Colosseum at dusk, Rome

Rome

Full City Guide, Map & 114 Things To Do

Roma
CAPITAL
-753 FOUNDED
2779 YEARS OLD
17°C
21m ELEVATION
POP. 4.5%

Rome carries its history in layers: the Basilica of San Clemente stacks a 12th-century church over a 4th-century one, over a 1st-century Roman house and Mithraic temple, all open to descend through on one ticket. The Pantheon's dome, poured in unreinforced concrete nearly two thousand years ago, is still the largest of its kind, and rain falls straight through the oculus onto the marble floor below. Trastevere's alleys stay narrow enough that scooters barely clear the outdoor tables, and Campo de' Fiori runs a produce market each morning on the same square where Giordano Bruno was burned for heresy in 1600, marked now by a small statue. Cacio e pepe, made with only pecorino, black pepper, and pasta water, is treated with a seriousness Romans reserve for little else in the kitchen. Beneath the city, subway construction routinely stalls for years when crews hit undocumented ruins, since Roman law requires excavation before digging continues. By evening, Romans fill Via del Corso for the passeggiata, an early-evening stroll that's as much about socialising and being seen as about getting anywhere.

History of Rome

According to legend, the city was founded in the eighth century BC by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus, who were saved from the river Tiber and raised by a she wolf. Romulus dragged a bronze ploughshare through the dirt of the Palatine Hill in 753 BC to carve out a sacred boundary known as the pomerium. To step over this line uninvited was an act of war, a rule enforced immediately when his brother Remus jumped the furrow and was killed for the transgression. This ruthless pragmatism defined the early centuries of the settlement as it overthrew its Etruscan monarchs and established a republic. Patrician senators and plebeian workers fought bitterly over laws and land, eventually forging a military machine that swallowed the Mediterranean. Triumphant generals returned to the Forum to nail the bronze prows of captured Carthaginian warships to the wooden speaker's platform. Brick structures gave way to marble as the republic collapsed into an empire. Augustus remapped the streets and established the first fire brigade, while later emperors built purely to dazzle the masses. The Flavians funded the construction of the Colosseum using the spoils of their eastern campaigns, turning a private imperial lake into a public arena. Shoppers haggled over spices and silk in the tiered corridors of Trajan's Market, their voices competing with the constant clatter of wooden cartwheels on the paving stones outside. When the empire finally fractured under the weight of invasions, Constantine hastily erected his triumphal arch next to the amphitheatre, scavenging statues from the monuments of previous rulers to finish the job quickly. Water stopped flowing into the city when invading armies severed the ancient aqueducts. The population plummeted, and the surviving residents clustered tightly in the Campus Martius near the Tiber to pull drinking water directly from the muddy river. Power shifted entirely from the Senate to the Bishop of Rome. The city fractured into violent fiefdoms controlled by baronial families who repurposed ancient ruins into personal fortresses. The Frangipane clan turned the Colosseum into a castle, while other nobles erected hundreds of brick towers that scraped the medieval sky. Charlemagne felt the cold floor of Old St Peter’s Basilica against his knees on Christmas Day 800, receiving the imperial crown from Pope Leo III in a calculated move that forever tied the fate of the city to the papacy. A devastating sack by mutinous imperial troops in 1527 left the streets in ruins, yet the disaster provoked a feverish era of reconstruction. Popes tore down cramped medieval blocks to carve wide avenues connecting the major pilgrimage basilicas. Sculptors and architects fought bitterly for the most lucrative commissions. Francesco Borromini once carved a pair of donkey ears into the facade of a building just to insult a rival neighbour. Gian Lorenzo Bernini dominated the squares, shaping travertine into dramatic rivers and twisting saints. Water returned in abundance as pontiffs restored the ruined aqueducts, eventually feeding the theatrical cascade of the Trevi Fountain with the same springs that had served the ancients. A cannonball shattered the ancient Aurelian Walls near Porta Pia on the morning of 20 September 1870. Italian infantry poured through the breach, ending centuries of papal rule and dragging the city into a unified Italy. The new government rapidly bulldozed the sprawling, aristocratic gardens of Villa Ludovisi to lay down a rigid grid of modern apartment blocks for bureaucrats. Fifty years later, the fascist regime cut Via dei Fori Imperiali directly through densely populated medieval neighbourhoods to create a parade route framing the Colosseum. Locals today still navigate this layered landscape on their daily commutes. Mopeds dodge uneven cobblestones around Piazza Venezia, circling the immense white marble steps of the Altare della Patria on their way across the river.

14 Events spanning 2713 years

YEAR -753

The Mythical Founding

According to ancient tradition, Romulus founded the original settlement on the Palatine Hill after a fatal dispute with his twin brother Remus.

YEAR -509

Birth of the Republic

The citizens overthrew the last Etruscan king, establishing a Republic that laid the foundation for modern democratic principles.

YEAR -44

The Ides of March

Julius Caesar was famously assassinated by a group of rebellious senators, plunging the Republic into a series of civil wars.

YEAR -27

The First Emperor

Augustus consolidated supreme power and became the first Roman Emperor, initiating an era of relative peace and massive urban renewal.

YEAR 80

Inauguration of the Colosseum

The spectacular Flavian Amphitheatre was completed and opened with one hundred days of magnificent and brutal gladiatorial games.

YEAR 313

The Edict of Milan

Emperor Constantine issued an edict that officially legalised Christianity, fundamentally altering the religious landscape of the empire.

YEAR 410

The First Great Sack

The Visigoths breached the ancient walls and plundered the city, sending shockwaves throughout the entire civilised world.

YEAR 800

A New Empire Crowned

Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by the Pope in Saint Peter's Basilica, forging a powerful alliance between the Church and the Franks.

YEAR 1309

The Avignon Captivity

The Papal court relocated to France, plunging the ancient capital into decades of chaos, noble feuds, and economic ruin.

YEAR 1527

The Devastating Sack

Mutinous troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V subjected the city to a brutal sack, marking a tragic end to the High Renaissance.

YEAR 1626

Consecration of a Masterpiece

The new Saint Peter's Basilica was officially consecrated after more than a century of construction by the greatest architects of the era.

YEAR 1870

Capital of a United Nation

Italian forces breached the walls at Porta Pia, annexing the city and declaring it the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.

YEAR 1929

Creation of the Vatican State

The Lateran Treaty was signed, officially establishing Vatican City as an independent sovereign entity within the urban borders.

YEAR 1960

The Summer Olympics

The city hosted the Games of the XVII Olympiad, showcasing its post war recovery and blending ancient venues with modern sporting facilities.

Map of Rome

Interactive Destination & Itinerary Map

This map blends our curated city guides—featuring best photo spots, scenic walks, viewpoints, hidden gems and much more—with a live Wikipedia explorer. Click on our numbered pins to plan your routes, or zoom in on the surrounding neighborhoods to discover verified local landmarks, museums, and stories with dynamic Wikipedia summaries and photos!

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Interactive map showing locations of 88 points in Rome, attractions, parks and hidden gems among them.

Fun Facts

  • Cats are officially recognised as part of the biocultural heritage of the capital, allowing them to roam freely and protected among the ancient ruins.
  • The Trevi Fountain collects over one million euros in coins each year, which are traditionally gathered and donated to a Catholic charity to help the needy.
  • The city contains a fully independent sovereign state within its borders, making it the only place in the world to completely encompass another country.
  • There are more than two thousand five hundred public drinking fountains scattered across the streets, locally known as big noses due to their distinctive spout shape.
  • Ancient Romans used imported flamingo tongues and peacock brains in their grand banquets, showcasing extreme and bizarre culinary extravagance.

Did You Know?

  • The Pantheon still features the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the entire world, a testament to unparalleled ancient engineering skills.
  • At its peak during the second century, the imperial capital was home to over one million inhabitants, a population size not reached by London until the nineteenth century.
  • The sprawling urban area encompasses more than nine hundred churches, representing an incredible continuous timeline of religious architecture from early Christian to modern times.
  • The historic centre is entirely protected as a World Heritage site, containing an unparalleled concentration of ancient monuments and Renaissance palaces.
  • The extensive network of underground catacombs stretches for hundreds of kilometres beneath the modern streets, originally serving as burial grounds for early Christians.

Videos of Rome

Top Attractions in Rome

Rome Itineraries

TRIP PLANNER

4 Days Recommended

Four days provide the perfect balance for uncovering the extensive layers of the capital. This allows sufficient time to dedicate full days to the ancient centre and the Vatican without feeling rushed. It also leaves room to enjoy leisurely meals, explore hidden districts, and embrace the local lifestyle.

Food in Rome

Free Things to do in Rome

Parks & Nature

Highlights & Must-Sees

Best Walks in Rome

Hidden Gems in Rome

Architecture & Landmarks

Markets & Shopping

Activities & Experiences

Cycling Routes

Self-Guided Tours

Annual Festivals & Events

Insider Tips

TRANSPORT

Always remember to validate your paper bus or train ticket in the small yellow machines upon boarding to avoid hefty fines from inspectors.

FOOD

When ordering a coffee, remember that a latte is simply a glass of milk; ask for a caffè latte if you want coffee, and never order a cappuccino after a heavy meal.

LOGISTICS

Carry a reusable water bottle to take advantage of the free, fresh spring water flowing constantly from the public fountains found on almost every corner.

FOOD

Pizza al taglio is sold by weight, not by the slice; simply point to the pizza you want and indicate with your hands how large of a piece the server should cut.

SAFETY

Be cautious on crowded public transport like bus route sixty four and the Metro system, as these are prime locations for highly skilled pickpockets.

LOGISTICS

If you wish to visit government owned museums and historical sites, plan your trip to coincide with the first Sunday of the month when admission is completely free.

PERFECT FOR

This destination is perfect for history enthusiasts eager to walk in the footsteps of ancient emperors and Renaissance masters. Food lovers will be in absolute paradise discovering authentic pasta dishes and traditional street food in local neighbourhoods. It is equally ideal for romantic getaways, offering breathtaking sunsets, charming cobblestone alleyways, and an undeniably passionate atmosphere.

VIBE

Rome feels like a grand, chaotic open air museum where millennia of history blend seamlessly with modern life. The atmosphere is vibrant and deeply romantic, filled with the aroma of espresso and the murmur of animated conversations. Walking these ancient streets offers a profound sense of awe and timelessness.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rome

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