Attractions

Rome:

Steer your way through Rome, where every turn reveals a new Italian treasure.

Colosseum: The Roman Colosseum is a tremendous amphitheater, the embodiment of both the grandeur and cruelty of the great Roman Empire. Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum hosted spectacular games that included gladiator exhibitions, fights between animals, prisoner executions and—strangely enough—naval battles.

Roman Forum: Towering Ionic columns stretch proud and fragmented into the Italian sky and ancient porticoes stand guard over the empty shells of buildings that were once the centers of commerce, justice and worship for the city.

Pantheon: Of all the great buildings constructed during the crest of the Roman Empire, only this one still stands. Pantheon history states that the interior of the roof is intended to symbolize the heavens, and the giant hole above is supposedly the eyes of the gods.

Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain dominates a small square in the heart of the city near the Spanish Steps. The fountain entered pop culture thanks to the nighttime bathing scene in the film La Dolce Vita by Fellini, or for many Americans, the popular 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain. This huge Baroque construction, inspired by sea mythology, took 30 years to build.

The Sistine Chapel: The pièce de résistance of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel is the culmination of Michelangelo’s finest work. Frescoes detailing the life and times of both Jesus and Moses line the walls beneath the benevolent portraits of former popes.

The Vatican Museums: Deep in the holy center of Vatican City, the Vatican Museums house an enormous collection of art collected through centuries of history, from Egyptian pieces to Etruscan ruins to Renaissance paintings and, of course, the legendary Sistine Chapel. Of all the museums, not just in Italy but the world over, these are not to be missed.