Things to do in Rome

About Rome

Rome serves as a living laboratory of Western history, defined by its concentration of ancient ruins and its role as the seat of the Catholic Church. The city center is a dense architectural narrative where the Colosseum [1] stands as the iconic remains of imperial spectacle alongside the Pantheon [16], which features the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome. Visitors can traverse centuries of artistic evolution within the Vatican Museums [202] and the Sistine Chapel [31300]. Its urban layout reflects layers of development, from the Roman Forum [9] to the Renaissance influence seen near the Spanish Steps [32881].

Good to know

1. 1

   Rome is the only city in the world to contain an entire sovereign state, Vatican City, within its administrative borders.

2. 2

   The city's 'Fontanelle' provide free, constant-flow drinking water from ancient aqueducts, a practice dating back to the 19th century.

3. 3

   Rome contains over 900 churches, the highest concentration of religious buildings per capita in the world.

4. 4

   Underground Rome, or 'Sotterraneo', features a vast network of subterranean ruins, ancient pagan temples, and early Christian burial chambers beneath modern street levels.

5. 5

   The city was built on seven hills, which historically served as defensive fortifications for the nascent settlement.