Rome - Highlights
Rome's majesty unfolds over its seven hills with a skyline of spires and domes casting a shadow over the inspiring ruins of Antiquity.
Begin in the heart of Ancient Rome with a stroll through the ruins of the Roman Forum, then re-live the gruesome spectacle of bloody gladiator battles in the nearby Colosseum, and take a look inside the 2nd-century AD Pantheon.
Join the throngs in St Peter's Square, then marvel at Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. Cross the River Tiber and wander through the landscaped park of Villa Borghese to the Galleria Borghese to experience Bernini's Baroque sculpture and Raphael's canvases close up. Head back to the Centro Storico to visit Rome's splendid squares and fountains: Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Navona.
Most museums and galleries are closed on Mondays. The one exception are the Vatican Museums, which enjoy perennial snaking queues. Don't get there at 8am like everyone else – have a leisurely breakfast and arrive just before midday, and you can usually stroll in. Many museums offer free entry on the last Sunday of the month and on public holidays such as the Feast of St Peter and St Paul on 29 June.
