Things to see and do in Rome

This ancient arena, 500 metres wide and 50 metres high, could accommodate 60 000 spectators. Here, gladiators and wild animal fought battles of life and death.

One of the big meeting places in Rome. The steps and the Piazza di Spagna are called this because the Spanish embassy has been here since 1622.

One of the biggest fountains in Rome, decorated with statues honouring the four seasons and Neptune, god of the sea.

The Pope's "home church" is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, with ornamentation by Raphael, Antonio da Sangallo, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, Carlo Maderno and Bernini.

Named after Pope Sixtus IV, who together with the subsequent popes, commissioned major Italian artists Michelangelo, Perugino and Botticelli to paint the walls and ceiling.

Built by Emperor Hadrian in AD 118 and devoted to "all gods"

The political, religious and commercial centre of antique Rome - and a meeting place for socialising and gossip. The construction work took 900 years. When Rome became a world power, an even more elegant centre was built - Foro Imperiali. Even during ancient times, the Palatino was a very smart area, with the luxurious homes of emperors and aristocrats.

A beautiful oval piazza dating back to the 17th century, with intensive throngs and Bernini's most famous work, Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (fountain of the four rivers), with the Danube, Nile, Ganges and Rio Plata.

A good way of getting a good quick look at Rome is to take a tour on the no. 110 ATAC bus from Piazza dei Cinquecento (at Termini station). This trip takes two hours, and you can get off at all stops and carry on your journey on another bus. Stop&Go ticket, approx. ?13.

ACEA Art Center. Old power station, with sculptures from the Capitolino collections. Via Ostiense 106.

 

Closter of the Cappucine monks. Decorations showing parts of skeletons, e.g. skulls combined to make a chandelier. A different experience - but you need a strong stomach! Via Vittorio Veneto 27.

 

The Etruscan museum. 2800-year crafts and objets d'art in a beautiful 16th century villa. Piazza Villa Giulia 9.

 

Galleria Doria Pamphilj. Shows the lifestyle of the upper classes during the Renaissance, exhibiting  a rich collection of paintings. Piazza del Collegio Romano 2.

 

G.N.A.M. Rome's modern museum, including works by DeChirico, Carra', Kandinsky, Klimt and Cezanne. Viale delle Belle Arti 131.

 

Vatican Museums. The gardens, frescoes by Michelangelo and Raphael, the Renaissance, Greek marble, Egyptian mummies - it's all here. Viale del Vaticano.
 
The Vittorio Emanuele monument. A showpiece relating to the first king of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele I, with the grave of the unknown soldier and large art exhibitions. Via S. Pietro in Carcere.
 
Terme di Caracalla. Roman spa for 1600 people, dating back to 300 years AD. Concerts in the summer. Via delle Terme di Caracalla 52.

After Stockholm, Rome is the greenest capital in Europe. Here are a few suggestions for when you want to swap marble, stone and the pulse of the big city for a picnic in the grass.
Villa Borghese                                     
Villa Aldobrandini
Villa Celimontana
Villa Ada
Villa Doria Pamphilj
Parco di Scipioni
Villa Sciarra
Colle Oppio

 Meet the Pope. Audiences with the Pope take place at 11.00 on Wednesdays in the Papal Audience Room, sometimes in the church of San Pietro or on the piazza. Apply for a permit from: Prefettura della Casa Pontifica, IT-00120 Città del Vaticano, or at the office of the prefecture adjacent to Portone di Bronzo on Piazza San Pietro. Take this pass with you - you have to hand it to the Pope's Swiss Guard.

 

The famous keyhole. They say you can see the cupola of the church of San Pietro through the keyhole at the Maltese embassy.

 

Undubbed films. Pasquino is one of the only cinemas in Rome showing English-language films in the original language.

 

The famous celluloid dip. Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni added to the fame of the Fontana di Trevi when they bathed in it in Fellini's La Dolce Vita.