So sad the Piazza Venezia and its' surrounding area was under construction during the time of our…read morevisit. This is one of the most iconic and central squares in Rome, and I can even see some of its' elegance peeking out from behind the construction area.

A must stop if you're looking for free things to do. There are options to pay like they have a…read moremuseum and some other stuff otherwise you could totally walk through the piazza completely free. Many picture areas and has bathrooms, though it was crowded.

When we were in Vatican City in the afternoon, we skipped the plaza. We came back in the early…read moreevening and it was much less crowded. The square is directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica. Both are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus whom Catholics consider the first Pope. There is an obelisk in the center and 284 columns that create the elliptical shape of the square.

This is the area around the Vatican…read more It's gorgeous! I absolutely love the fountains and statues in this area. So much amazing architecture. When you step into this piazza, I feel like you get a sense of the Holy Spirit. I mean, how can you not when you are so close to the Vatican? There's a peaceful atmosphere here.

So much history here. It was hard for me to imagine what once was an empire to be neglected into…read moreruins but that is what happens when empires fall and there is no money for maintenance. People pillaged and plundered these buidings and repurposed the material to build other things elsewhere. This is located right next to the colosseum and you can get a combined admission ticket to see both. FYI that there are metal detectors and scanners at the security checkpoint. I got a lot of steps in that day! Many of the paths here to not connect so need to double-back much of the time. Five stars!

Some countries have ghost towns, dusty abandoned places where you might find an old gas station or…read morea closed mill. Italy has the Roman Forum, an awe-inspiring collection of ruins, the remains of the heart of ancient Rome. Founded in the 8th century BC, the Forum was the center of city life until around the 6th century AD. Temples and government buildings, a thriving marketplace, a compound of vestal virgins. Meetings and speeches, trials and gladiator battles--this place was happening over two thousand years ago. The Forum fell into disrepair, the temples and shrines abandoned by the 8th century. It was ruthlessly dismantled and exploited, especially during the Italian Renaissance, when its materials were extracted for building projects. Like, for example, St. Peter's Basilica. Seems like a mistake to convert downtown ancient Rome into a marble quarry, but hindsight 20/20 and all that. What remains standing in 2025 is absolutely incredible. The ruins are well preserved and quite legible, at least with the help of a guide (we took a Forum and Colosseum tour with Crown Tours, which I'd highly recommend). It was downright surreal walking around those grounds, imagining the life of ancient Rome. I mean Julius Caesar hung out here, among buildings he had erected. If you're visiting Rome for the first time, I'm sure you're planning to hit the Colosseum. Don't miss the Roman Forum while you're there. It's just as amazing, a unique, transporting journey into the rich depths of history.

This is the location where Gabriel Allon, the fictional Israeli spy/assasin created by the famed…read morewriter Daniel Silva, executed the Palestinian terrorist Wadal Zwaiter. In Silva's long series of Gabriel Allon thrillers, Zwaiter was one of the 12 terrorists that kidnapped and murdered 11 Israeli sportsmen taking part in the 1972 Munich Olympics. In the scene so dramatically created by Silva, Zwaiter (who has been hiding for years from Israel's revenge operation code name Wrath of God) was returning to his apartment in Piazza Annibaliano carrying a grocery bag late at night. As he was reaching for the button of the elevator, Allon approached as asked "Excuse me, but are you Wadal Zwaiter?" Sensing his cover blown, Zwaiter pleaded "No! Please, no!" With that, Allon coldly fired 11 shots into Zwaiter. His grocery bag dropped to the floor before his limp body, breaking a bottle of red wine he had purchased earlier. His consciousness faded away as his blood was slowly mixing with the wine.

In a city overflowing with ancient landmarks, the Pantheon is standout! The sheer height and girth…read moreof the structure is awe-inspiring. The building has survived nearly 2,000 years while empires, wars, and centuries. This structure was completed around 126 AD and still stands strong today. The pantheon speaks to craftsmanship and the importance of great work.

Another great experience while in Rome. I walked up and got in line to pay for my ticket 5 Euros…read more(comes to about 6$ USD) For the people who purchased tickets on line was LONGER than the line for same day purchase tickets. This place is amazing to say the least! Architecture is breathtaking, so much history, and the final resting place for several famous figures such as Renaissance artist Raphael, and the first two kings of a unified Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II and his son Umberto I, along with Umberto's wife, Queen Margherita of Savoy, making it a significant mausoleum for Italian national heroes and celebrated artists Pro Tip the Trevi Fountain is a 5 min walk from this site

The Trevi fountain was crowded...super crowded...for good reason. The fountain is extremely…read moredetailed, with cascading water and towering statues. Visitors and locals took part in the tradition of tossing a coin over their shoulder into the fountain for good luck. Trevi Fountain encapsulatesits beauty, drama, and romance of Rome. Absolutely spectacular...one of our favorite Rome landmarks!

This was our first stop in Rome and to be honest it was the worst. The fountain itself is large…read moreand beautiful, but the mass and rows of tourists pushing to get their selfies and willing to stand in line and pay 2 Euros to get a selfie left a bad taste in my mouth. I refused to pay the 2 Euros and stand in the long line to get a self indulgent picture. Although Trevi fountain wide and impressive, I liked the 1651 Baroque Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) by Bernini at is at Piazza Navona better. One of those River Gods had some impressive, muscular thighs. 8-)

Yet another review, I'd meant to post:…read more Surrounded by a beautiful piazza, Colonna di Marco Aurelio is easy to miss. But don't. The towering marble column in Piazza Colonna is packed with intricate carvings detailing the emperor's military campaigns. It's like a 2nd-century novel spiraling to the sky. No crowds. Gorgeous details. You can't climb it, but you can admire it. A quick and unforgettable stop!

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one."…read more-Marcus Aurelius This massive 97 foot tall column dates back to at least 193 AD and was built to honor Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. It tells the story of the Marcomannic wars from 172 to 175. The column stands in the center of Piazza Colonna and at night, it is beautifully lit. I did not have the opportunity to return during the daytime but was still able to appreciate the majesty and craftsmanship of the column that is now close to 2000 years old. Amazing. [Review 19194 overall - 349 in Italy - 164 of 2023.]

Loved it. Nestled just a short stroll from Roma Termini, Tierra de la Repubblica welcomes travelers…read morewith grandeur both timeless and theatrical. The square is crowned by the Fountain of the Naiads where bronze nymphs dance in a mist of Roman legend. Michelangelo's hand lingers in the basilica walls nearby. This nearby realm of order, elegance and wide Roman boulevards is a nice segue way. Not far, Via Nazionale offers decent cafés and a true sense of the Eternal City's rhythm. For those arriving travel weary, it is a graceful entrance to a Roman adventure. And as they say in Rome, "When in doubt follow the guy yelling on a Vespa, he's either late for espresso or leading you to something historic." Either way, you're in for an experience. LOLZSIES!

Historical landmark fountain in the center of a roundabout. It's beautiful and old and still…read morefunctioning. Wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but happening upon it was not disappointing by any means.