Top 10 places to visit in Rome, Italy (part 2/2)

This is the second part of our story on Top 10 places to visit in Rome. If you just stumbled upon this page, read also the first part on 5 places to visit in Rome that I posted earlier. There are in fact many more attractions you should visit or see in Rome, if you have sufficient time. How much time is sufficient for one to explore Rome in full? Perhaps 2 weeks is too short for some, or 2 days is too long for others? Both are true. It would be luxurious for many to have plenty of time to explore each and every corner of the city in details. Instead, most travelers have limited time and money to stay in Rome much longer. So, a handful pick of the top 10 destinations of my choice can perhaps be a reference for travelers who have only a couple of days in Rome.

6)Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna is perhaps the most crowded area in Rome at all time, especailly in the evening when tourists and local Italians gather and relax on staircase steps of the Spanish Steps while enjoying the evening hours. Located at the Eastern end of the popular upmarket shopping street of Via dei condotti in Northern Rome city centre, Spanish Steps is a monumental stairway of 135 steps, built in 1725 in order to link the Bourbon Spanish embassy at the piazza, with the Bourbon French church on top of hill above.

7) Colosseum

The Coloseum is an amphitheatre used as gladiatorial contests during Roman Empire age. It was the biggest stadium ever built in Roman history in 1st century which could fit 50,000 spectators at one time! Many parts of the structure are already damaged over times and major restoration works were being done to certain part of the building. It is the icon of Rome and no visit to Rome would be complete without taking a close look at it. Long queue should be expected for entering into the Colosseum to look at the relics of the stage and audience seating. It is located in the Historic centre of Rome in Colosseo district.

8) Roman Forum

Being the political, legal and religious centre of the whole Roman Empire, Roman Forum is one of the most important historical ruins found in the valley in between Palatine Hills and the Colosseum. It was in early centuries the center of Roman public life where triumphal processions, elections, public speeches, criminal trials, gladiatorial matches, and nucleus of commercial affairs were carried out. Today, ruins of architectural fragments from those ancient period are excavated and left on the original site. Roman Forum is part of the World heritage site of Historic centre of Rome. Admission is chargeable nowadays, albeit a combined ticket for Colesseum, Forum and Palatine Hills would be a better option to avoid the long queue with fast access lane.

9) Trajan Forum

Trajan Forum is another ruin site of the ancient Roman square located along via dei Fori Imperiali near the Vittorio Emanuele II. It is chronologically the last of the Imperial forum being built during Roman Empire in 106 – 112AD. There were Basilica Ulpia and 2 libraries recorded to be within the forum. The dominant feature of the forum is the 30m high Trajan Column, built in the 2nd centuries. It can easily be noticed at road side if you stroll down the street from Colosseum, so no entrance fees is required.

10)Basilica of St. Mary Major

Basilica of Saint Mary Major, or Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, is the largest Roman Catholic Marian church in Rome. It was built under Pope Sixtus III in between 432-440AD. This Roman style architecture demonstrates the greatness of ancient Roman architects and artists with incredibly beautiful mosaic design of Late Antique art internally. Many people wander around the outside piazza of this church every evening. It is located close to the Rome Terminal if you come from via Geoberti road. If you stay around the train terminal as I did, Basilica of Saint Mary Major should be your landmark to return back to your hotel after long hours of city exploration each day.

These wrapped up the top 10 places to visit in Rome (together with the 1st part). Hope you like it and it has helped you one way or the other in planning your travel to Rome. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide to Europe

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.