Colosseum
One of the most familiar symbols of Ancient Rome is the
incredible Colosseum. An awesome sight to behold up close, the
unmissable Colosseum is part circus, part sports arena. Although
time, weather, pillaging and earthquakes have taken their toll on
the classical ruin, it is a breathtaking sight and contains the
original pathways, ramps, cells, corridors and entrance ways used
by gladiators, slaves and animals to enter the arena.
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the political, commercial and religious centre
for the Roman Empire. Now just an impressive ruin, it is possible
to make sense of what it was like in its heyday by viewing the
best-preserved sections, including the beautiful Arch of Septimus
Severus, which was built to celebrate the Roman victory over the
Parthinians.
Spanish Steps
The stunning, curving Spanish Steps lead from the Piazza di Spagna
up to the Piazza Trinità dei Monti and the Trinità dei Monti
Church. Known in Italian as 'Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti',
the 138 Spanish Steps are the widest staircase in Europe. The
original design for the steps was chosen as the winning entry in a
competition held after years of debate about how best to urbanise
the steep slope leading up to the Trinità dei Monti. There is
debate about which architect was actually responsible for the
winning design, although it is accepted to have been either
Francesco de Sanctis or Alessandro Specchi, and is often attributed
to both of them.
Trevi Fountain
Rome's most famous - and, arguably, most beautiful - fountain was
built for Pope Clement XII and almost fills the small Piazza di
Trevi. The statues adorning the fountain represent Abundance,
Aquippa, Saubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two Tritons. By
tossing a coin - over your shoulder with your back to the fountain
- you are said to be guaranteed a return visit to Rome.
Pantheon
Regarded as one of the world's most inspiring architectural
designs, the Pantheon has a perfectly proportioned floating dome
that sits on tall marble columns and is one of the best-preserved
classical buildings in Rome. Built as a temple to the Gods in
120AD, the clever design includes a single light source flowing
through the central oculus that was used to measure time with the
aid of an internal sundial. The instruments used also showed the
dates of equinoxes and solstices.
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