Arriving at St. Peter's Square, the visitor is immediately impressed by the size of the memorable square facing St. Peter's, surrounded by the magnificent four-row colonnade masterpiece of Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Once inside the basilica, slowly climbing up the sweeping three flights of steps designed by Bernini, you will be truly amazed by the size and splendour of the largest church in the world, the symbol of Christianity, extending over a total of about 22,000 m2.

From St. Peter's walking along Via della Conciliazione you can reach the second stop of our itinerary: Castel Sant'Angelo. The unique monument houses the National Museum where, apart from the stuccoes, frescoes and furniture of the papal apartments, you can also admire an important collection of ancient arms. Castel Sant'Angelo is well known to Opera lovers, since Tosca, the protagonist of Giacomo Puccini's opera, threw herself from its famous terrace overlooking the heart of Rome.

The arena-like shape of Piazza Navona is easily noticed from the air. In fact, the piazza was built on the Stadium of Domitian, the ruins of which can still be admired in the adjacent church of Sant'Agnese in Agone. The church, designed by the great architect Francesco Borromini, is an excellent example of the Roman Baroque architecture. In Piazza Navona there are three fountains: Fontana del Moro, Fontana di Nettuno and in the centre of the square Bernini's magnificent Fontana dei Fiumi. Four allegorical statues portray the Nile, the Ganges, the Danube and the Rio de la Plata, symbolizing the four corners of the world. Traditionally, from the beginning of December till Epiphany, this piazza is occupied by stalls selling sweets and toys.

The Pantheon is an impressive example of the exquisite architectural technique of ancient Rome. It consists of a huge cylindrical body of equal height and width, covered by a great hemispherical dome. Important artists such as the painter Raphael are buried there, as well as the Italian Sovereigns of the period when Italy was a monarchy.

Opposite to the Pantheon is Piazza della Rotonda with its beautiful fountain designed by Giacomo Della Porta.

The spectacular effect of the Trevi Fountain is not revealed gradually; none of the streets leading to it are in line with the fountain itself. It is rather the sound of the water that suggests its proximity, but you suddenly come upon it, and it is as if a curtain were lifted in front of your eyes in a surprise effect that never fails. Designed in the 18th century by architect Nicola Salvi and built over thirty years, the Trevi Fountain is the celebration of water as a symbol of life, health and change. Its location marks the end of the course of the ancient aqueduct of the Acqua Vergine (19 BC), the history of which is tod on the reliefs in the upper section of the façade.

The personification of Ocean at the centre of the structure appears to emerge from the water on a chariot led by sea horses and newts, amidst rocks that are decorated with the representation of thirty varieties of plants. The overall effect is a unique combination of sculpture, architecture and nature in which we can imagine the building blending with the rocks and the gushing water. Don’t forget to throw the famous coin to ensure your return to the Eternal City … To respect the “proper procedure” you should stand with your back to the fountain and toss the coin over your left shoulder with your right hand.

A meeting place for both Romans and tourists, Piazza di Spagna is famous for its theatrical staircase, a creation of Francesco De Sanctis, and for its fountain known as La Barcaccia, designed in 1629 by Pietro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo in the shape of a boat half-submerged in water.

At the top of the Spanish Steps is the Church of Trinità dei Monti, erected by order of the king of France Louis XII in 1502. Farther along, on the left, is Villa Medici, today the seat of the Academy of France. The streets that host the most important fashion shops, but also the sites that have left a mark on the history and the culture of Rome radiate from the Piazza di Spagna.

The Colosseum owes its name to a colossal 35 metre high bronze statue representing the Emperor Nero that used to stand in this area. The symbol of Rome worldwide, the Colosseum was built by the emperors of the Flavian dynasty between 72 and 80 A.D., on the site once occupied by an artificial lake belonging to the magnificent Domus Aurea, a compound of buildings and gardens built by Nero that is now in ruins but with beautiful decorations which inspired Renaissance painters. As many as 100,000 cubic meters of travertine from the Tivoli quarries were used to build this amphitheatre, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. The Colosseum could hold more than 70,000 spectators who could watch the fights between gladiators, the hunting of animals and, at the very beginning, the naumachias: naval battles held in the flooded arena. The architect who designed the Colosseum is said to have been thrown alive to the wild beasts "as a reward for his own work", thus inaugurating the long history of blood and cruelties of the building he himself had conceived.

The Roman Forum, the most important archaeological area in Rome, extends from the Capitol Hill to the Palatine. As far back as the 7th century B.C. the Forum was the centre of political, commercial and religious life. Later on, the Imperial Forums were added to the original Roman Forum: Foro di Cesare, Foro di Augusto, Foro di Nerva, Foro di Vespasiano and the most imposing one, the Foro di Traiano, of which you can still admire the huge Column of the Markets.

The area of Trastevere is ideal for a walk through narrow streets, squares and colours that still maintain an authentically Roman character and offers a pleasant contrast with the solemn splendour seen at the Vatican. In antiquity Trastevere – “beyond the Tiber" – was the first district established on the right bank of the Tiber and was inhabited by artisans, fishermen, merchants and communities of foreigners, connected with the activities of the nearby port.

Recommended transport

The 110 Open tourist line takes you to all the major historical and artistic sights of the city and gives passengers a unique and spectacular view of Rome as it passes close by the main archaeological sites and monuments.

The entire trip takes about 2 hours, and buses leave every 15 minutes. The service is run from Termini Station, between 8.40 a.m. and 8.25 p.m. every day.

Route: Termini - Viz Nazionale – Colosseo - Bocca della Verità - Piazza Venezia - Piazza Navona - San Pietro - Piazza Cavour - Ara Pacis - Fontani di Trevi - Via Veneto – Termini.bus

Touristic bus