Rome is a city that needs no explanation. For history-lovers, Rome, also known as the Eternal City, is the pinnacle of cities to visit and is one of my favourite destinations in Europe. Founded in 753 BC, Rome has nearly over 2,700 years of history to be explored. So much of what happened in Rome has shaped our modern, western society and it feels like every corner you turn has a new historical aspect to discover. Whether you’re looking for emperors, gladiators, art, architecture, religious history or culinary delights, Rome is a city that is unlikely to disappoint. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands of historical things to do in Rome, but to help guide your trip, below I’ve listed 10 of my favourites historical things to do in Rome, Italy.
1. Visit the centre of gladiatorial combat at the Roman Colosseum.
As one of the most recognizable historical sites in Europe, the Roman Colosseum should definitely be on your list of places to visit. The building of the Colosseum began in the year 72 CE, as a gift to the Roman people after quite a tumultuous time in the city’s history. It officially opened to the public in the year 80 CE and was the largest amphitheatre in the Roman world. The Colosseum opened with 100 days of games, which included gladiatorial combat. Gladiatorial combat, which first started as a part of a funeral cemetery, quickly became a form of entertainment that would see gladiators fight to the death against animals, criminals and other gladiators. It is believed these fights took place in the Colosseum up until the mid-5th century.
The Colosseum has suffered a fair amount of decay over the centuries, but thanks to preservation works, the public is still able to visit. You can go inside, walk around the amphitheatre or even book a tour that takes you underground beneath the arena. It’s rare to see a building that is nearly 2,000 years old and standing on the inside is very impressive. Just remember to book your tickets in advance and be prepared for lineups as it can be very busy, especially in the summer season!
2. Explore the hub of Ancient Rome at the Roman Forum.
Right next to the Colosseum is another fascinating example of Roman architecture. The Roman Forum was the city centre of Ancient Rome and is believed to date back to the founding of Rome around 500 BC. It would have been the centre of social, political and religious life where a number of society’s activities and events would have taken place. The forum consists of both buildings and ruins from the old city, and even though some are ruins, they come together to give a real city-like feeling. Just a few of the things you can see include the Curia Julia (the Roman Senate House built by Julius Caesar), the Arch of Titus (the inspiration of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris), and the Temple of Saturn, whose tall columns are one of the more recognizable images of the Roman Forum.
I think the Roman Forum was my favourite attraction in all of Rome. I was surprised because it’s probably not as familiar as sites like the Colosseum or the Vatican. But as a history student who spent years studying Ancient Rome, it was fascinating to be at the centre of where it all happened and it is as close as you can get to revisiting the old Eternal City. Entrance to the Roman Forum is included in your ticket to the Colosseum, so make sure you check it out after visiting the amphitheatre.
3. Explore one of the oldest areas of the city on Palatine Hill.
In addition to the Roman Forum, your ticket to the Colosseum also gets you admission to Palatine Hill. As one of the oldest parts of the city, Palatine Hill is the place where Rome began. Roman mythology claims that twins Romulus and Remus were found by a she-wolf and nursed in a cave on Palatine Hill. They were eventually found by a shepherd and later decided to establish a city on the hill where they had been rescued as young children. Tensions eventually grew between the brothers which led to Romulus killing Remus and seizing power for himself. The city of “Rome” was then named after him.
Today, there are a number of interesting sites and ruins to explore on Palatine Hill. One of the most impressive sites is the ruins of the Stadium of Domitian, a large stadium built around 80 AD that was primarily used for athletics competitions. From Palatine Hill, you can also look out over the Circus Maximus, the largest stadium in ancient Rome that was used for chariot races.
4. Try the mouthwatering Italian food and drink.
You can’t beat fresh, local Italian food and Rome has countless amazing restaurants to eat in. There are lots of delicious, traditional Italian foods that are said to come from Rome and you could easily eat your way through the city’s culinary history. I love eating pasta while in Rome and traditional pasta dishes that come from the city include Carbonara as well as Cacio e Pepe, which is believed to be one of the oldest dishes. And if you’re looking for something really historical, you can visit La Campana, which is believed to be the oldest restaurant in Rome, with a history that dates back over 500 years.
It was also the Romans who are credited with globalizing wine and nothing goes better with a delicious Italian meal than a tasty glass of Italian wine. You can also visit a historic wine bar, such as Ai Tre Scalini, which is located not far from the Trevi Fountain and has a history that dates back to 1895.
5. Explore a completely separate nation-state in Vatican City.
Vatican City is the headquarters of the Holy See and has been one of the most historically important places for Christianity for centuries. The history dates back to the 4th century, when Emperor Constantine I began to construct a basilica over the grave of St. Peter on the site. The area grew as a site of religious significance and pilgrimmage and in the 9th century, the wall around the city was completed to protect it. In 1929, Vatican City became its own nation-state, which means you are technically visiting a different country while within its walls (yup… one more you can check off the bucket list!). In 1984, Vatican City was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Whether you’re visiting for the religious history or more for the art and architecture, Vatican City is an interesting place to see. I would recommend visiting St. Peter’s Basilica, located in the Piazza San Pietro. The current Renaissance-style building has replaced the original basilica on site. You can also tour the Vatican Museums which houses a vast collection of artworks and religious artifacts from throughout history. The highlight of the Vatican Museums was seeing the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo famously painted his masterpiece. If planning on visiting the museum, just be prepared that the lineups are often extremely long… so it’s good to be organized and book tickets in advance if possible.
6. Marvel at the Pantheon
The Pantheon is another popular tourist site, well-known for its towering Corinthian columns. Located in the Piazza della Rotonda, it’s often referred to as one of the most well-preserved buildings from Ancient Rome. There were two previous Pantheon buildings on the site, both which unfortunately burnt down. The current building was rebuilt during the time of the Emperor Hadrian in the early 2nd century. The Pantheon was originally believed to have been built as a Roman temple, although it was converted into a Christian church in the 7th century.
Today, the Pantheon is still a Catholic church, which is also referred to as Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres. Visitors are able to go inside (although just note that reservations are typically required on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) and see where a mass is still held. There are also a number of notable individuals buried in the Pantheon, including the Italian Renaissance painter Raphael.
7. Hang out in the beautiful Piazza Navona.
One of my favourite things to do in Rome is wander around the many piazzas, which are public squares located all over the city. The Piazza Navona is one of the most popular squares in Rome and is always bustling with life. The square dates back to the 1st century and is where Romans would have gone to watch athletics competitions (hence its original name Circus Agonalis). There were quite a few Baroque features added to Piazza Navona in the 17 century, which makes for a great mix of historical things to see.
The most famous features in the Piazza Navona are the three fountains, the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, Fontana del Moro and the Fontana di Nettuno. You can also see buildings such as the remains of the Stadium of Domitian (which have been uncovered among the more recent buildings) and the 16th century Palazzo Torres. Not everyone comes to the Piazza Navona for the history however, and there are also a number of shops and restaurants to enjoy.
8. Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain.
9. Walk across the Pons Fabricius, the oldest bridge in Rome.
Built in 62 BCE, Pons Fabricius is the oldest bridge in Rome. The bridge crosses the Tiber river, connecting the land east of the river to Tiber Island. The bridge pretty much looks like it would have when it was constructed, thanks to restoration works that have taken place over the years. It’s rare to see something constructed over 2,000 years ago that is in such good condition so definitely worth a visit. It’s also worth walking over the bridge to explore the streets of Tiber Island, the only river island in the Roman part of the river. On the island you can visit the Basilica di San Bartolomeo all’Isola, a Baroque church that is said to contain relics of St. Bartholomew the Apostle.
10. Climb the Spanish steps.
The Spanish Steps are located in the Piazza di Spagna and is one of the busiest areas on Rome. The steps were commissioned to be built by a French diplomat in the 1720s, with the purpose of linking the Trinità dei Monti church (owned by the French State) at the top of the stairs, with the Piazza di Spagna (the Square of Spain) at the bottom. The actual name of the staircase is the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti, but the steps have taken on their English name due to the fact that the square was the location of the Spanish Embassy to the Holy See during the 17th century.
The staircase consists of 138 steps that climb a steep slope and provide an excellent opportunity for people watching. Visitors used to be able to sit on the steps and watch the world go by, however this was banned a couple of years ago (so just make sure you don’t sit down!). There’s also a few other historical sites to see around the steps, including the Fontana della Barcaccia (a Baroque-style fountain located at the bottom of the steps) as well as the Keats-Shelley House, a museum dedicated to English romantic poets, and is the house English writer John Keats died in 1821 at the young age of 25.
Bonus Tip: Take a bus tour of Rome to see all of the sites you might not have time to visit.
I’ll leave you with a bonus tip that I found very useful while visiting Rome (and many other cities with a large number of historical attractions). While it’s great to try and squeeze in as much as you can, I am also a fan of doing fewer, bigger, better attractions if you have a limited amount of time. I sometimes find that if I try to squeeze too much in, I don’t really take things in properly and I prefer to really enjoy and experience an attraction while I’m there. In Rome, I found taking a trip on one of the hop-on, hop-off buses was a great way to see many of the sites that I didn’t necessarily have the time to visit individually. Often when I go to a new city, I’ll take a trip on the hop-on, hop-off bus first, and then decide which sites I want to go back and visit. I recommend taking a look at the City Sightseeing Rome bus where you can book up to a 72-hour ticket. Bus tours are also a great way to get information about particular attractions and areas and are a an easy way to travel around the city.
This article’s information was last updated in August 2022.