Historic places in Rome that stand the test of time

Once you’ve taken a trip down the Renaissance lane at the Vatican Museums and savoured the authentic pizza margherita with classic mozzarella cheese, where to go next?

Each and every bit of Rome is more than meets the eye. The small cafe in Piazza Colonna you had coffee in, the statue of God Oceanus you barely paid attention to while throwing coins in the Trevi fountain, the famous mastu nicola pizza you had in Pizzeria Port’Alba, and everything else has stories that date back to times unknown. If this is true, then what about the de facto historical landmarks that have existed for ages in a country whose history traverses almost 28 centuries?

Mildly intrigued? Here we pick the best in Rome’s historical places to visit, for the history buff in you.

Historical Places to visit in Rome

1. Colosseum

The largest amphitheatre ever to be built, Colosseum, is also the most recognizable icon in Rome. The frenzied cheers and clanking armours that once filled the Colosseum now stays limited to the pages of history, nonetheless, the ruins and remnants of this building speak volume about the unspoken history of this place.

Location: Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

2. Baths of Caracalla

Built with marble, tuff, pozzolana and limestone, the Baths of Caracalla were Rome’s second-largest public baths (!!). Formed during AD 212’s and remaining operational until AD 530’s, the Caracalla baths were the common hangout place where ancient Romans would meet and share stories. You would be surprised at the great deal of effort the medieval artists and sculptors have put into constructing “public baths”.

Location: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

3. Pantheon

Pantheon was intended to be the worship place of all gods when it was built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Apollodorus of Damascus, famous architect of medieval Roman times, built this awe-inspiring rotunda comprising several giant columns supporting a massive central dome. Pantheon is itself a piece of art.

Location: Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

4. Arch of Titus

Overlooking the iconic Roman Forum, Arch of Titus will go unnoticed if not paid attention. This humble piece of art explored the trend-setting bas-relief structure in its times, and it denotes an incidence of crucial importance in Rome’s history — the demolition of Jerusalem by Titus during the first Jewish-Roman war in 70 CE.

Location: Via Sacra, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

5. Roman Forum

Could have been a marketplace, ancient books say so. Some even call it a vibrant centrepiece of entertainment centres, shopping areas and sacred basilicas. While each and every piece of this iconic forum is significant, the massive podium of Rostra is in a league of its own. Wonder why? It’s here where Mark Antony deliver his famous speech of “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears”.

Location: Via della Salara Vecchia, 5/6, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Also Read: Top things to do in Rome for history buffs

6. Arch of Constantine

The Arch of Constantine was erected in AD 312 alongside the Colosseum as a grand acclamation of the victory of Emperor Constantine in the battle of Milvian Bridge. Visit during the evening and you can come back with more than history and architecture. A gorgeous view of the sunset and a cup of cafe noisette in the ornate cafes nearby.

Location: Via di San Gregorio, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

7. Capitoline Museums

Capitoline Museums has a huge collection of Rome’s archaic treasures and souvenirs that will surely stand the test of time to come. The location of the museum is itself a piece of art, the Capitoline Hill, which is one of the seven Roman hills. From Michelangelo to Bernini, the Capitoline Museums hosts the masterpieces of many world-renowned artists.

Location: Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Soak up the history of Rome by booking your vacation from these handpicked Rome holiday packages.

Akshaya Devi

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Scared of driving in Chennai traffic but also planning a solo bike trip to Ladakh. Don't be surprised if you find me all hyper, someone somewhere in the world must've misquoted Martin Scorcese or justified a bad coffee saying "C'mon, coffee is coffee".

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