Rome. The most visited places

Rome

Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio region. it is also the country's largest and most populated comune and fourth most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. Rome’s history spans two and half thousand years. No other city comes close. It may no longer be capital of the world, but Rome is an epic, bubbling-over metropolis harboring lost empires.

Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museum and the Colosseum are amongst the world's 50 most visited tourist destinations.

The most visited places in Rome are:

 Colosseum

1) The Colosseum Arguably one of Rome's most famous and iconic monuments, it is one of the Roman world's biggest amphitheaters. It is regarded as being a wonder of the medieval world. The Colosseum today is now a major tourist attraction in Rome with thousands of tourists each year paying to view the interior arena, though entrance for EU citizens is partially subsidized, and under-18 and over-65 EU citizens' entrances are free. There is now a museum dedicated to Eros located in the upper floor of the outer wall of the building. Part of the arena floor has been re-floored. 

Pantheon

2) Pantheon  is a classical building in the city, originally built by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt in the early 2nd century AD. A near-contemporary writer, Cassius Dio, speculates that the name comes from the statues of many gods placed around the building, or from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens. It is one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings. It has been in continuous use throughout its history, and since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs" but informally known as "Santa Maria della Rotonda". The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda.

Trevi Fountain 

3) Trevi Fountain was designed and completed in the 18th century. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most beautiful in the world. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome or supposed to bring good luck. The central figure of the fountain, in front of a large niche, is Neptune, god of the sea. He is riding a chariot in the shape of a shell, pulled by two sea horses. Triton guides each sea horse. One of the horses is calm and obedient, the other one restive. They symbolize the fluctuating moods of the sea. On the left hand side of Neptune is a statue representing Abundance, the statue on the right represents Salubrity. Above the sculptures are bas-reliefs; one of them shows Agrippa, the general, who built the aqueduct that carries water to the fountain.

Sistine Chapel

4) Sistine Chapel Found in the Vatican City, it contains a huge collection of several paintings from all periods, and is Rome's leading and most visited chapel. It was painted by Michelangelo.
Due to the extraordinary talents of Michelangelo, the Sistine Chapel has become one of the most famous art displays in the western world. The famous Sistine ceiling depicts scenes from Genesis in striking detail, and The Last Judgment on the chapel's end wall is equally dramatic. In addition to these famous artworks, the side walls are festooned with frescoes of Moses and Christ and portraits of popes. The middle part of the walls has 12 large paintings called frescoes, done by famous artists in 1481. 

Roman Forum

5) The Roman Forum  the centre of the city's politics and business at the time. The main sight of the Forum include the Arch of Titus (Arco di Tito), the Temple of Saturn, Temple of Vesta, and the church of San Luca e Martina. These are all linked by the Sacra Via, the main road through the Forum. The Forum was the marketplace of Rome and also the business district and civic center. It was expanded to include temples, a senate house and law courts. When the Roman Empire fell, the Forum became forgotten, buried and was used as a cattle pasture during the Middle Ages. Much of the forum has been destroyed. Columns and stone blocks are all that remain of some temples.

Saint Peter's Basilica

6) Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world. Found in the Vatican city, it is near where the Pope resides, and it is one of the most important centres for Christian pilgrimage, and is commonly regarded as the "home of the Roman Catholic Church" The Pieta (1498–1499) housed in St. Peter’s Basilica is a masterpiece of  Michelangelo Buonarroti. Saint Peter's tomb is under the main altar and many other popes are buried in the basilica as well. Originally founded by Constantine in 324, Saint Peter's Basilica was rebuilt in the 16th century by Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini.