Pictures of Rome that will make you want to visit

A photo journey of the Eternal City.

CASTEL SANT’ANGELO

Located only a short walk away from Vatican City the Castel Sant’Angelo was originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family. As the eras of Rome’s history, so did the Castel: it became a fortress, a prison, a castle and is now a museum.

Wander through its ancient walls, see the passages and former prisons and visit the papal apartments and halls. For the best views, head to the terrace and get your camera ready to photograph splendid views over Rome. Make sure to look up towards the statue of St. Michael the Archangel for a cool perspective.

FONTANA DI TREVI

The Fontana di Trevi must be among the most stunning examples of Baroque architecture in the world. If you watched Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita you will recognize the Trevi Fountain as one of the settings where the movie was filmed.

For a very nice photo op, head to the second floor of Benetton (located across the Fountain) where you will be able to photograph the Fontana di Trevi from one of the store windows (there are a few and there are always people taking selfies, so wait for your turn!).

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THE PANTHEON

Functioning as a chapel today, the Pantheon is one of the oldest buildings in the city and without a doubt, an architectural wonder worth visiting. It is a 2000-year-old temple whose original purpose was to honor the seven planetary deities.

The best feature of this building is the oculus, the circular window on top of the dome and the only source of light. Raphael, the famous Renaissance painter, is buried inside the Pantheon and next to him is his fiancée, Maria Bibbiena.

ST PETER’S BASILICA

St Peter’s Basilica took 150 years to rebuild and is the largest church in the world. Head inside the Basilica (is free to visit) and take a good look at Michelangelo’s Pietà statue, Bernini’s statue of St Longinus and Saint Peter’s chair.

For amazing views of the city, head to the top of the dome (you will need to pay for a ticket) by climbing 551 steps or 320 if you pay for the elevator. Make sure to visit the Papal Museum as you will find treasures from all of Italy’s lively history.

TRASTEVERE

Located on the opposite bank of the Tiber, you can find the colorful and vibrant neighborhood of Trastevere. I recommend you head to Trastevere at night, when it comes alive with and tourists are looking to get a taste of Rome’s pizza and pasta.

Trastevere will give you tons of opportunities to take photos of its narrow alleyways, medieval houses, churches, along with the classic colorful and ivy-clad facades of the buildings.

SPANISH STEPS

Located right in the heart of Rome, the Spanish Steps are the steps that lead from Piazza di Spagna to the Trinita dei Monti, a French monastery church, are among the most famous stairs in the world.

The Spanish Steps were built between 1723 and 1726 in Rococo style. There are 135 steps with three terraces, which refer to the Holy Trinity. Along the steps, you will find the Keats-Shelly apartment – yes, the famous author of Frankenstein and her equally famous poet husband lived in this prime location. You can visit and take a picture from one of the windows to give you a different angle of the iconic area.

This is a great place to watch people go by. A word of caution though – in 2019 a new law was introduce that bans people from sitting on the Spanish Steps to protect them from being damaged. Official fines can reach 400 euros.

PIAZZA DELLA TRINITÀ DEI MONTI

Located at the top of the Spanish steps, the Piazza della Trinità dei Monti is notable for the amazing views over the city. Next to the square, you can find the Trinita dei Monti church which was maintained by France for centuries. Go inside to take a look at the artworks by Renaissance artists Daniele da Volterra, Federico Zuccari, and Giambattista Naldini.

TEMPLE OF HADRIAN

Located close to the Pantheon at the at Piazza di Pietra, the Temple of Hadrian was built by Antoninus Pius in 145 and dedicated to the emperor Hadrian. Of the original temple, only one row of eleven columns is still visible today. Nowadays, the building is home to the Borsa Valori di Roma, Rome’s stock exchange.

CHURCH OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

The Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola was dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order. It is located on Via della Caravita – about halfway between the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Pay attention to the markers on the floor inside which indicate the best spots to stand to appreciate the ceiling’s optical illusions. Put yourself in the line to appreciate the magnificent ceiling frescoes through a mirror that magnifies the paintings.

ALTAR OF THE FATHERLAND

Located walking distance of the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Museums, the Altar of the Fatherland is a great place to appreciate 360 views over Rome. You have two options. If you don’t want to pay to see the view you can go up and walk around the terrace next to the café. If you prefer to go higher up, get a ticket (it also covers the entrance of the museum) and ride the elevator. I was there in the morning and unfortunately the photo towards the Colosseum was ruined because of the sun. But I did get a nice photo of Teatro Marcello.

LARGO DI TORRE ARGENTINA

Largo di Torre Argentina is an archaeological zone and is considered among the most important ancient historical sites in the city. This is the ancient Roman Senate building where Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March. Today, you can walk among the stunning remains and look at the ruins of four temples dating from the Roman Republican era which are referred as Temple A, B, C, and D respectively. Alteranteveli, if you want to pay for the ticket (5 euros as of 2023) you can still view the temples from any of the streets that ring Largo Argentina.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a great place to sit, drink a cup of coffee and watch people go by – something the citizens of Rome have been doing since its construction (Caravaggio was famous for enjoying the Piazza). There are plenty of things to see at this famous square, including the Fountain of Neptune, the Four Rivers and the Moor as well as the church of Sant’Agnesse in Agone.

TEATRO MARCELLO

Formerly an open-air theatre capable of holding between 11,000 and 20,000 spectators, Teatro Marcello, is also known as the Jewish Colosseum for its resemblance to the original Colosseum. At this theatre, locals and visitors alike were invited to watch performances of drama. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to go inside the theater, but you can still view the outside up close.

THE COLOSSEUM

By far, the Colosseum is Rome’s must-see ancient monument – this is why more than 7 million people visit it every year. Here is where gladiators engaged in combat and prisoners were forced to fight wild beasts in front a huge crowd (The Colosseum had space for 50,000 seats). Aside from this, the Colosseum also hosted dramas, reenactments, and public executions.

Because of its popularity, the Colosseum is notorious for the long lines. Therefore I highly recommend you purchase the tickets in advance.

ROMAN FORUM

The Roman Forum used to be the political, religious and social center of ancient Rome. The Roman Forum was the scene of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats and had also shops and open-air markets. Take sometime to wander through the ruins including the Tempio dei Dioscuri, the Temple of Vesta, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustin and the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine.

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