11 Monuments of obligatory visit in Rome (With schedules and prices)
Rome is the capital of Italy, has about 2.8 million inhabitants and an area of 1285 km2. It is located in the western center of the peninsula, crossed by the Tiber and is the only city in the world that has a country, the Vatican’s micro-state.
Its history has more than 2500 years, since its legendary foundation in 753 BC. It was the scene of the most important events in the history of mankind, exerting a great influence on the development of Western history and culture for millennia.
1 - Colosseum
The Colosseum is the largest surviving building of Roman antiquity. It was initiated by the emperor Vespasian in the year 72 and it was inaugurated by his son Tito in 80.
The inauguration was marked by an event, which witnessed the slaughter of 5,000 animals on one day and 100 days of consecutive games thereafter. Fighting with guns lasted for about 500 years, where criminal slaves and gladiators fought each other, or with animals, often to death.
2 - Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was considered the heart of ancient Rome. It is a rectangular square, surrounded by ruins of several public buildings of great cultural importance.
For centuries, this was the site of triumphal ceremonies and elections, the place where public speeches were held, criminal cases, clashes between gladiators and the center of commercial affairs.
3 - Mont Palatine
Mount Palatine is one of the seven hills of Rome, a large open-air museum. It is 70 m high and on its sides were built the Roman Forum and the Circus Maximus.
The name derives from Pales, the God of the shepherds. According to the legend of the foundation of Rome on the Palatine was built the square city of Rómulo.
Times of the Colosseum, Palatine and Roman Forum:
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from the last Sunday of October to February 15
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from February 16 to March 15
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from 16 March to the last Saturday in March
8:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. from the last Sunday of March to August 31
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from 1 September to 30 September
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from 1 October to the last Saturday of October
Tickets are closed one hour before the end of visiting hours.
Price :
Full ticket: € 12
Reduced ticket (includes EU citizens up to 24 years old): € 7.5
Ages up to 18 years: € 0
Colloseu
Tip 1
Tickets for these monuments are purchased together, that is, just a ticket to visit the three monuments. The coliseum, being the best known, generates more queues at the ticket office, our advice is to get the ticket at the ticket office of the Palatino, which is 5 minutes from the Coliseum.
We went to Rome at the Carnival season and there were many more tourists than usual, the queue for the ticket office at the Colosseum was around 1.30am and we took about 15 minutes to get our ticket.
You can buy the tickets online for a further € 4 per person.
Tip 2
If you enter by the queue of the Roman Forum, turn right and again to the right, in the background you will get the best view of Rome to the Colosseum.
4- Fontana Di Trevi
The Fontana di Trevi is one of the most beautiful monuments in Rome.
There is no more pleasant surprise than coming from a small alley and encountering the most famous fountain in town. The first source was built in 1453 by order of Pope Nicholas V, who financed it with a tax on wine.
The present source was initiated by Pope Clement XII in 1732 and finished in 1762. Its name originates in the three roads (tre vie) that are going to give to the square.
Price: Free entrance
Spagna ou Barberini
5- St. Peter's Square and Basilica
The Square and St. Peter’s Basilica are undoubtedly a point of interest in the city of Rome and should not be missed.
This place is a sacred complex, being the spiritual capital of millions of Catholics spread all over the world. Here you can see architecture, design, decoration and art on a monumental scale. When you are inside the basilica and come dozens of people touching the foot of a statue, do not ask yourself more, it is just a homage to St. Peter.
Prices
St. Peter’s Basilica: Free admission
Dome :
Elevator to the terrace plus 320 steps on foot: € 10
Walk up 521 steps: € 8
Vatican Museum
Full ticket: € 16
Reduced ticket (includes young people up to 24 years of age living in the EU): € 8
Schedules
From Monday to Saturday: Admission: 9am – 4pm. Closure of visits at 6:00 p.m.
Days closed: Sundays, except the last of each month (free admission from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and closing visits at 2:00 p.m.), provided it does not coincide with Easter, June 29 (St. Peter and Paul), December 25 or 26 (Christmas or Santo Estéfano).
- January 1 and 6 (2018)
- March 19 (2018)
- April 2 (2018)
- May 1 (2018)
- June 29 (2018)
- August 14 and 15 (2018)
- November 1 (2018)
- December 8, 25 and 26 (2017)
Ottaviano
Tip 3
Most likely when you get to St Peter’s Square you have to stand a huge queue to enter the Basilica, do not despair and be sure to visit it, as it is well worth it and admission is free. The queue is only generated because there has to be a inspection at the entrance, as a security rule, but it is advancing quickly. Enjoy to breathe the environment that is felt in the place and observe all the details.
6- Sant' Angelo Castle
Castel Sant’Angelo is located on the right bank of the Tiber. The castle was once an imperial tomb, a papal city, a medieval prison and an arsenal of weapons. Nowadays, it is a museum with 58 rooms and where one can observe the history of the castle, almost 2000 years old. In front of it stands the bridge of St. Angelo, built in 134 and 199 by the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
Museum Price:
Normal ticket: € 14
Reduced Ticket (includes EU youth up to and including 24 years): € 7
Children under 18 years: Free
Schedules:
From Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. the box office closes at 18:30.
Days closed: Mondays, December 25th and January 1st.
Lepanto
7- Vittorio Emanuel Monument
The monument to Vitor Emanuel, as it is sub-understood by its name, was a monument built in honor of Vittorio Emanuel II, the first king of unified Italy and considered the father of the Italian homeland. It was inaugurated in 1911 and was only completed in 1935.
It is a grandiose monument with its Corinthian columns and made of pure white marble.
Tip 4
The climb to the first floor of the monument is totally free and you can have a panoramic view of the city. The entrance is made by the street that goes against the coliseum and has to climb a small staircase, but believe me … it’s worth it!
Manzoni
8- Pantheon
The Roman Pantheon is a temple and a church and is considered the largest complete Roman structure that survived until today, built by Emperor Hadrian between 118 and 128. It is located in Piazza della Rotonda.
Price: Free
Schedules
- From Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- From Sunday 9am to 6pm.
- On holidays during the week from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Days closed: January 1, May 1 and December 25.
9- Piazza Campi de Fiori
The Flower Square in english is located in the center of Rome and every day of the week, except for Sunday, there is one of the biggest markets in Rome, flowers and food are sold.
In the middle of the square there is a statue, erected in 1881, in honor of the philosopher Giordano Bruno, burned alive in that place on February 17, 1600, for having affirmed, just as Galileo and Galilei, that the Earth revolved around the Sun and Not the other way around.
10- Piazza de Navona
Piazza Navona is one of the most celebrated squares in Rome.
Its shape resembles the old stadiums of ancient Rome, which had a capacity of 20,000 people sitting on the benches.
The square has two fountains carved by Giacomo della Porta- a Fontana di Nettuno (1574), in the northern area of the square, and the Fontana del Moro (1576), in the southern area.
11 - Piazza de Spagna
The Plaza de España is known for its famous staircase leading to the church Trinità dei Monti. Its name is a reference to the Palazzo di Spagna.
The monumental staircase, with 135 steps, was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XIII. In the center of the square is the Fontana della Barcacia, from the early years of Baroque, sculpted by Pedro Bernini and his son Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
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