Glad I was able to come here and see this and experience it for myself…read more When I got here there was only a few people ahead of me. I beat the long lines. Unfortunately my iPhone camera did not do this justice!!! The Aventine Keyhole is a famous, small peephole in a large green door on Rome's Aventine Hill, offering a perfectly framed, magical view of St. Peter's Basilica's dome through a tunnel of trees, technically looking across three countries: the Knights of Malta's grounds, Italy, and Vatican City.

Arrive at dawn or be prepared for a long wait for your moment to gaze through the keyhole and see…read morethe perfectly framed dome through a tunnel of greenery. We waited for an hour, chatted, and the time flew by. Another word of advice, there is no need take a picture or video through the keyhole. We watched numerous people kindly offer their electronics a longer turn than their actual eyes! If you scroll through Yelp, or any corner of the internet talking about the Aventine Keyhole, you will see thousands of photos and videos. So, when it's your turn, gaze through, smile at the majesty of what people before you have created, enjoy a lived experience, and take a photo with your loved ones, not keyholes.

Vittoriano, also known as the Altar of the Fatherland. The Monument…read moreto king Victor Emmanuel II was built starting in 1885, designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, and inaugurated in 1911 to commemorate the 50th. See it as you walk around downtown Rome.

This building was right down the road from our hotel and we passed it a number of times. It is…read morebeautiful with nice statues on the front and back of building. I climbed up the back of building and caught the sunset.

Galleria Doria Pamphilj is one of Rome's most breathtaking hidden treasures--an aristocratic…read moresanctuary of art, history, and elegance tucked just steps away from the bustling Via del Corso. Visiting this gallery feels like stepping into a private world where centuries of beauty have been lovingly preserved. The moment you enter, the atmosphere shifts. The palace itself is a masterpiece--ornate ceilings, shimmering gold accents, and hallways lined with mirrors and marble. Each room carries the quiet grandeur of a family that collected art not for prestige, but out of genuine passion. That intimacy sets it apart from Rome's larger, more crowded museums. The collection is extraordinary. You'll find remarkable works by Caravaggio, Velázquez, Bernini, Raphael, and Titian, each displayed in lavish, beautifully lit rooms that feel more like a lived-in palace than a museum. Caravaggio's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt" and the haunting "Magdalene" are highlights, while Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X is nothing short of astonishing--an encounter that lingers long after you leave. What makes the experience truly special is the ability to wander the gallery at your own pace, taking in masterpieces without the rush or crowds. The audio guide, narrated by a member of the Pamphilj family, adds a personal touch and deepens your appreciation for the collection and its history. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone seeking a quiet, immersive cultural experience, Galleria Doria Pamphilj is a must-visit. It's a rare blend of elegance, intimacy, and artistic brilliance--a place where Rome's noble past comes alive in the most captivating way.

What an awesome view into the extravagant wealth of these families. We enjoyed exploring the palace!read more

There are a million things to do when you are in Rome & going to a museum is probably the last…read morething on your list given all the alternative awesome sightseeing options! Hubby & I always try to do three things in a new city: museum, sports event & something on the water. We figured that visiting the Colosseum was a good enough version of a sports event. We were returning from a 12-day cruise. So, next up on the list was checking out a museum. Thankfully, we were at a hotel that was around the corner from the Museo Nazionale Romano. It is a series of buildings around the Piazza della Repubblica. And as it turns out, on the first Sunday of the month, the Museo is free to the public (note: you must "purchase" tickets online in advance for a specific time to enter). This Museo feels like stepping straight into the heart of ancient Rome. The collection is extraordinary - from the iconic Discus Thrower to hauntingly lifelike statues that practically make eye contact with you. The level of detail is unreal & half the time it feels like the sculptures are standing at your height just waiting to start a conversation! The galleries are spacious, beautifully laid out & surprisingly calm compared to the big-name tourist spots. It's the perfect place to take your time, wander & really soak in the artistry. Frescoes, mosaics, portraits - every floor has something jaw-dropping (including -1 and -2!). What truly blew my mind were the tile mosaics displayed & then shown in their original settings. Seeing them arranged exactly as they would have appeared in ancient villas gives you this incredible, immersive peek into everyday Roman life. It's like stepping right into history rather than just looking at it behind glass. If you're in Rome & want an unforgettable museum experience without the crowds, do not skip this one. Palazzo Massimo is a treasure chest of ancient beauty! Highly recommend.

This is actually spread out over 2 (or more) buildings. These are diagonally across a large…read moreintersection from each other. Both are across streets from the Termini (train) Station. Also - our city pass purported to include this place for admission. However, when we arrived they said that there had been some change and it was not covered. We paid their fee anyway. Later, we got a reimbursement from the city pass company for this. We began our tour in the building to the right when you are facing the train station. It houses mostly statuary from the period from Julius Ceasar forward. They have busts of many of the emperors from the first couple of centuries of the empire (and their families, in some cases). There are other statues as well, plus things like a huge room's preserved wall paintings that were unearthed nearby. It is definitely heavy on busts, but I thought it was interesting. We then crossed the streets to the 2nd building, which is incorporated into the remains of a vast Roman baths complex. They had a variety of different exhibits here - about the baths, some more sculptures, an odd small shrine that was unearthed during a construction project (and which was preserved in a parking garage), details about pre-Roman villages in the area, etc. You could browse through and focus on a few areas of interest. There were also multiple courtyards to examine, each with its own statuary. This set of museums is probably best viewed after touring things like the Forum or Colosseum first. You then may have some basic context of where things happened, and can then start adding details about the major figures associated with the time period (and get some idea of what they looked like too). I enjoyed spending a morning here.

Neoclassical exhibition hall, but beautiful to gaze upon. They hold temporary exhibitions.read more

Without doubt one of Rome's more interesting art galleries, with the benefit of usually offering…read moretwo or three simultaneous shows (usually from different centuries), so if you go with a fan of the Old Masters but you're more of an abstract art chick, everything is ok. It only gets three stars for a couple of reasons, however; I find the layout fairly frustrating - when the exhibition space is full, you never really escape from the noise in the main atrium. School parties also easily clog up the aisles. The biggest defect for me today when I visited was the approach and general demeanour of the front desk; while attempting to buy my ticket, the person behind the desk didn't once stop chatting to a fellow staff member, communicating with me only in gestures, which was a shame as the rest of the gallery staff seemed polite and ready to help. As usual, one of the toilets was out of order and a faint air of chaos reigned throughout the gallery. Noisy visitors don't really get shushed which can make the whole experience pretty frustrating at times.

Palatine Hill has so much to see. If you want to get the history of everything here then you should…read moreget a tour. I felt like we didn't know where to go since it's so spread out & didn't know what half the sites were since plagues were limited or hard to spot. We got the basics & probably missed a bunch but would have liked to learn more & not have to find/read all the signs. The tickets were part of our colosseum package & allows access to this the day before or after which was nice. By 5 pm they are asking people to leave so don't go too late if you want to see it all as the property is huge. We missed half of it since we only had 2 hours to walk it. The view from the top is the best so I'd suggest go up there to get a lay of the land & then cover the lowers. We spent too much time in some of the lower less exciting ruins of the small buildings & raced past the grander "Super sites". The senate building was underwhelming & didn't have much info posted. I'd ask an entrance worker for advice at least to start with.

Palatine Hill is, according to legend and archaeological evidence, the literal birthplace of Rome…read more It's where Romulus and Remus were found and raised by a she-wolf, and where excavations have produced proof of human habitation going back to the 10th century BC. Today, it's a sort of outdoor museum, where you can walk around with your jaw on the ground, preferably with the help of a guide (we took a Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseum tour with Crown Tours, which felt essential to the experience). The ruins are astonishing, both up close and from an elevated vantage point. The view from Palatine Hill encompasses ancient and modern Rome and is unlike anything else I've ever seen. If you're a tourist in Rome, do not miss Palatine Hill. It's an extraordinary place, a pleasure to explore, and you can easily add it to your trip to the Colosseum.