Famous Landmarks
Roman Forum
This ruin was once prime real estate, right in the middle of things. If something important in the business, political or religious worlds was going to happen the networking took place at the Forum. Today the ruins that have been excavated expose parts of the Forum from various periods of the city's history.
Colosseum
Attempt to understand the decline of Rome with a trip to what's left of the arena where countless thousands of humans and animals lost there lives in the name of sport. Named for a huge statue of Nero (Colossus of Nero) that once stood nearby, this history-rich site was ravaged in past centuries by builders looking for free material before the significance of the structure was fully appreciated. The arena could hold over 50,000 people and like today's most modern sports complexes, had means to protect fans from the elements. But instead of a retractable roof the Romans used a system of sail-like cloth awnings.
Spanish Steps
This oft-photographed outdoor staircase was constructed with money from the French but got its name because of its proximity to Spain's Vatican Embassy. It's a great place to people-watch.
Trevi Fountain
If you're a lover of old movies (in this case chickflicks) you probably want to see Trevi Fountain because of the movie "Three Coins in the Fountain" or if your taste runs to post-war Italian cinema, no doubt seeing Anita Ekberg prancing through the fountain in "La Dolce Vita" is your motivation. Whatever the case be prepared to jockey for position with other tourist before you can take your photo. But who doesn't want a shot of this world-famous sculpture, finished before the United States was born, of Neptune (Oceanus) riding his chariot drawn by sea creatures? Tourists toss coins into the fountain to "insure" their return to Rome.
Pantheon
The Pantheon we see today dates from the second century C.E. when it was built to replace the original pantheon that had been constructed in the first century B.C.E. Originally conceived as a monument to the Greek gods, it was later consecrated as a church. It's the burial site of the great artist Raphael and King Umberto I. The Pantheon has survived the years far better than other ancient Roman buildings but nevertheless it is a shadow of its former self. Through the ages precious metals were stolen from the site and used in other construction projects, including building the baldacchino or canopy covering the altar at St. Peter's Basilica.
St. Peter's Basilica
Home of Michelangelo's masterwork sculpture Pieta, the world's largest church was built in the 1500's over the supposed resting place of the Apostle Peter's body. The church, which was built on the site of a former Roman circus where Christians are thought to have been executed, has an altar on the very spot where according to legend, Peter was killed in the circus. The dome of the church is 452 feet (137.77 meters) above street level. Other famous churches would easily fit inside the basilica with room to spare. It is from the balcony of this church that the choice of a new pope is made.
Modest dress is required to enter the church. Ladies should be careful not to wear sleeveless blouses or tops with revealing necklines. No short skirts are allowed. Also forbidden are shorts and tank tops.
