why the food in the area is incredibly tasty. I was pleasantly surprised to do some sightseeing during the tour, as we got to see some of the Roman ruins that dot the city and here a few stories of the many narrow streets. Whether it was Carbonara near the Jewish Ghetto, amazing cannoli at a legendary bakery, and salty Italian hams, salamis, and cheeses at 'Beppe', our guide always made us feel like locals. We ended on a sweet note with the most refreshing gelato. Our tour guide was so fun and friendly, and the food was exquisite. A real "taste" of Rome.

Wow I love the Campo de Fiori. The name means the field of flowers, because it used to be a field…read moreof flowers and vegetable gardens here before it became this square. Unfortunately from the 16th to 19th century this place became a public execution site. Yikes. The most famous execution was Giordano Bruno in 1600, in which there is now a statue in his honor for freedom of thought. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts. Pass forward to present day. This area is lively with the open air markets where you can find vendors selling produce, flowers, spices, cheese, and artisanal goods. My boyfriend and I came here to explore the live market and also to look for souvenirs to bring home. The vendors here are really aggressive and I would have enjoyed it more if they gave me space to look instead of hound me to buy buy buy. Like chill dude can I look at what I'm buying. Sigh. We were here til closing time and even get to see how the vendors efficiently and quickly packed up their stalls and belongings to wrap up for the day. And of course... a great area to enjoy some gelato.

We're at Campo de' Fiori, Rome's oldest market and possibly the most enthusiastic display of…read moretourist traps per square meter. Once a site for public executions (Bruno's brooding statue still watches over), it now specializes in overpriced pasta and garlic braids. It's more performance art than produce. Vendors heckle, truffle oil flows freely, and yes, someone will try to sell you limoncello in a boot. I walked through as part of a food tour, which felt like the right way to enjoy the chaos, briefly, and with snacks elsewhere. Not the best market in Rome, but definitely the most theatrical.

I absolutely loved coming here. So majestic during the holidays…read more The decor and the ambiance is great. A nice open space with a Merry-Go Round. Tons of vendors selling xmas ornaments and other items. I spent a couple of hours here people watching and shopping and take in the scenery. The fountain in the middle of the piazza is amazing. So stunning It is built on the site of the 1st century AD Stadium of Domitian and follows the form of the open space of the stadium in an elongated oval.[1] The ancient Romans went there to watch the games In the 17th century it became a showcase for Baroque design, with work by Bernini and Borromini among others. The Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi stands in front of the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone.

Piazza Navona is absolutely stunning and full of life. The fountains are breathtaking, especially…read morethe Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the entire square feels like you're walking through an open-air museum. Everywhere you look there's beauty, history, and energy. I loved the atmosphere here. Street artists, music, people enjoying the moment, and the glow of the lights at night make it feel magical. It's the perfect place to slow down, take it all in, and really feel the soul of Rome. A must-visit spot that captures the charm and elegance of the city.

Atmosphere is everything to us when dining in another country. This place does not disappoint! So…read morecozy and intimate! I even got to watch pasta being made in the kitchen. My husband had the Fettuccine and I had the ravioli....both were fabulous!

Multiple locations so you don't need a reservation but this location specifically does accept…read morereservations so if you want to be on the safe side, I would go here. I love the ambiance. It's a comfy place to eat. The waiters are nice and fast. The carbonara is rich and thick. The pasta al dente perfectly. The pancetta pieces are salty and fatty. It's a heavy meal but it is delicious. The burrata is perfect to share and delicious.