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.

Any student of history will appreciate the Roman forum which was the center for the majority of all…read morethe official and major activities that incurred in ancient Rome to include speeches, debate, gladiator fights in some instances, and even the return of victorious armies and new Caesars that you see in so many movies. When I saw the ruins and what was left of the forum I had assumed that this magnificent epicenter of old Rome had been ransacked and destroyed when the Roman empire fell. In fact and unfortunately, it's slowly fell into disrepair and ruins the direct result of lack of maintenance and care by the Roman people and government over time. In addition to the remaining structural ruins and statues that currently reside here you will find placards scattered about these ruins that explain the history of the forum and what each significant ruin stood for and was used for. Very educational and not to be missed as this clearly was one of the most significant ancient centers of the old world.

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!

While visiting Roma , this was one of our stops. No time to…read morevisit inside since our time was limited as our stop in Roma was during our Mediterranean cruise. Beautiful structure on the outside so grand, it's nice to see one of these days maybe next time we will be able to go inside.

Buy a ticket online before you come, since we went by several times and there was always a long…read moreline. If you already have your online ticket, there was a very short line to the left to get inside. The Pantheon was built originally as a Roman temple and later changed into a church in the 7th century, so it is one of the best preserved ancient buildings in Rome. The Oculus, circular opening at the top of the dome lets in light and rain. The ceiling above is a work of art. Statues and art around the perimeter also delight the eyes. You can even pray at the pews in front of the altar. Inside, tombs of Raphael, Victor Emmanuel II, and Umberto I and others. Next to the Sistine Chapel, this was one of the most crowded places we visited.

Fontana di Trevi, we meet again!…read more First time around I recall being delighted being close to the water and looking up at the sculptures. Magnificent in every way, no doubt that it's one of the most beautiful man-made fountains in world. Seeing the sheer number of coins in the fountain, I remember thinking surely it's not marginal how much change is thrown daily given the crowds! This time to Rome I came twice, once early afternoon, another time early evening, both times on a weekend. It's so much more crowded now compared to more than a decade ago, if you're not comfortable being shoulder to shoulder with several hundred other people in a small square, then try to come during less busy hours. I can understand why starting last year they instituted a small fee €2 to get up to the front during the peak hours of 9am to 10pm. The line moved fairly quickly. During off-peak hours you can make your way up close without the fee and it's less crowded more so in the early morning. I'm making a mental note to arrive at 7am to both Trevi and the Spanish Steps next time to avoid the congestion!

There's a reason everyone wants to visit the Trevi Fountain, and it's quickly evident why as soon…read moreas you see it in person. It's completely magnificent and majestic. We saw it both at night and during the day, and each time brought with it a different kind of beauty. We were here in the winter, so the crowds were significantly smaller during the day. And when we came early in the morning, there were only a handful of people there, and it was like we had the entire fountain to ourselves. They were charging the €2 euro yet for the lower access while we were there, but having seen the Trevi up close, I'd definitely recommend paying to get that much closer.

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.]

The Piazza della Repubblica is beautiful at night and during the day. Highly recommend doing a bus…read moretour at some point in your visit so that you can capture images and relax as you pass by several highlighted points of interest. There is no cost to see the fountain; however, if you do a bus tour, there is a slight fee but it is good all day. The Piazza isn't overly crowded; however, if viewing from the bus, you will want to be on top in the open air - which can be a hit/miss for crowds. This is great for people that want to see the points of interest in Rome.

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!