Things to Do in Rome

With a history dating back to the 4th century, the Church of Santi Giovanni e Paolo is among the oldest in Rome and, despite its rather unremarkable façade, boasts a fascinating history. The church was built on the site of the Case Romane, allegedly the former home and burial site of Roman soldiers and converted Christians John and Paul, who were beheaded at the hand of Emperor Julian the Apostate. 

Today, the fabled church, extensively restored in the 12th century, stands atop Celian Hill and is acclaimed for its lavishly decorated interiors, adorned with striking frescos and glittering chandeliers. The real highlight though, lies beneath the church – the excavated ruins of the ancient Claudianum and the Case Romane, which offer a fascinating glimpse into Roman life.

The Baroque church of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte—while small—houses impressive religious artifacts and artworks worthy of a visit. The 17th-century church is home to a single nave and three chapels that include paintings by Borgognone and ornate frescoes and stuccoed angels by Marini. Of particular note are the sculpted angels on each side of the presbytery, created by Bernini.

The church's striking dome and tower, designed by Borromini, contrasts its modest interior, and serves as a beacon to those traversing Rome's top attractions. Located between the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain, the church is a highly-recommended stop along the way.

You can visit the church, which honors St Andrew, as part of a city walking tour of sites dedicated to Mary and different saints.

The Stadium of Domitian was built in 80 AD as a venue for sporting events and was the first of its kind. It was designed in an elongated U-shape using a Greek architectural style, and it could hold between 15,000 and 20,000 people. In the 15th century, the stadium was paved over to make Piazza Navona, which is a popular square in Rome today. The square is almost the exact same size and shape as the stadium was. Some pieces of the original stadium can still be seen above ground, but much of the remains are underground. 

Today visitors can see parts of the archaeological site and get a glimpse of Rome's past. Graphs, photos, and videos explain the history of sport as well as the history of the stadium itself. Much of what lies underground is off limits and can only be accessed with special permission, but the parts that are visible are spectacular. The stadium is one of many examples of the many layers of history that exists in Rome.

The image of Michelangelo’s David statue, one of the world’s best-known works of art, is so ubiquitous in Florence that it has become a symbol of Italy’s Renaissance capital. Carved between 1501 and 1504 and installed at the custom-built Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in 1873, the masterpiece also symbolizes strength and human beauty.

Michelangelo’s statue of David is one of the most popular sights in Florence—if not the entire art world—and there are always long lines to enter the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in high season. To avoid waiting for hours under the hot Florentine sun, it is essential either to book skip-the-line tickets in advance or to join a guided tour that includes gallery entrance tickets along with an explanation of this important masterpiece. Once you’re inside, admire the four unfinished statues by Michelangelo, known as the Slaves or Prisoners, lining the hall leading to the rotunda under which David holds court. Many Florence city tours include visits to the Uffizi Gallery, Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), and Accademia Gallery accompanied by an experienced tour guide, and small-group tours of the city center hit must-sees like Ponte Vecchio as well.

The Galleria dell’Accademia is located in the heart of Florence, an easy walk from the Santa Maria Novella train station, Duomo, and Piazza della Signoria.

Florence’s Accademia Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15am to 6:50pm; final entry is at 6:20pm. The gallery is closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1, and December 25. The gallery is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so consider reserving a private tour with exclusive early morning access to enjoy the famous statue before the throngs of daily visitors arrive.

The statue of David has a fascinating history, and did not seem initially destined for greatness. The block of marble Michelangelo was given to work with was flawed and had already been partly carved by his predecessor. Nonetheless he carved David to adorn the Duomo, but the finished statue was too heavy to hoist onto the cathedral and was placed instead at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria. Not long after the statue was unveiled here, rioters at an anti-Medici rebellion threw a chair out of a window directly onto David's arm, which broke in three places. In 1873, David was moved to the safety of the Accademia Gallery, and a replica—one of many—now marks the spot where the original once stood.

St. Paul’s Within the Walls was the first Protestant church built in Rome, considered the capital of the Catholic world. Today, this 19th-century Episcopal church—a national monument and home to beautiful mosaics—is both a religious and cultural center, holding services, musical performances, and art exhibitions.

Using glass from Murano, pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones designed St. Paul’s Within the Walls’ four mosaics that earned the building its recognition as a national monument from the Italian government. That said, St. Paul’s Within the Walls (Chiesa di San Paolo Entro Le Mura) is primarily known as venue for musical performances. Here you can see productions of famous Italian operas such as Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata and Gioachino Rossini’s Barber of Seville, or performances of famous opera arias by singers from the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma or today’s Three Tenors. There are also frequent classical music concerts featuring works by composers including Beethoven, Schubert, and Vivaldi.

Booking tickets to one of the many concerts and performances held at St. Paul’s Within the Walls is the perfect way to both visit the lovely church interior and appreciate its excellent acoustics. The Three Tenors and the Virtuosi dell'Opera di Roma are two of the most popular performances, but there are also symphonic concerts and special musical events on Easter and New Year’s Eve. 

The church is located on the corner of Via Nazionale and Via Napoli, about a 10-minute walk from Rome’s Termini train station or near the Piazza Repubblica stop on metro line A.

St. Paul’s Within the Walls is a beautiful backdrop for evening performances, though you can also visit Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm to simply tour the interior.

In addition to concerts and operas, St. Paul’s Within the Walls often holds contemporary art exhibitions, which you can visit during their regular opening hours.

Topped by soaring domes and spires, the Basilica of Saint Anthony is the most important church in Padua and is visited by pilgrims from across the globe. With its mix of Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic architecture, and rounded domes reminiscent of St. Mark’s Basilica in nearby Venice, this church is one of Padua’s top attractions.

 

Built during the 13th century, the Basilica of Saint Anthony includes in its design the small pre-existing church where St. Anthony was buried. Inside, notable artworks include 14th-century frescoes by Altichiero da Zevio, an ornate 16th-century candelabrum by Andrea Briosco, and bronze statues by Donatello. Saint Anthony’s body was originally entombed in the Madonna Mora Chapel; today his tongue and jaw bone are displayed in elaborate gold reliquaries, and the rest of his remains are in the Chapel of St. Anthony.

 

The basilica is included in small-group Padua tours or day trips from nearby Venice, along with other main attractions in Padua like the Scrovegni Chapel—with frescoes by Giotto—and elegant Prato della Valle square.

 

 

The Basilica of Saint Anthony is in Padua’s historic center, an easy walk from the city’s train station and main Prato della Valle square.

 

The feast day of Saint Anthony is celebrated each year on June 13 with special Masses and services. Pilgrims from across the world gather at Padua’s basilica to honor the beloved Franciscan friar, making the month of June a crowded but special time to visit the basilica.

 

In addition to the church, you can tour the adjacent Franciscan Friary and its five cloisters: the Paradise Cloister, the Novitiate Cloister, the Magnolia Cloister, the General Cloister, and the Museum (or Blessed Luke Belludi) Cloister. From the Museum Cloister, you can tour the basilica’s Anthonian Museum and the Museum of Popular Devotion; in the General Cloister, you can see a Multimedia Exhibition on the life of St. Anthony.

From the site of its foundation to the residence of its head of state, Rome’s Seven Hills are an integral part of the city’s historic and cultural identity. Follow Rome’s history, from individual communes to its rise to power as an empire until the present-day. Visitors can find traces of the city’s storied history in the Seven Hills.

 

Before a city called Rome even existed, the area's marshy valleys and steep hills offered natural protection to the individual communities that eventually united as the population increased. In the fourth century BC, Ancient Rome's Servian walls encircled the Seven Hills. While modern Rome has far outgrown its original limits, the Seven Hills area still serves as the geographic and historic heart of the city.

 

The hills—prominent in ancient times—can be hard to distinguish amid modern Rome’s jumble of buildings, so it's best to visit with a local guide. Touring by Vespa, Italy's famous peppy scooter, is a fun way to see the Seven Hills.

 

 

The hills of Rome are east of the river Tiber, within the walls of the ancient city and covering most of the historic center of Rome. You can walk between the hills, or take the metro to save time.

 

Touring the Seven Hills requires being outdoors for a long time, so it’s best done on a clear day when temperatures are mild.

 

Legend states Romulus founded Rome in the central hill of Palatine, now an archaeological site. The largest Esquiline Hill was a park before becoming the site of Domus Aurea. Aventine Hill has its many temples, Capitoline Hill has Rome’s city hall, and Caelian Hill was a fashionable and wealthy district. Quirinal Palace, the Italian head of state’s official residence, sits atop Quirinal Hill, which along with Viminal Hill (Viminale) are two of the smallest hills.

Containing 28 steps in total, the Scala Santa (which translates to Holy Steps) are believed to have been carried from Jerusalem to Rome by St. Helena in the year 326. Many make religious pilgrimages to this site, as the white marble steps are said to be those walked upon by Jesus Christ during the Passion.

It is believed that the steps of Scala Santa once led to the Praetorium of the palace of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, where Jesus was condemned. St. Helena brought them to Rome to her son, the emperor Constantine, who was building a basilica. The stairs were installed and still lead to the Sancta Sanctorum or Chapel of San Lorenzo, the private chapel of early popes. The interior of the chapel is richly decorated with frescoes depicting both the Old and New Testament.

Today the steps are protected by a wooden boards in the old Lateran palace and by tradition must be ascended on the knees. Over the centuries, several popes have participated in this devotion.

The Sistine Chapel, part of Rome’s Vatican Museums, was decorated by art masters Sandro Botticelli and Pinturicchio in the 15th century before being completed with Michelangelo’s stunning 16th-century ceilings frescoes and monumental “The Last Judgement,” which covers the apse wall. The fresco-covered ceiling is the artist’s greatest work and one of the most important masterpieces in history, while the Sistine Chapel serves as a glorious homage to Renaissance art and one of the most visited sights in all of Italy.

 

A Vatican Museums ticket includes access to the Sistine Chapel, and as part of the Vatican Museums, the chapel cannot be visited on its own and can only be entered through the museum complex. Because the Sistine Chapel attracts millions of visitors each year, those who don’t reserve skip-the-line access in advance will find long lines upon arrival. Many travelers find that the complex frescoes are best appreciated with the assistance of an official tour guide, so booking a group tour, an expert guide for a private tour, or even a self-guided audio tour is recommended.

 

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums complex adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. The Ottaviano station on Line A of the city’s underground metro system is about a five-minute walk away.

 

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are famously crowded, especially during the middle of the day. To skip the line and savor the chapel frescoes in relative peace, reserve an exclusive first-entry or early-access tour in the morning or a night tour after the general public has left. The chapel is often quieter on Wednesday mornings, when the papal address attracts most visitors to St. Peter’s Square instead of the museums.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the majesty of Michelangelo’s sumptuous ceiling frescoes, which cover 5,000 square feet (460 square meters) and depict more than 300 figures illustrating the “Creation of the Earth,” the “Creation of Humankind,” and the “State of Humanity.” Take a few moments to focus on and appreciate the iconic scene of the “Creation of Adam” in the ceiling’s central section, one of the most famous and replicated religious paintings of all time.

Climbing from Piazza di Spagna to the Trinità dei Monti church, the Spanish Steps is one of Rome’s most recognized landmarks, immortalized in countless postcards and films. Built between 1723 and 1725, the 138-step staircase recently underwent a meticulous cleaning, restoring the marble landmark to its former glory.

The monumental Spanish Steps, the widest staircase in Europe, was designed by architect Francesco de Sanctis and counts among the Eternal City's most iconic tourist sites, along with such highlights as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Roman Forum. The steps are also a lively meeting places for locals, who gather at the bars and cafés around Bernini's famous Fontana della Barcaccia in the square below.

Rome tours by Segway, Vespa, or hop-on hop-off bus are a great way to see the Spanish Steps along with other famous attractions like the Colosseum (often with skip-the-line access) and Pantheon in a single day, or opt for a specialized private tour with an expert tour guide to combine a food and wine or pizza tour with your visit. For a unique look at the steps, consider joining a small-group city tour by night when the monument is dramatically lit and the crowds are thinner.

The metro line A runs from the Termini train station to Piazza di Spagna.

The Spanish Steps are crowded most of the day, so you'll have to visit early in the morning or late at night if you want to enjoy them in relative peace. The steps are in direct sunlight almost all day, so can be hot to climb during the midday hours in summer; they are particularly photogenic in the spring, festooned with colorful flowers, and decorated with a towering Christmas tree and fairy lights during the winter holidays.

The Spanish steps were financed by French diplomat Étienne Gueffier and built to link the Trinità dei Monti Church, under the patronage of the king of France at the time, with the Spanish Square below, so-named because it was home to the Spain's embassy and considered Spanish territory in the 17th century.

In the early years of his pontificate, Pope Urban VIII commissioned what is now called St Peter’s Baldachin (Baldacchino di San Pietro) over the saint’s grave. The project was designed by Bernini and turned out to be so enormous that the Pantheon’s beams had to be melted down to provide the massive amount of bronze needed. The Romans weren’t too happy with the damage done to their beloved Pantheon, and the project was thus on the receiving end of all sorts of mockery. A popular pun was an allusion to the Pope’s family name Barberini: "Quod non fecerunt Barberi, fecerunt Barberini"—a saying that roughly translates to "what even the barbarians didn’t dare to do, the Barberini did."

Located under the dome of Michelangelo where the nave and transept meet, the canopy is as high as a nine-story building. It is directly over the altar, which in turn lies over the supposed grave of St Peter, and is held up by four corkscrew columns that form a helix—an idea conjured up by then-24-year-old master sculptor Bernini when he saw the twisted columns of the old St Peter’s Basilica. The work of art turned out to be so expensive that the project devoured 10 percent of the Papacy’s annual revenue at the time. But the risk paid off. On the day the baldachin was unveiled, it proved to be a spectacular success, even with the previously disdainful Romans.

The ancient basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati is dedicated to four unnamed saints, all martyred. The name means “four crowned saints,” meaning they were martyrs.

The church was first built in the 6th century, but mostly destroyed in the 11th century. The rebuilt church was much smaller, preserving the original apse. In the 13th century, the Chapel of San Silvestro and a cloister were added – the former decorated with frescoes, and the latter with intricate inlaid stonework designs. The four saints to whom the church is dedicated are buried in tombs in the crypt.

The heart of Rome's Vatican City is St. Peter's Square, the grand space that provides a magnificent approach to St. Peter's Basilica. Designed by Bernini in the 17th century, Piazza San Pietro is lined by semicircular colonnades four columns deep on either side that seem to reach out and enfold visitors in an embrace. 

At the center of the square, a soaring Egyptian obelisk and two marble fountains—one by Carlo Maderno dating from 1613 and the second designed by Bernini to match in 1675—break up the sweeping cobblestone space. Within the colonnade, formed by massive Doric columns and topped by 140 statues of the saints, lies the security check for entry to St. Peter's and, on the other side, the Vatican post office. The square is the site of large public Masses on the main Catholic holidays and for papal audiences, when it is packed with pilgrims from all over Italy and the world. 

St. Peter's Square is best visited with a tour guide as part of a small-group tour that touches on all the Vatican highlights, including the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Gardens, and the Vatican Grottoes containing the tombs of former popes. The Vatican is a vast repository of art and history; savor it as part of a private tour with skip-the-line tickets to avoid wasting time in the Vatican's notoriously long queues.

The most spectacular way to enter St. Peter's Square is by foot, crossing the Emperor Hadrian's Ponte Sant'Angelo over the River Tiber to Castel Sant'Angelo (Hadrian's Tomb) and walking up the grand Via della Conciliazione. Otherwise, use one of two metro line A stops: Ottaviano–S.Pietro–Musei Vaticani or Cipro. 

The square is crowded with visitors during the opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica, so consider booking a night tour or an early-entry basilica tour to see St. Peter's Square in relative peace.

St. Peter's Square, along with the rest of the Vatican, is protected by the historic Swiss Guards, established in the 16th century and still sporting their colorful Renaissance-style uniforms.

Located near the Villa Borghese in the leafy park of the same name, Rome’s answer to London’s Globe Theatre is built in the round, in the style of 16th-century Elizabethan London. Constructed of oak, the Globe opened in 2003 and its construction was financed by Silvano Toti, a wealthy patron of the Italian arts. Now under the eye of art director Gigi Proietti, the playhouse puts on a program of magical works by William Shakespeare between July and September. The roof of the theater is open to the elements and the interior has a capacity for an audience of 1,250. The circular seating is on different levels and balconies overlook the rectangular stage, which is surrounded by standing room for the cheapest ticket holders.

The box office is on Viale Canonica; ticket prices for evening performances at the Globe start at €10 and most plays are presented in Italian, with occasional productions in English. Otherwise the theater can be viewed as part of a tour of the Parco Borghese complex, which also includes the fabulous artworks of the Galleria Borghese, the Pietro Canonica Museum, the Bioparco—Rome’s zoo—and the Pincio Gardens.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the most important of the four major papal basilicas in Rome and is seat of the bishop of Rome: the Pope. One of the most important Catholic churches in the world, the archbasilica is decorated with rich mosaics, Cosmatesque floors, and 12 baroque statues of the apostles.

 

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. More commonly known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, it is named for its location at the Lateran Palace. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, donated the property to the church. It became the main papal residence and the venue for consecration of popes for centuries. Today, visitors can see the six papal tombs and larger-than-life-size statues of the Twelve Apostles.

 

St. John Lateran is best visited with a guide as part of a Christian Rome tour to be able to fully appreciate its historical and religious importance. Many small-group tours also include visits of the Vatican City’s Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.

 

 

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is located at the southern edge of the city center, about a 5-minute walk from the San Giovanni Metro Station on Line A.

 

Italy's capital city is one of the most visited destinations in Europe, and its holy sites, such as Saint John Lateran, are especially crowded during the Catholic holidays and Jubilee years. Try to schedule your tour outside of these popular times to visit.

 

St. John Lateran is also the site of the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta)—said to have been climbed by Jesus Christ to reach the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem and brought to Rome in the fourth century. Today, they lead to the Sancta Sanctorum, a chapel that contains some of the holiest relics in Christian history, though pilgrims today climb a nearby replica, as the original stairs are closed to visitors.

Tucked away in a piazza just off one of Rome’s busiest thoroughfares in the Centro Storico, the Baroque church of Sant’Andrea delle Valle was designed by Giacomo della Porta and eventually completed by a succession of other Baroque masters—including Carlo Maderno and Borromini—in 1663. It is famous for providing the setting for the opening of Puccini’s opera Tosca.

The frescoed dome was the handiwork of Carlo Maderno and at 528.5 ft (16.1 m) it is the second largest in Rome after St Peter’s. Underneath this mighty cupola, the church is liberally scattered with the extravagant marble chapels and tombs of wealthy 16th-century Italian aristocrats, including the Strozzis, the Barberinis and several popes. Great names like Michelangelo and Bernini had a hand in designing these sarcophagi, and together with the gilt ornamentation and nave frescoes from the greatest artists of the day adorning the walls, plus the marble patterning of the floors, they come together in creating a highly decorative church interior awash with color.

Sant’Andrea delle Valle is within an easy stroll of the lovely ancient squares of Campo de’ Fiori—a lively morning market is held here—and Piazza Navona, famous for its Baroque fountains by Bernini.

Officially called the Basilica of St. Stephen in the Round, Santo Stefano Rotondo gets its more commonly-known nickname from its shape – it's one of the world's oldest and largest circular churches.

The church was built in the 5th century, and although it was altered in the 6th and 7th centuries and then quite drastically in the 15th century, the central part of the church remains the original 5th century design.

In addition to the church's shape, the other main attraction are the gruesome frescoes that line the outer wall. There are 34 scenes of martyrdom depicted, painted in the 16th century, each with a brief explanation of who was martyred and who gave the order.

The enormous St. Peter's Basilica dominates Vatican City, and its dome can be seen from all over Rome. Built on the site of St. Peter’s crucifixion and over his tomb, it’s the epicenter of the Catholic Church and the burial place of many popes, including Pope John Paul II. The lavishly adorned basilica is the largest church in Italy and all of Christendom, and it's also a museum full of priceless works of art—including Michelangelo’s spectacular “Pietà” and Bernini’s bronze baldachin.

St. Peter's Basilica is an essential part of any visit to the Vatican. There's no admission fee, so it's easy to stop in on your own, but a guided tour or audio guide will help you truly understand the significance of the history and art. Many travelers either choose a tour that focuses exclusively on the basilica or opt for one that pairs a visit with stops at other areas in the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. This is one of the most popular attractions in Rome and all of Italy, so crowds are nearly inevitable. It’s best to book a skip-the-line ticket or early-access tour that allows you to visit before most of the swarms arrive. 

St. Peter's Basilica is across the Tiber River from top sights such as the Colosseum and Piazza Navona. The nearest metro stops are Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani and Cipro on line A; there are closer tram and bus stops. If you'd like to walk, cross the Ponte Sant'Angelo toward the Castel Sant'Angelo for a picturesque view.

The church is open year-round, but it's a working church so it closes regularly for mass and special religious services. Crowds are at their thickest during summer and holidays such as Easter and Christmas, as well as during public papal addresses, given most Wednesdays in the square.

The basilica’s most famous tomb is that of St. Peter, but most visitors never go below the main level of the church. You can book a small group tour of the Vatican Necropolis to explore the ancient Roman cemetery that lies underground, past the Vatican grottoes, and stand before St. Peter's tomb.