Can't-Miss Cultural Attractions in Rome

By Megan Hills

Bask in the glory of Roman creativity with the best cultural attractions in Rome below.

With thousands of years of history, including being the centre of the Roman Empire, it's no surprise that Rome is full of incredible architectural structures, each with their own story to tell. We've scoured the city to find some of the capital's best landmarks you won't want to miss, from mausoleums and historical museums to ancient Roman sites and more,

National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo has had many lives as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, a papal fortress, prison, and now finally as a historical museum open to the Roman public. This stark structure owes its name to a vision that Pope Gregory the Great had, in which the Archangel Michael appeared to him on top of Hadrian's tomb, sheathing his sword to signal the end of a plague. A sculpture of the Archangel now sits atop the museum. With an impressive permanent collection of medieval relics, paintings and sculptures, it's a great way to experience and learn about Rome's long tradition of culture and military excellence.

Capitoline Museums

Seen in films such as The Talented Mr. Ripley, these archeological museums are testament to the enduring power of ancient Roman art. Spread across three buildings and a piazza designed by Michelangelo, it has persisted as a significant site of Roman creativity since 1471. It features many beautiful works such as a symbolic bronze statue of The She-Wolf, who plays an important role in Rome's origin myth in which she raised the city's founders Romulus and Remus.

The Coliseum

This gigantic circular structure has captured the imaginations of people worldwide, with complex theatrical performances alongside violent gladiator battles taking place on its stage. At 2000 years old, the landmark continues to stand and remains a must-visit for visitors to Rome who can learn about its history and dive into its network of underground tunnels for more exhibits.

MAXXI

While Rome might be best known for its historical architecture and Renaissance works, the contemporary art museum MAXXI shines a light on the best in Italian contemporary art. Designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid, its exhibits showcase the best in modern art and architecture and is a refreshing break from centuries-old works.

Sistine Chapel

Venture into the Vatican City and make your way to one of Michelangelo's greatest artistic accomplishments - the Sistine Chapel. With breathtaking hand-painted ceiling frescoes depicting The Last Judgment and works by Botticelli lining its walls, it's not only a significant religious site but a cultural one worth seeing.

Roman Forum

See the legacy of ancient architecture at the Roman Forum, which was formerly a collection of buildings including a marketplace, the House of Augustus (home to Julius Caesar's heir) and the Temple of Romulus. While it's mainly in ruins, the remains of its frescoes, pillars and architecture still remains incredible to witness.

Borghese Gallery

See the works of artistic virtuosos Caravaggio, Botticelli and Raphael at the Borghese Gallery, a converted villa which now serves as one of Rome's most beautiful museums. Comprised mainly of the Borghese family's personal collection which includes hundreds of sculptures and paintings, it's an oasis of calm away from the hustle of Rome and its grounds boast stunning gardens.

Vatican Museums

Located just a stone's throw from the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums are a site of great importance for the Catholic tradition as well as the art world. With exhibits dedicated to the history of the Vatican City as well as a 9 mile long collection of artwork dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, its most noted for its sublime Raphael rooms by the entrance with frescoes by Raphael and Michelangelo.

Museum of Rome

Discover the artistic history of Italy's capital at the Museum of Rome, located in the halls of the Palazzo Braschi. Not only is the structure a stunning example of Roman Baroque architecture, its exhibits chart the course of Rome's continually evolving creative scene from the Middle Ages to 20th Century.

Keats-Shelley House

Take a break from art history and dive into the world of literature. Rome was beloved by the famous Romantic poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats, the latter of whom made Rome his final resting place at the age of 25. Keats' modest dwellings have since been transformed into a museum with the most extensive collection of works, letters, paintings and memorabilia relating to the two literary greats in the world.
Megan Hills

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Woman photographing St Peter's Basilica in Rome
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Best Time to Visit Rome for Weather

When planning a visit to Rome, there are a few things you should consider *besides* all those bucket-list Roman relics you want to tick off. That’s right: we’re talking about the weather. Rome’s location in west-central Italy means a generally warm climate with all the usual peaks and troughs of temperature you’d expect from a Mediterranean country in southern Europe. So what’s the best time to visit Rome for weather? Read on for our guide to all the seasonal pros and cons. Planning to spend a few days in town? The Omnia Vatican & Rome Pass can save you money when on attractions, activities and tours, including the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Circo Maximo Experience. Best Time to Visit Rome: Spring No point beating about the bush: Rome’s spring season is hands-down the most pleasant time of year to visit. In terms of weather, average highs in March start in the low 60s, rising to the balmy mid-70s by late May, and rainfall is relatively low, so you won’t have to carry an umbrella everywhere you go. Perfect conditions, in other words, for city sightseeing: cool enough for pounding the pavements for several hours and being exposed to the midday sun at open-air bucket-listers like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, but warm enough (most definitely warm enough) to justify that daily gelato. As the city shakes off the relative chill of winter, so the streets begin to fill with a thousand colorful blooms, presenting yet another fine reason to visit in spring. Stroll the streets for Insta-tastic snaps of pink cherry blossoms, purple wisteria and clouds of yellow mimosa, and don’t miss the pink azaleas that line the Spanish Steps in April and May. This is also when the sprawling Vatican Gardens are at their blooming best. And those clear spring skies don’t half make a great backdrop for souvenir snaps of the dome of St Peter’s either. Best Time to Visit Rome: Summer Sightseeing masochists may well relish the searing temperatures, madding crowds and infuriating attraction queues during the height of Rome’s summer season, but it can feel a little unpleasant to most normal people. June through August is peak season in the Eternal City, when average temperatures sit in the upper 70s/lower 80s, but have been known to top out as high as 108°F, not exactly the most comfortable conditions for stomping up Capitoline Hill or the Spanish Steps (all 135 of them, each more sweaty than the last). Having said all that, summer can be a great time to enjoy Rome’s great expanses of green space without the risk of a surprise downpour to ruin your picnic. We’re talking the wooded glades, leafy lanes and tranquil pools of historic Villa Borghese and the beautiful botanical gardens in Trastevere, among others. Then of course there are all those excellent rooftop bars, perfect for summer sunsets and Campari cocktails. Not to mention the people-watching opportunities afforded by the crowds that pour through Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna, with a dripping gelato in hand, natch. Don’t miss the chance to catch the historic Teatro dell’Opera in its temporary summer home: the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla. It’s quite the atmospheric location for performances of La Traviata, Aida and the rest. Best Time to Visit Rome: Fall The temperature in Rome drops fairly rapidly in the fall, but not unpleasantly so. You can still reasonably expect September and October averages in the mid-to-high 60s, dropping down to the mid-to-high 50s by November. But what we’re really talking about is warm, comfortable days with slightly cooler evenings and an increased chance of rain: three out of four of Rome’s wettest months are in fall (the wettest, by some margin, follows in December). With peak season done and dusted and kids back in school, there are also plenty of hotel and flight bargains to be had at this time of year, and you won’t have to worry quite as much about booking all your tours months in advance nor queuing outside attractions like the Pantheon, Colosseum and St Peter’s Basilica for hours at a time. The fall’s pleasant climate makes it a great time for exploring the Appian Way. Pack a picnic of market cheeses, cured meats and fresh bread (and a light raincoat, just in case) and strike out along this ancient road, which remains largely unchanged since Julius Caesar marched his armies up it a couple millennia ago. A rented bicycle will give you the freedom to cover way more of this fine cobbled avenue than you could manage on foot in one day, allowing plenty of time to explore the numerous ancient monuments that lie beyond the lofty pines. Best Time to Visit Rome: Winter It will come as little surprise to European weather watchers that Rome’s winter season, from December to February, is its coldest and wettest. So yeah, you can forget balmy afternoons in Villa Borghese and sun-soaked selfies on the Spanish Steps for now; this is not the best time to visit Rome if fine weather is top of your wish list. If, on the other hand, you thrill to the promise of long afternoons gorging on hot chocolate and panettone in atmospheric cafes like the landmark Antico Caffè Greco on Via dei Condotti, or Caffè Sant’Eustachio between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, your luck’s in. December is also, of course, Christmas market season, and boy does Rome go to town on its yuletide festivities. A Christmas tree festooned with hundreds of fairy lights towers over Piazza Navona throughout the season, as the city’s biggest and best Christmas market gets underway. Wander from this artisan craft stall to that roasted chestnut hawker, drinking in the joyful atmosphere, riding the old-fashioned carousel, joining the carol singers in full festive song, and sipping warming mugs of mulled wine, a drink that was in fact invented by the ancient Romans. Magical. Save on attractions in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with the Vatican and Rome Omnia Pass. Check out @omniavaticanrome on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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Top Things to Do in Rome this Easter

Visiting Rome at Easter is one of the best times to go to the Eternal City; not only because the weather is usually at its most pleasant with warmer days, longer evenings and lots of sun, but the city is awash with festive cheer for Easter. The city’s events centre around this religious celebration and Italy makes a week of it; from over-the-top flower displays, to emotional masses here’s a list of top things to do in Rome for the first weekend of April. Procession at the Coliseum If you’re in Rome for Good Friday make sure you head down to the Coliseum from 9.15pm. This is where it all kicks off! An unbeatable venue, the iconic Coliseum plays host to Pope Francis who will lead the Stations of the Cross, which involves burning huge torches, a crucifix whilst reading blessings. It's one of Rome's most important annual events and has been practiced since 1774 to honour the martyrs who were killed in ancient times. It’s a truly moving sight and one well worth a watch. Easter Mass at St Peter’s Basilica The Vatican City holds a series of masses from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday, but if you can’t make the week before hold out for April 5th for Easter Sunday Mass. A hugely popular and ticketed event it’s free but you need to pre-book in advance. The whole of St Peter’s Square is filled with chairs and screens to broadcast this iconic mass to the masses. If you’re not involved, we recommend you avoid the area as it will be very busy with people heading to the event which will kick off at 10.15am and you won't be able to see much else! Pasquetta Pasquetta, meaning Little Easter, is a celebrated holiday on Easter Monday, or in Italian, Lunedi dell’Angelo. It’s a day when everyone has a feast, or usually a picnic, and heads out to the countryside or seaside to celebrate with their families. If you fancy doing the same, Ostia is just a train ride away from Piramide, where you can walk along Rome’s most popular beach; or the archeological site of Ostia Antica, included in the Roma Pass, is a great place to go for the ancient ruins that date back to 3rd century BC. Take a picnic with you and any leftover Easter eggs for a spontaneous hunt! Fireworks at Castel Sant’Angelo On Pasquetta, Easter Monday, you can also enjoy a magnificent and explosive display of fireworks at the iconic Castel Sant’Angelo on the banks of the River Tiber. Not many attractions in Rome have such an impressive and jaw-dropping background, with the dome of St Peter’s Basilica one side and the ancient bridge and city’s main river to another. This mausoleum to Emperor Hadrian was built in 136 AD and is one of Rome’s most iconic landmarks. Enjoy a stunning display of fireworks to culminate the Holy Week – but check with your concierge for the exact start time. Flowers Rome comes alive with vibrant blooms in the spring; the parks are visited by picnickers and roller-bladers and before the heavy heat descends in the summer it’s wonderful season to be outside and enjoy everything the city has to offer. If you’re not too fussed about the religious side of the Easter period, it’s still a great time to visit Rome. The Spanish Steps are decorated by hundreds of lilies and rhododendrons (the big pink ones!) which makes for a beautiful selfie shot. If you’re staying a bit longer, make sure you visit Rome’s Rose Garden on the Aventine Hill, near Circus Maximus, which contains over 1100 varieties of roses from all around the world opening on the 21st April. Complement your visit to Rome with an OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass - the all-inclusive sightseeing pass including free, fast track and discounted entry into the top attractions, saving you time and money. Plus the Rome Pass covers all your transport needs with a three day travelcard.
Go City Expert
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A Rome area guide: where to book your Bed and Breakfast

Rome in recent years has become a much more hospitable place to visit in terms of the quality of where to stay. So much so B&B and apartment rentals are now considered a popular - and often preferred - alternative to traditional hotels, too. The list of places to visit in Rome can seem quite daunting and can leave some holiday-makers none-the-wiser when choosing where to book. That’s where the team at Bed & Breakfast Association of Rome come in, who are experts in helping you find the perfect home-away-from-home during your trip to Rome. For those unfamiliar with the city, it may seem an obvious choice to look for a B&B in one of the more popular, and touristy, areas such as Campo de 'Fiori, the Vatican or Trastevere, all of which undoubtedly hold a great appeal, immersed in the beautiful vestiges of the past. But Rome, in its 1285km2 entirety, offers so many other options and neighbourhoods to explore, not too far from the centre. Plus, you might even some money along the way! Not far from Termini Station is the ancient Monti district: only a short walk from some of the most famous Roman attractions like the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. This historic district with its winding, narrow streets offers countless food shops, small boutiques and restaurants to be discovered. One of the main streets, Via dei Serpenti, ends in a beautiful Renaissance square (Piazza Madonna dei Monti) one of the most popular places for an aperitif. Despite its central location, Monti has managed to remain true to its origins and its particular charm has attracted both film makers and actors, who have made this part of Rome their home. If you choose an accommodation in this area, you may bump into the former President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, who lives just around the corner - so keep your eyes peeled! Another area that holds a strong appeal is San Lorenzo, preferred by young people for its proximity to the university. San Lorenzo has become an extremely popular area thanks to its unpretentious atmosphere (here everyone knows everyone and greets each other in the street!) with a very active nightlife. San Lorenzo is also a great place if you are into vintage, handicraft and art galleries, as well as independent eateries and delicatessens like SAID, Tram Tram and Pastificio Cerere. Plus it’s home to some of the cheapest pizzerias in Rome. On a cultural note, you can see the ancient Roman walls between San Lorenzo and Termini station, too. Across town, the Ostiense and Testaccio districts are foodie-havens and are separated by the Pyramid of Caius Cestius and the picturesque Non-Catholic Cemetery but united by a vibrant nightlife and high quality dining options. The Ostiense district is surrounded by colorful murals decorated by world famous street artists. Testaccio is a slightly more traditional neighbourhood, home to local-themed restaurants, where you’ll find offals frequently on the menu - a memory from when Testaccio was home to the city’s slaughterhouse, now the contemporary art gallery, Macro. In this district you’ll also find the best “Cacio e Pepe”, pasta with cheese and pepper as well as one of the best organic food markets in Rome. Rome is home to such diverse neighbourhoods, each unique in their own way, so if you choose to stay in one of these more local areas during your holiday in the eternal city you’ll be guaranteed a true Roman experience.
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