Enclosed by narrow streets and leaning against the façade of Palazzo Poli, stands the Trevi Fountain, a grandiose fusion of sculpture and architecture in a setting that welcomes the waters of the ancient Roman aqueduct of the Acqua Vergine. The fountain is a splendid fusion of sculpture and architecture, and one of Nicola Salvi's masterpieces, which expresses in this composition a late classical Baroque of rare vigor, not formalized in Bernini's style and not yet resulting in neoclassicism. Some Rococo elements are evident, such as Neptune's shell, but the complex has strong classical characters. The intuition of merging the façade of the palace with the structure of the fountain encompasses elements of the Palladio style and the elegant Roman Baroque.

The major papal archbasilica of St. Peter's in the Vatican is the largest of the four papal basilicas in Rome and among the largest churches in the world. Erected on the tomb of the Holy Apostle, preacher of the Gospel and first Pope of the Catholic Church, St. Peter's Basilica is home to the Pontifical Chapels, Councils, Jubilees, and all the main manifestations of Catholic worship. The church is majestic and it is decorated in a traditional Baroque style. The Holy Door, located to the right of the entrance and opened personally by the Pope at the end of each Jubilee, is a modern bronze work by the sculptor Vico Consorti. As you enter the basilica, on the right of the main entrance, you will see Michelangelo's Pieta’. Close to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, there is the chapel of San Sebastiano where there are mosaics by Pietro Paolo Cristofari and the tomb of Pope John Paul II. The Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, whose gates were made by Borromini, is decorated with Bernini’s tabernacle and with Pietro da Cortona frescoes. The Papal altar, situated at the center of the basilica, was also made by Bernini. The chief architect of Saint Peter’s Basilica was Carlo Maderno, who designed its nave and facade.

At the end of the seventh century B.C., what was once a marshy area was turned into what was to be the center of public life for over a millennium, the Roman Forum.Over the centuries, buildings for political, religious and commercial activities were built in the area. Later, civil basilicas were built, where judicial activities took place. Octavian Augustus symbolically chose the hill as the place of his home, which consisted of several buildings, including the House of Livia. Subsequently, the hill became the seat of the imperial palaces: the Domus Tiberiana, the Domus Transitoria then the Domus Aurea, and finally the Imperial Palace, which was divided into Domus Flavia, a representative building, and Domus Augustana, the residence of Emperor Domitian. The word “palace” is derived in Latin, from the Palatine hill where the Roman emperors built their residences.

The Pantheon is one of the best preserved examples of Roman monumental architecture. It has been a source of inspiration for all the greatest architects thanks to its beauty, its harmonious proportions and its perfect geometry. It dates back to 27 BC., when Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, son-in-law, friend and collaborator of Augustus, had a first temple built in this area, which was dedicated to "all the gods". The building consists of a cylindrical structure preceded by a portico with Corinthian columns that support the pediment. On the frieze of the entablature, the original inscription with the dedication to Agrippa is still visible. What is most surprising about the architecture of the Pantheon is its size: the height of the building is equal to the diameter of the dome, just over 43 meters, a feature that reflects the classical canons of Roman rational architecture. At the summer solstice, a ray of sunlight enters through the large eye of the dome and projects on the floor a huge luminous disc, whose diameter is equal to that of the oculus.

Piazza Venezia, with its intrinsic elegance, makes it one of the places to visit in Rome. Not far from Piazza Venezia is the Altare della Patria , erected in honor of King Victor Emmanuel II, the main proponent of the Unity of Italy. The architectural structure represents an ideal ascending path that, through stairways and terraces, enriched by sculptural groups and bas-reliefs, rises up to the colonnaded portico surmounted by bronze quadrigae, allegories of the Unity of the Homeland and Freedom. In 1921, in the crypt designed by Armando Brasini, the body of the Unknown Soldier was buried. Starting from the proclamation of Rome as the Capital, and over the following decades, the entire area on Capitoline Hill was affected by the new urban layout that saw the demolition of the pre-existing medieval and Renaissance districts.

In Piazza Bocca della Verità, next to the Temple of Portunus, there is an enchanting circular temple, the oldest preserved marble building in Rome. Mistakenly called Vesta, it was dedicated to Hercules Victor, protector of the merchants who carried out their activities in the nearby Foro Boario the area intended for the cattle market between the Tevere the Campidoglio, and the Aventino. Inside the Temple, there was a magnificent bronze statue of worship, perhaps made by Skopas Minore, a famous Greek sculptor of the late classical period. The statue is now housed in the Capitoline Museums. The building is made of Hellenic marble, it has twenty Corinthian columns, resting on a stepped base made of tuff blocks. Some of the columns are made of Lunense marble, which is probably the result of the restoration works carried out during Tiberius’ reign to repair the damage caused by the flood of 15 AD.

Probably the most famous monument in the world and a symbol of the greatness of Rome, the Flavian Amphitheater, better known as The Colosseum, which is still the largest amphitheater in the world, was commissioned by Emperor Tito Flavio Vespasiano who chose the area between the Palatine, Esquiline, and Caelian hills, previously occupied by the artificial lake of Nero's Domus Aurea, to build it. Its construction began in 70 A.D. and ended in 80 A.D. under the reign of Tito, son of Vespasian. The building was intended for fights, gladiatorial games, and simulations of hunting wild and exotic animals. During Romanticism, its charm as an ancient ruin attracted writers and artists such as Shelley, Byron, Dickens, Thomas Cole, and Henry James. Stendhal wrote that the Colosseum represented "the most beautiful vestiges of the Roman people", it breathes all the majesty of ancient Rome. The Colosseum, along with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, is part of the Colosseum Archaeological Park.

Built by Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum, it later began to play a very important military role. In fact, it was the place where popes took refuge during the invasions! A long passage (Passetto di Borgo) allows direct access from the Vatican City to Castel Sant’Angelo. The Vatican City is the smallest nation in the world, yet it is one of the most visited places in Italy. Only priests and nuns; some dignitaries; guards and of course the pope can live there. A little curiosity about the guards: they can only be Swiss and must of course be Catholic. They take an oath of allegiance to the Pope himself. This tradition dates back to the sack of Rome in 1527 when the Swiss guards protected the pope during his escape to Castel Sant'Angelo.

The Circus Maximus was the largest building for public entertainment in ancient Rome and it is one of the largest of all time. Damaged several times by fire, the Circus Maximus was almost entirely rebuilt under the rule of Trajan, and most of the structures that are currently visible date back to that time period. Other emperors also contributed to the magnificence of the Circus Maximus. In 357 AD, a gigantic obelisk was brought to Rome and was placed on the eastern side of the Circus Maximus according to the will of Emperor Constantius II. The obelisk, which is one of the largest standing obelisk in the world, is currently located in the square in front of the Basilica of Saint John in Lateran. The Circus Maximus was used as a venue for public entertainment until the first decades of the sixth century. In the early 1900s, it became an archaeological walking area. In the Middle Ages, the Torre della Moletta (Frangipane Tower) was built in the area by the Frangipane family as part of a fortification system. From the tower, which stands in the archeological complex of the Circus Maximus, it is possible to enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the archaeological area and thus fully appreciate the size of the Circus.

Campo de' Fiori is one of the most special and beloved areas in Rome. It is the only monumental square in the historic center that does not host a church or a basilica. It was built by order of Pope Calixtus III on the site where in ancient times there was a colorful field of flowers, hence its name. In Campo de’ Fiori square there once was a fountain where people would wash fruit and vegetables. In order to prevent people from using the fountain inappropriately, a lid was built to cover it. Roman people, who are famous for their sense of irony, renamed the fountain “Terrina” (“tureen” in English) because of its new design. The Terrina fountain is now located in front of the New Church. In 1898, Campo de’ Fiori square underwent restoration works and it was equipped with a new fountain that reproduced the original one designed by Della Porta, which did not feature the “famous” lid. The Terrina Fountain had its moments of glory when, during some festivals, instead of water, the excellent white or red wine of the Castles spurted from its nozzle.

The ancient marble mask “Bocca della Verità” (Mouth of Truth), one of the most famous symbols of Rome, was once located in piazza della Bocca della Verità, but in 1632 it is was moved to the pronaos of the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The large round mask, which has a diameter of about 1.80 meters, was probably a manhole cover from the Roman era. It may date back to the reign of Tarquinius Superbus, the last of the seven kings of Rome, who built the Cloaca Maxima, a great drainage system that later became part of a great sewage system. The famous marble mask depicts a male bearded face; the eyes, nose, and mouth are holes carved into the marble. The sculpture is probably a representation of Jupiter, a faun, or a river deity. It is possible to see some symbols around the sculpted face, including a scarab, two crab claws, and two wolf heads. The name “Mouth of Truth” originated in 1485 and it is linked to a curious and fascinating medieval legend according to which the mouth would bite the hand of those who had not told the truth.

In 1878, a few years after the unification of Italy, the Italian Parliament decided to dedicate a monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II, and him to the entire Risorgimento. On November 4, 1921, the body of the Unknown Soldier was buried under the statue of the Goddess Rome in memory of the many soldiers who died in the war and whose name or burial place is unknown. The central theme of the entire monument is represented by the two inscriptions on the propylaea: "PATRIAE UNITATI" and "CIVIUM LIBERTATI", "To the unity of the homeland" and "To the freedom of the citizens", each placed almost as a comment on the two quadrigas. On either side, two fountains represent the Adriatic Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea and mark the "borders" of the monument just as the two seas delimit the Italian Peninsula. Since 2007 it has also been possible to climb to the top of the Vittoriano with a panoramic glass elevator: the terrace offers one of the best views of Rome, ideal for taking photos of the Imperial Forum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's or Via del Corso.