What to see in Rome – 19 sites that you cannot miss!

If you are planning a trip to Rome, you need to plan ahead what to see among the so many amazing historical sites, museums, and all the other attractions. A month wouldn’t be enough. That’s why I put together this post on what to see in Rome, with tons of pics, so that you can pick the ones you decide to visit according to the available time.

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There is so much to see in Rome and everything seems unmissable! Right?  I stayed in Rome for about 10 days, of course, I didn’t go out every day but I have covered quite a bit and found out many sites and tools that would have helped me organize my trip and visits if I had stayed longer.

If you are planning an Italian itinerary make sure you also include Venice, Florence, and Naples, but leave more days for Rome cause you really need as many as you can.

In this post I have put together a reasonable amount of places that you can choose from depending on how long is your available time.

Here you will also find links to respected sites where you can get detailed information! I hope this is useful and you will be able to make the most of your visit to Rome.

Read also: Amazing things to do in Roma at night

What to see in Rome

The Colosseum 

You can appreciate the majestic ancient forum by day and by night. You can see my best picture in the daylight in the header and here below one night capture.

Musei Capitolini

The Capitoline Museums are a single museum containing a group of art and archeological museums in Piazza del Campidoglio, on top of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy

Vatican Museums

Unfortunately for multiple reasons I have missed this amazing collection of timeless works of art … you should not do the same, were it to be the only thing you do in Rome. After seeing the pictures I was really upset that I didn’t go. Here one for you!

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St. Peters Cathedral

I have visited it by day and by night, but the best shot came out at night. This is among my favorite pictures in Rome.

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Circus Maximus

I went to visit Circus Maximus during a walking itinerary I did on my own. You can find it here if you wish to follow my steps.

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Terme di Caracalla

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Imperial Forum

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Castel Sant’Angelo

One of the most visited museums after the Vatican’s, it was initially commissioned by the Roman emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle.

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Giardino degli Aranci

To me one of the best places to be during sunset. A tip for photographers, during summer, stay after closure and wait at the central gate for dusk, you will have the best perspective of St. Peter’s dome. (second picture here below) Click here for more pictures.

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Aventine Hill

One of the 7 hills on which Rome was founded where now are located a few interesting sites, the Basilica of Santa Sabina, the Giardino Degli Aranci, and the so popular keyhole through which you can see St. Peter’s dome.

Fontana di Trevi

I was in shock when I went to see once again the so popular fountain as it was overcrowded, so in order to see the place in tranquillity I went there by 6.30 am and there I could peacefully admire such a famous piece of history.

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Piazza di Spagna

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The center of the aristocratic Rome where the top luxury branded Via Condotti and Via Vittorio Veneto lead to. You cannot avoid walking by and climbing up the stairs to TRINITA’ DEI MONTI, another awesome spot for sunset.

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Campo dei Fiori

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Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t give it justice. But trust me, just go in the morning and evening and you won’t be disappointed.

Find your favorite hotels close to the main points of interest in Rome

Piazza Farnese

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Just behind Campo dei Fiori you will see this elegant little square with aristocratic immaculate buildings. The square is named after the magnificent palazzo Farnese built for cardinal  Alessandro Farnese from the best artist of that time Antonio da Sangallo, Michelangelo Buonarroti, il Vignola e Giacomo Della Porta.

Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica

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The Patriarchal Basilica of St. Mary Major reigns as an authentic jewel in the crown of Roman churches. Its beautiful treasures are of inestimable value and represent the Church’s role as the cradle of Christian artistic civilization in Rome…. (source Vatican.va)

Pantheon

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Villa Borghese

The huge green space in the heart of Rome spill into 85 hectares of Villa Borghese public park, which belonged to Borghese Princes’ private villa up until the end of the nineteenth century. It’s a beautiful public garden where to hang out, jog or relax.

You can also admire a beautiful sunset over the city from the end of the promenade pincio.

Also within the park, you can visit different museums among which  Museo and Galleria Borghese with the beautiful sculpture of  Bernini, the museum  Carlo Bilotti (Aranciera di Villa Borghese) which includes the works of De Chirico, Severini, Warhol, Rivers e Manzù and the home of Pietro Canonica.

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As I mentioned there is much more, if you wish to add something else that has particularly caught your attention, please let me know I will be happy to add it to the article.

Museo Romano

The National Roman Museum is a museum, with several branches in separate buildings throughout the city of Rome, Italy. It shows exhibits from the pre-and early history of Rome, with a focus on archaeological findings from the period of Ancient Rome. The most important is the one at the Palazzo Massimo. To know more click on the link on the title.

PALAZZO ALTEMPS 15th-century palace housing Renaissance artworks & antiquities, Greek & Roman sculptures & library –

Modern Art Museums

You will find amazing pieces of modern art :

GALLERIA NAZIONALE DI ARTE MODERNA–Located in the heart of the city close to Trinita’ dei Monti, the museum located in a historical building includes more than 3000 works of art of the XIX and XX centuries.

MAXXI  Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo, or National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, is a national museum of contemporary art and architecture in the Flaminio neighborhood of Rome, Italy.

One more thing that I always recommend while you walk around Rome, always remember to look up and look around.

Before wrapping up this articles with more pictures I leave you with the link to my other post on more practical information which you can find also useful:

How to move around in Rome: practical tips. 

Here below some more pictures :

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