Author: Leigh Williams
The Eternal City of Rome is without doubt one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Below you will find a selection of the most interesting tourists sights, all of which are a must-see if you are coming to visit the city:
Colosseum (Metro Station: Colosseo)
Synonymous with Rome, the impressive Colosseum is usually the number one must see for tourists in Rome. Building of this great structure began around 70 AD under the instruction of Emperor Vespasian. However, it was not completed until 80 AD during the reign of Emperor Titus. Initially, the Colosseum was used for public events, such as gladiator matches, mock sea battles, executions and animal hunts. But the use of the Colosseum for public events ceased during the Medieval era and nowadays it only hosts a few very important Catholic ceremonies. Through the ages the building has been badly damaged, but it still remains as the iconic monument of Rome. Just adjacent to the Colosseum is the Roman Forum which was the political centre, as well as the main trade area of Ancient Rome; this is an amazing place to stroll through and well-worth a visit.
Saint Peter's Basilica (Metro Station: S. Pietro/Musei Vaticani)
This tourist site is of course technically located in the Vatican. Home to the Catholic Church and the Pope, it is one of the most visited basilicas in the world and at the same time, also a mecca for Catholics from around the world. The site is said to be where Peter - the apostle who is considered the first pope - was crucified and buried and there was a basilica marking his grave since 324 AD. It was not until the 15th century that the current version of the basilica was constructed and throughout the centuries there have been major contributions and alterations made by Bramante, Sangallo, Michelangelo and Bernini. Today it has the largest interior of any Christian church with a capacity of 60,000 people. As well as the interesting Vatican Museums you will also find Michelangelo's beautiful Sistine Chapel here.
Trevi Fountain (Metro Station: Barberini)
This stunning Baroque fountain is one of the largest and most beautiful in the city. It stands at 25.9 metres high and 19.8 metres wide. The fountain was completed in 1762 by Giuseppe Pannini who took over the design and construction from Nicola Salvi after his death. Salvi in turn had used several features previously designed by Bernini who drew the original design sketches 100 years earlier. As it is a busy tourist sight, be prepared for the crowds no matter what time of the day you visit. And don't forget, as the saying goes, if you want to return to Rome, you should throw a coin backwards into the fountain!