Castel Sant' Angelo along the Tiber River, is one of Rome's most captivating landmarks. The…read morestructure is huge and daunting. It was originally built as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum nearly 2,000 years ago, the castle later became a fortress, a papal refuge, a prison, and eventually a museum.. What makes Castel Sant'Angelo especially memorable is the atmosphere. The thick stone walls, hidden passageways, and spiral ramps. The angel statue atop the castle gives the entire site a dramatic, almost theatrical presence.

I loved coming here and walking along the bridge of angels over the Tiber River…read more Another must do when in Rome. Architecture is amazing, standing in the presence of this beauty is breathtaking Castel Sant'Angelo, also known as Mausoleum of Hadrian, is a towering rotunda in Parco Adriano, Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The popes later used the building as a fortress and castle, and it is now a museum.

Amazing world renown museum with beautiful and historical works of art, sculptures, paintings,…read moreartifacts and on and on with the Sisteen Chapel being the crown jewel of what this museum holds. Beauty aside, the history and the story behind these works of art is amazing and very educational where my favorite was the Egyptian wing with its well preserved mummies and artifacts. Relative to entrance, tickets should be purchased on line with a pre determined entry time versus standing in the long slow lines when buying on site. Also, be prepared for huge crowds during peak summer months where the large slow moving guided tourist groups making walking through the museum difficult to say the least as they block and slow the movement traveling through the museum. Be warned, your patience will be tried during this time. Crowds aside, seeing this museum is a must visit while in Rome especially if it is your first time to this wonderful city.

Buy the tickets online (or regret standing hours in the queue to buy tickets and the second queue…read moreto enter). There is a door at the far back right corner (facing back of the chapel) that leads directly to St Peter's Basilica, which skips the security lines. It is only for tours but extremely worth attempting to blend in with a tour group to save the 20 minute walk to the basilica and the consequent security lines. You can reenter the museum after visiting the Sistine Chapel.

Museo di Roma is a wonderful museum to end your visit in Rome. I wouldn't recommend this museum for…read morepeople who are going to be staying in Rome for a short period of time (1-3 days) but more to the folks who have been in Roma before and are looking to do a recap of the history of this beautiful city. My husband and I have been in Roma four times during the last few years and were looking to do something new because the bigger attractions haven't really changed in the last few years. We were staying a block away from Museo di Roma and decided to give it a chance. The Museum goes through the history of this beautiful city, from the architecture to war. History has shaped this city and is really amazing to see how much it has changed and which places are still up and are part of the modern day Roma. This museum has some really amazing views of Campo de'Fiori which are perfect photo opportunities. They offer discounts to EU students and people who are 25 years or younger. You are not allowed to walk through the museum with a backpack but they offer free locker rooms to leave your stuff while walking through this beautiful museum.

Wonderful museum. We skipped the exhibition- the regular collection was enough for us, but the…read morespecial exhibition of opera and art looked fascinating. The museum has a lift for the handicapped (and if you have proof of disability, you can get in free with one other person! Isn't that nice?) The price- 9 euros I think- was well worth it. There were many different kinds of art here- and the palace itself is a work of art. The paintings on the ceilings are lovely- and the way the collections were arranged was great. There's even a movie giving you history of the building. My favorite room was the one of the artists and their families- paintings, representing artists and their families- and I also loved the rooms of sculpture- one with a wonderful winged nymph, and another room with many sculpted heads. But all the rooms were great- and there was almost no one here. Why? It's a gorgeous collection. Go here. Enjoy. And let me just add, they have a handicapped bathroom, if you have any mobility impairment (lovely bathroom, let me add). Just a final note- from the upper floor you get a knock out view of the Plaza Navona- it's a wonderful place to take a picture. I LOVED my picture from the upper window!

Beautiful spot in Rome city centre...we passed it on the way to our restaurant for dinner on my…read morework trip

The Capitoline Museum exhibits medieval art to ancient statues, and you can discover ancient Rome…read morehistory here. There are quite a few statues shouldn't be missed, such as Statue of Capitoline Venus, Bust of Medusa, Colossus of Constantine, The Capitoline She-wolf etc. The regular admission ticket cost €13, and I think it's totally worth it.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

Gorgeous gallery that is completely under the radar. For…read moresomething so beautiful, I thought it would be packed with people, but it wasn't. It was refreshing to be able to enjoy the details of each room without being swarmed by tourists. While at the gallery, stop by their restaurant located at the front of the entrance. Do note that you should make reservations at the restaurant or you likely won't get in. This gallery is definitely worth a visit.

When we were in Vatican City in the afternoon, we skipped the plaza. We came back in the early…read moreevening and it was much less crowded. The square is directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Both are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first Pope. There is an obelisk in the center and 284 columns that create the elliptical shape of the square.

This is the area around the Vatican…read more It's gorgeous! I absolutely love the fountains and statues in this area. So much amazing architecture. When you step into this piazza, I feel like you get a sense of the Holy Spirit. I mean, how can you not when you are so close to the Vatican? There's a peaceful atmosphere here.

We stumbled upon this museum while wandering the area and decided to give it a shot. Two adult…read moretickets were about 25 euros with audio tour, but unfortunately neither of us felt that it was really worth the money. Maybe I should have expected this, but everything in the museum is a replica or slightly sad version to depict Leonardo's inventions. The tour itself probably took about 25 minutes, but there's really not a whole lot to see.

Space is on two levels with multiple gallery sized rooms. A lot of interesting and interactive…read moredisplays and models. I love the fact that you can actually touch and try almost everything on display to see the mechanics of it and how it works. They have a lot of interesting facts about daVinci and his works. I do recommend going if you are into his work. The whole space takes a good 40mins-1hr to walk through if you interact and read everything and about 25 minutes if you just want to walk through and a casually interact. I have to say it was really fascinating to find out all the thing she tried to make and the mechanics of how to do certain tasks before the machines, or tasks were wildly developed.

Fantastic bucket list location..when in rome.. Must…read moresee...note crowd is massive Must see

To visit the Capella Sistina, or Sistine Chapel, you would have to go to the Vatican Museum. My…read moreboyfriend and I purchased time entry tickets to the Vatican Museum at one of the earliest time slots in the day, and still the museum was unbearably crowded. Th Sistine Chapel is a central place of worship for the Roman Catholic Church. Is it the site where new popes are elected, making it a key location for the continuity of Catholicism. From an artistic point of view, this chapel is also famous for the ceiling painted by Michelangelo. This is one of the greatest piece of artworks in the world capturing the height of Renaissance art. This piece of art shows complex compositions, dramatic expressions, and the intricacies of the human anatomy. On the walls of the Sistine Chapel, you can see the works of Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio. With its' religious and artistic significance, the museum saves it for last on their museum route, and you have to go through everything else to get to this insanely crowded room of tour groups and staff supervision. This was the room with the most museum staff supervision telling people to move along, or pull to the center of the room. It's really mixed feelings because it's stunning but while you're trying to look up and take in the sights, a bunch of people are bumping into you and being extremely inconsiderate. I don't feel like I fully absorbed its' elegance profound deep features. My rating is rounded up in respect for the artistic significance but the experience wasn't too enjoyable. I don't think taking a tour would help either because those folks are stuck with their groups, and stuck in the same crowded room. I prefer the freedom of moving on when I'm over it.

We were delighted to find out that by purchasing one ticket we gained entrance into four of the…read moreNational Museums of Rome. The museums are Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Baths of Diocletian and Palazzo Altemps. This museum is probably not known to most visitors, but should be. The Crypta Balbi museum takes you on a historical trip through Rome's past by showcasing the excavations that were found here. It is located just around the corner from the Piazza Venezia, and there are three floors that can be explored. Starting in the basement is the best part - it has the archaeological remains of the Theatre of Balbus, which can be explored while walking down the damp and dark passageways. The other floors will give you a clear picture of how the Romans lived between the 5th and 10th century. We were especially taken with all the pottery. This is a museum that the kids will like.

Highly recommended! The museum offers a very good overview of the urban evolution of the area over…read more2000 years. If you have children: take them with you. The drawings make it really easy to comprehend. The museum is very well integrated in the architecture of the building that respects the archeological charachter of the site.

I didn't know that this museum is so popular and that you must purchase your tickets in advance…read more Luckily, I was able to purchase tickets before our trip to Rome, but they had only a limited number of tickets available for the time that we were going to be there. So if you are planning on going to Galleria Borghese, make sure to purchase your tickets in advance. We visited the Borghese in the afternoon during the week, and I think that was a great idea because it was pretty empty, and we had yet another chance to see everything with almost no one around. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if we got lucky. Either way, I was able to take my time to look at all the beautiful art pieces. Everything was so beautiful. I recommend going to this museum if you have the time; it's definitely worth it.

The Galleria Borghese or Borghese Gallery is an art gallery in Rome, Italy, housed in the former…read moreVilla Borghese Pinciana. At the outset, the gallery building was integrated with its gardens, but nowadays the Villa Borghese gardens are considered a separate tourist attraction. Such beautiful art and sculptures. What a breathtaking selection. Another must see while visiting Rome. TIP- Need to buy tickets for the gallery in advance, or by a 3rd party company. They sell out fast.