Map of Rome attractions in Russian. Sights of Rome on the map and the main tourist route that everyone should go through

Rome is the capital of Italy, located on the Tiber River. This is one of the oldest cities in the world. A map of Rome shows that the city has largely retained its historical layout. The area of ​​the city is 1507 km2.

Rome wears several unofficial names: “The Eternal City” and “The City on 7 Hills.”

Today Rome is the cultural, educational and financial center of Italy. The city is home to numerous universities, 2 airports, financial institutions, theaters, museums, restaurants and sports facilities.

Historical reference

According to legend, Rome was founded by the brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. e. Rome was the capital of the Ancient Roman Empire. In 410 the city was sacked by the Visigoths, and in 455 by the Vandals. During the 5th-6th centuries the city constantly changed hands.

The rise of the papacy in Italy began in the Middle Ages. Popes claimed their supremacy over secular power. In 1798, the French captured Rome and founded the Roman Republic. In 1811, Napoleon I wanted to make his son king of Rome. In 1814 the papal state was restored.

In 1848, a revolution occurred and the Roman Republic was created. But soon the city was captured by the French. In 1870, the city was captured by the troops of the Kingdom of Italy, and Rome became the capital.

In 1929, the Vatican State was formed. In 1943-44, Rome was subject to German occupation.

Must Visit

On a detailed map of Rome in Russian, literally every few meters you can see one or another attraction. Must-sees include the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican), Piazza Navona, Spanish steps in Piazza di Spagna and the Trevi Fountain.

It is recommended to visit Villa Borghese, Piazza del Popolo, Castel Sant'Angelo, Imperial Forums, Pigorini Museum, Palazzo Venice, Roman catacombs, Aurelian's wall, Roman baths, National Gallery contemporary art and the Villa Medici.

Last modified: September 22, 2018

When planning a trip, every tourist is simply obliged to think through literally every day of his stay in Rome to the smallest detail: what to see, where to go, how to spend the evening, where is the best place to dine, etc. In this article we will not dwell on each of these points, but will only remind you that for your ideal trip it will not be superfluous to have detailed map of Rome with attractions in Russian. She will become your guide and invaluable assistant throughout your journey.

Especially for you, our dear readers, we noted main attractions of Rome on the map and laid out one of the most interesting and comprehensive walking routes, which, in our opinion, will be able to reveal Rome to the fullest, convey its spirit, show greatness and bestow extraordinary charm. Of course, it does not cover all the places popular among tourists, but we will definitely mention them in the following routes.

Sights of Rome on a walking route

Arriving in Rome, tourist First of all, try to see the main attractions of the city, isn’t it? That is why we considered it necessary to combine on the map those places that cover the historical part of the city and give the most complete picture of Rome.
which you can see by following this route:

  • Roman forum;
  • Trajan's Market;
  • Palazzo Venezia;
  • Capitoline Museums;
  • Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius;
  • Palazzo Colonna;
  • Piazza Colonna and Column of Marcus Aurelius;
  • Temple of Hadrian;
  • and the fountain of the Four Rivers;
  • in the Vatican.

Below is map of Rome with landmarks marked on it, which you can see by choosing this tourist route for your walk through the Eternal City.

We suggest starting a walk along this route directly from the Colosseum. It is easy to get here from anywhere in the city by public transport. The best option would be the metro: the desired station is Colosseo.

The Flavian Amphitheater, better known as, is the main symbol of the Eternal City. Agree, it is difficult to imagine Rome without this grandiose structure, just as it is difficult to overestimate the popularity of this attraction - in modern world It is not easy to find a person who has never heard of the Colosseum. Next to the amphitheater is located, erected at the beginning of the 4th century in honor of Constantine’s victory in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, which made him the sole ruler of the western part of the Roman Empire.


Walk around the Colosseum and head down the Rue Imperiale Forum, the capital's most popular avenue. Here you can admire the ruins of ancient buildings and reflect on the eternal. The street will lead you to Piazza Venezia, where the colossal Vittoriano is located - a monument erected in honor of the first king of a united Italy, Victor Emmanuel II.

Monument to Victor Emmanuel II - the first king of Italy


Here is also the so-called Palazzo Venice, from whose balcony Benito Mussolini once spoke. Built in the mid-15th century, today the palace houses the rich exhibition of the National Museum.

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Literally a stone's throw from Piazza Venezia is the Capitoline Square - the only architectural project of Michelangelo that was fully realized. This is where the famous “Capitolian Museums” are located.

Capitol Square


Probably everyone who has ever visited the Eternal City will say with confidence: in order to feel Rome, a tourist must not only walk through it, but also see it from above. Unique observation deck, which we marked on the map of Rome with attractions in red, will allow you to enjoy the most beautiful view of ancient city. Don't forget to visit it.


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Further, going down the steps, you can see the place of imprisonment of the Apostle Peter. After going around Vittoriano, as shown on the map, you will again find yourself on the Via Imperiali Forum. Head towards the Troyan Market and, following our route, reach one of the most beautiful fountains in the city. Don't forget to throw a coin and make a wish - it will definitely come true.

The next grandiose structure that you will see is the only surviving ancient Roman temple that is still in use today. However, before visiting it, we strongly recommend reading about it in our article.

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All the sights of Rome on one map

Do you know a city that has over a thousand attractions? Of course you do, because this is the famous eternal city of Rome. It is here that structures that are several hundred years old have survived to this day. By far the most famous of them is the Colosseum. But believe me, the Colosseum is only a small part of what you can see and admire in the city. New map Rome with sights in Russian will show absolutely all the valuable objects in the city that you need to visit. On the map, fountains, streets, monuments, bridges, and so on are specially separated and marked in their own way. You can easily build your own walk plan and see most of the beautiful places and structures. And so, let's begin our virtual journey.

Tourists who fly to Rome on excursions, in most cases, know only the large and famous attractions of the city. First of all, this is the already mentioned Colosseum and new tourists immediately rush to look at it first.

History buffs will definitely want to see the Roman Forum. This is one of the few places on earth that has survived to this day as it is. This land remembers the chariots of warriors and remembers the greatness of emperors. It was here that townspeople gathered thousands of years ago to hear news from their masters and thank them for all their deeds. This place keeps so many secrets that it is still impossible to solve many of them.

Piazza Navona is not only the most famous square in Italy, but it may also be the most beautiful in the world! There are stunningly beautiful fountains built on the square, and there is a church right there. There are always a lot of tourists on the square, but locals also like to come here to relax.

There are many gods in the world. Every religion has its own god. At every time, every nation has had and has its own god. And only in Rome stands the temple of all the gods, built more than 1800 years ago. Currently, the temple houses the graves of some Italian kings, as well as the world-famous painter Raphael. The temple is open to visitors from the outside and inside.

Map with all the sights of Rome

It is not worth listing and describing all the sights of Rome. This will take a lot of time, and after the twentieth object you will begin to forget what happened at the beginning. Take a look and take with you the newest and most full map Rome with all its attractions.

The card is very easy to use. It is interactive and can be zoomed up to a distance of 100 meters. Using maps, it’s easy to build a walking route or mark places where you definitely want to visit. And after the designation, it’s also easy to understand how best to walk in order to spend less time and get everything done.

The capital of Italy is a large metropolis with many historical districts, so independent travelers in the city it is advisable to acquire tourist card Rome and take it with you on the road.

Maps specially created for tourists can be downloaded from our website. You can choose one of the cards below. They show in the form of pictures the main attractions of the city, as well as metro stations, parks, highways, pedestrian zones, etc. The maps are quite large in size, so wait until they are fully loaded.

These maps show that Rome is a large city. It is divided into two parts by the Tiber River. By left side The cozy Trastevere district is located from the river. However, most of the city's attractions are located on the right side of the map (here are most of the ancient ruins, the main pedestrian street of the city of Corzo and the tourist center of Rome).

When traveling around the city on your own, most likely you will have to use the Roman metro. The city is very large, so, for example, it would be better to travel from the Colosseum to the Vatican by public transport. The Rome metro train map is attached at the bottom of the article. There are two metro lines running through the city center, which intersect at Rome's central Termini train station. By the way, you can also take the metro to the main airport of Fiumicino.

A trip to Rome is a real test for the curious. It is impossible to see all the sights of Rome in one visit, and it is equally impossible to choose what exactly is worth seeing first, the city is so diverse and interesting in every corner.

Rome is an incredibly eclectic city. Mixed up here Catholic churches and modern buildings, medieval markets and ancient ruins, history and modernity, majestic buildings and the most terrible slums, modest monks and flamboyant freaks... - all this creates an inimitable, amazing modern Rome. In a sense, this eternal city remains the center of the world.

Rome - the eternal city

The main attractions of Rome

Perhaps this is the oldest part of the city, which remembers the wheels of chariots and the tread of Roman emperors, thousands of years ago. This area of ​​Rome was built during the times mysterious tribe Etruscans - predecessors of the ancient Romans.


Here they paid honor to heroes and organized triumphal processions in their honor, here they held elections to the Senate and announced the most important news to the townspeople. Today the forum looks like a heap of ruins, but with imagination and minimal knowledge of history you can imagine what everything looked like 2.5 thousand years ago. The site of the forum is simply dotted with the remains of temples, basilicas and triumphal arches.


The most notable buildings of the forum are listed below.

  • Triumphal arches were erected by emperors in honor of their victories over their enemies. The best preserved are the Arch of Titus in honor of the victory in the Jewish War and the Arch of Septimius Severus in honor of the victory over the Parthians.

Triumphal Arch Titus, Roman Forum
  • Curia Julia- This is the place where the Senate met. The rectangular brick building could accommodate up to 200 senators. Unfortunately, the original building of the curia has not survived. What tourists see today is the reconstruction of the building. Nothing of the interior decoration has survived either.

Curia Julia, Roman Forum
  • Tribune Rostra is a platform built for speakers to speak. The rostra was 3 meters high, so that the speaker was high above the crowd and was clearly visible from any point in the square. Rostra received its name in honor of the rostra (bow parts of ancient ships) that belonged to enemy ships captured at the Battle of Antium in 338 BC.

Tribune Rostra, Roman Forum
  • Temple of Saturn. The current ruins date back to 42 BC. The temple was used as state treasury(Erary). It also houses the banners of legions and senatorial decrees (decrees). The temple also served as the starting point for all distances in the Roman Empire.

Temple of Saturn, Roman Forum
  • Basilica Emilia- the oldest basilica in the forum was built in 179 BC. It is noteworthy that the basilica was originally erected as a place where noble citizens could take shelter from bad weather and spend time comfortably. There were shopping arcades, state banks and money changers here. The basilica was completely destroyed during the siege of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 AD

Basilica Emilia, Roman Forum
  • Temple of Vesta. Vesta is the patroness of family and state in Ancient Rome, one of the main goddesses of the pantheon. In this temple, the Vestals (servants of the cult of Vesta) guarded the sacred eternal flame, personifying eternal life. A Vestal Virgin was a girl from an aristocratic family who was chosen by a council of priests.

Temple of Vesta, Roman Forum
  • The girl's service life in the temple was 30 years, during which she was obliged to remain a virgin, otherwise the Vestal was buried alive. At the end of their service, the Vestals received a lifelong allowance from the state (not a small one), as well as many benefits and privileges. The remains of the House of the Vestals can be seen next to the Temple of Vesta

Fragment of the painting “Sacrifice of the Vestal Virgin” by Alessandro Marchesini
  • Temple of Romulus the Divine. Opposite the House of the Vestals is the round temple of Romulus, which has been perfectly preserved since its original construction due to the fact that it was included in the complex of buildings of the Basilica of Saints Domian and Cosmas. The temple was never rebuilt, and even the massive iron Entrance door is original

Temple of Romulus, Roman Forum
  • Basilica of Maxentius- the last of the temples built during the times Ancient Rome. Construction was started by Emperor Maxentius and completed by Constantine. The temple had very impressive dimensions and a huge 12-meter statue of Constantine, the remains of which can now be seen in the courtyard of the Palazzo dei Conservatori in the Vatican

Basilica of Maxentius, Roman Forum
  • Temple of Venus and Roma- This is the largest religious building from the times of Ancient Rome. The temple would have been built under Hadrian and would have occupied a huge area from the Basilica of Maxentius to the Colosseum

Temple of Venus and Roma, Roman Forum
  • Column of Phocas- a 13-meter column that was built in honor of the Byzantine Emperor Phocas on the occasion of his visit to Rome. At the top of the column was a gilded statue of Phocas, which is now lost

Column of Phocas, Roman Forum
  • Coliseum originally called the Flavian amphitheater (dynasty of Roman emperors) and was built under Vespasian, the founder of the dynasty. The amphitheater got its name from the giant statue of Nero, on the site of which it was built. The statue was called Colossus (colossus), the name of the Colosseum in Italian sounds like Colosseo

Colosseum, Roman Forum
  • The Colosseum could accommodate up to 55,000 spectators, there were 80 entrances for the public, the 4 upper floors were used for spectator seats (the lower classes occupied the uppermost rows), and in the underground floors there were office premises and cages with wild animals. To protect spectators from the sun, the Colosseum was covered with a huge awning, which was installed by a team of 1000 strong men.

Colosseum, Roman Forum
  • The Colosseum was used for free games, the number and entertainment of which measured the greatness of the emperor. The games usually took place over several days and ended with gladiator fights and fights with wild animals. The longest games took 100 days in a row and were dedicated to the accession to the throne of Emperor Titus

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is one of the most famous, and perhaps the most beautiful, of all the squares in Rome. It was built on the site of Domitian's stadium and follows its contours. Piazza Navona has several independent tourist sites: the Fountain of the Four Rivers (Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio de la Plata), the Nettuno Fountain, the Fountain del Moro and the Church of St. Agnes of Rome, an early Christian martyr.


Piazza Navona, Rome, Italy

Pantheon

The Pantheon is a temple of all gods, built more than 1800 years ago. In 609 AD the temple was converted into Christian Church Saint Mary and the Martyrs and presented to Pope Boniface IV. Interiors inside the temple behind long history It has been reconstructed several times, but the marble floor remains from Roman times. The temple contains the tombs of several kings of Italy, as well as the tombstone of the great Italian painter Raphael.


Pantheon, Rome, Italy

Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is one of the business cards Rome, it can often be seen on advertising cards and booklets. It is located on a small square of the same name and occupies more than half of its space. The fountain adjoins one side to the Poli Palace and visually forms a single whole with it.


Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

The Trevi Fountain is one of the favorite places for tourists. At any time of the year or day, there is no crowd here with people wanting to take pictures of themselves against the backdrop of the famous fountain. There is a belief that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, you will certainly return to Rome again.


Tourists around the Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Vittoriano

Vittoriano is a monument in honor of King Victor Emmanuel II, who managed to unite all the lands of Italy within modern borders. It occupies the entire northern slope of the Capitoline Hill and, in its size, looks more like a palace than a monument. The monument is also often called the Altar of the Nation, and Victor Emmnuil II himself is the father of the nation.


Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Rome, Italy

At the foot of the monument is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at which, since 1921, the best representatives of the Italian armed forces have been keeping a 24-hour guard of honor. The premises inside the monument are used as exhibition halls for the Risorgimento Museum (museum of the history of the unification of Italy). Local residents are not too fond of this monument because its appearance and size stands out from the general panorama of the city; they even call it a “wedding cake” for being too white and too pompous.


Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Rome, Italy

Circus Maximus

Circus Maximus is the largest stadium in Ancient Rome. It could accommodate up to 250 thousand spectators and was intended for chariot racing competitions. The very first circus building was built of wood back in the 6th century BC, but it was destroyed by fire several times until a marble stadium was erected in its place.


Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy

In the 6th century AD, the last race was held in the circus, after which the stadium began to fall into disrepair. Local residents dismantled the marble bricks for other buildings, and today there is little reminder that the most grandiose stadium of all time was located on this site.


Circus Maximus, reconstruction

Capitol Hill

The Capitoline Hill is the smallest but most important of the seven hills of Rome. The first human buildings discovered here during excavations date back to the Iron Age. The hill was an ideal location for the first settlers, as its rocky, steep slopes provided natural protection from external enemies, and right next to the hill was the shallowest part of the Tiber River, ideal for crossing.


IN ancient times The most massive and significant temples were built here, symbolizing the position of Ancient Rome as the center of the world. In the period from the early Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the Capitoline Hill became depopulated, fell into decay, and the temples were destroyed to the ground. For a time, Capitol Hill was even used as a pasture for goats. During the Renaissance, the Capitoline Hill was rebuilt according to the designs of Michelangelo. Today it houses the city hall and the Capitol Museum.


Capitoline Hill, Rome, Italy

Palatine

The Palatine is the central of the seven hills of Rome. According to legend, it was here that the founders of Rome, Remus and Romulus, were found in a cave. It is believed that it was here that Romulus laid the first stone for the construction of Rome, and it is from here that the Eternal City originates. In ancient times, the Palatine was the most prestigious area for residence, thanks to beautiful views to the city and to yourself clean air in the area (the hill rises 70 meters above the city).


Hill Palatine, Rome, Italy

It is not surprising that by the end of the era of the Roman emperors the hill was built up exclusively with houses and palaces of representatives of the upper caste. In the Middle Ages, the Palatine was built exclusively with monasteries and churches. Today the Palatine is a collection of ruins and the best place to study the archaeological history of the city.


Palatine, Rome, Italy

The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, a state within a state. About 800 residents live here, and none of them are permanent. The population of this tiny area consists of clergy, monasticism, guards, statesmen. The Throne of Peace is headed by the Pope. The Vatican has its own army - it is guarded exclusively by swiss guards dressed in national uniform.


St. Peter's Square is the main gate of the Vatican, as well as the place of mass gatherings of Catholics on major religious holidays.


St. Peter's Square, Vatican

Saint Paul's Cathedral

St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world. The cathedral is dedicated to one of the main apostles of Christ and was built on the spot where St. Peter suffered martyrdom. The construction of the temple lasted for a century and a half, during which several architects were replaced, each of whom made significant adjustments to the original project. Construction was completed in 1626, and since then St. Peter's Basilica has been considered the center of Christianity throughout the world.


St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

The crowning glory of St. Peter's Basilica is the majestic dome, designed by Michelangelo. At the top of the dome there is an observation deck that offers a breathtaking view of the city. Entrance to the observation deck is paid, while visiting St. Peter's Cathedral itself is free, but there is a strict dress code, according to which clothing must cover the knees and elbows of those entering; ladies must additionally cover their décolleté.


Interiors of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums boast one of the most impressive art collections in the world. Most of the exhibits were presented to the popes for long years rule, or acquired by the popes at the expense of the Church. The Vatican has its own tourist office, which is located in St. Peter's Square. Here you can order audio guides, purchase ready-made excursions, maps, booklets and much more.


Vatican, Rome, Italy

You can also send a postcard to your family and friends with a picture best views Vatican.
Today, the Vatican has thirteen museums located in two palace complexes. Don't even expect to see all this splendor in one day. The collection of artistic and historical treasures is so huge that it will take you more than one day to fully explore. In a few hours you can try to see at least the most basic things.


Vatican Guards

Pinakothek contains paintings by Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Perugino and many other painters.
The Historical Museum shows the centuries-old history of the Roman papacy, displaying household items, religious relics, documents, photographs and other important exhibits.


Pinakothek, Vatican

IN Museum of Pius Clement antique statues, frescoes and sculptures discovered in the vicinity of Rome during excavations are exhibited.

IN Sciaramonti Museum Portrait busts and sculptures of noble citizens of Rome in ancient times are exhibited.

Gregorian Etruscan Museum has a rich collection of objects from the time of the Eturskis, who lived on the territory of Rome before the era of ancient emperors.


Exhibits from the Pius Clement Museum

IN Egyptian Museum art objects on display Ancient Egypt from steles with hieroglyphs to copies of Egyptian statues from the second century BC. It also contains a collection of Egyptian mummies that were found during excavations at the Deir el-Bahri necropolis in Thebes.

IN Museum of Contemporary Religious Art you can see paintings by Dali, Kandinsky, Kokoschka, Le Corbusier, Matisse, Munch, Picasso, Rodin and Van Gogh.


Egyptian Museum, Vatican

Pius Christian Museum contains a collection of sculptures, sarcophagi and mosaics from the early Christian era. The most famous object here is the statue of the Good Shepherd, created in the third century AD.

Ethnological Missionary Museum has objects of a religious nature from Asia, Oceania, Africa and America. Among the main ones: a statue of the god Quetzalcoatl from Mexico, masks from Sierra Leone and a wooden sculpture of the deity “tumatauenga” from French Polynesia.


Etruscan Museum in Vatican

The Vatican Library is one of the most important libraries in the world, containing more than 500 thousand books and more than 60 thousand manuscripts, as well as ancient Christian objects found in Roman catacombs, medieval glassware and objects made of precious materials and ivory.


Vatican Library

The Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly the most famous landmark of the Vatican. The chapel was built in the fifteenth century as a private chapel for Pope Sixtus IV. In 1508, Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to repaint the ceiling. However, Michelangelo decided to decorate the ceiling with nine scenes from Old Testament. The most famous is the composition “The Creation of Adam,” which shows how the Creator descends from heaven to breathe life into Adam. The walls of the chapel are also completely covered with paintings by Michelangelo. The most famous of the paintings is the Last Judgment on the altar wall.


Sistine Chapel, Vatican

Triumphal Arch of Constantine

Right next to the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine, built in the early fourth century to commemorate Constantine's victory over Emperor Maxentius. The arch, decorated with statues and bas-reliefs, has survived to this day relatively undamaged. Constantine believed that he was helped to win the victory over Maxentius (which was initially considered unlikely) Christian God. As a result, during the reign of Constantine, the persecution of Christians ended, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and the capital of the empire was moved from Rome to Constantinople (then capital of Byzantium, now Istanbul) in 325 AD.


Arch of Constantine, Rome, Italy

Plaza de España

Piazza di Spagna is one of the most popular places among tourists. The central place of the square is occupied by the famous Spanish Steps, connecting the square with the Trinita dei Monti church. The Spanish Steps are especially beautiful in the spring, when the azaleas decorating the steps are in bloom. The Spanish Steps are considered favorite place meeting of tourists and townspeople.


Piazza di Spagna, Rome, Italy

At the foot of the stairs is the Barcaccia Fountain, which depicts a small fishing boat that survived the disastrous flood of the Tiber in 1598. On opposite side The square houses the Spanish Palace and the Immacolata Column, erected in honor of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of Christ. The top of the column is crowned with a statue of the Virgin Mary.


Rome, Barcaccia Fountain

Appian Way

Via Appia Antica was once one of the most important roads in the world and the most famous of all the roads emanating from Rome towards the distant borders of the empire. The road was originally built in 312 BC by order of Appius Claudius Caecus, the then censor of Rome, who became famous for building numerous urban infrastructure projects that helped make life easier for the Romans.


Appian Way, Rome, Italy

The stones that pave the road fit together so well that it is almost impossible to insert a knife between them. Since during the construction of the road it was forbidden to bury the dead within the city, aristocrats erected their tombs along the most important roads. Via Appia was also dotted with similar structures, some of which have survived to this day.


Via Appia, Rome, Italy

Villa Borghese

Villa Borghese is the largest public park in Rome. In addition to walking areas, there are temples, fountains, statues and several museums. In ancient times and early Middle Ages Numerous vineyards were planted here, but in 1605 Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, turned the vineyards into a park.


Park Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy

At the end of the eighteenth century, an artificial lake was created in the center of the park. On an island in the center of the lake, a small temple of Ionnaia was built, dedicated to Asclepius, the god of healing. In 1911, the park hosted the World Trade Exhibition. Some of the pavilions built by the participating countries still remain. Of the museums, the most famous is the Borghese Gallery, which exhibits works by famous masters including Titian, Rubens and Raphael.


Gallery of Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy

Baths of Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla were built in 217 AD, during the reign of Emperor Caracalla, as the largest bath complex in the world. The baths operated for more than three hundred years, with a total of 6,000 to 8,000 visitors daily. Thermal baths played a huge role in terms of hygiene, since in ancient times Rome was so overpopulated that there was simply no room left for sanitary facilities within the city.


Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Italy

The baths also played an important entertainment and communication role, as the Romans came here to socialize, listen to gossip and relax. There were gyms, libraries, gardens, art galleries, restaurants and even brothels here. The Caracalla complex was known for its rich interior, such as marble seats, mosaic walls and floors, as well as fountains and statues.


Fragment of a floor mosaic, Rome, Baths of Caracalla

Mouth of Truth

The Mouth of Truth is an ancient Roman marble disc carved in relief in the shape of a human face. According to legend, if you put your hand in the mouth of the bas-relief and tell a lie, the lips will immediately close and the liar will lose his hand. Historians are not sure that this was the original purpose of the disk, but in the Middle Ages the bas-relief began to be used precisely as a lie detector.


Mouth of Truth, Rome, Italy

The legend has grown so deep into daily life the Romans, that even today parents frighten their children with the Lips of Truth. In the legendary film "Roman Holiday" there is an episode when the heroine Audrey Hepburn tries to put her hand in the Mouth of Truth. The bas-relief is on the left wall of the portico of the Church of Santa Maria Cosmedin.


Fragment of the film "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn

Church of Santa Maria Maggiore

The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The church, which dates back to the fifth century, has a magnificent interior with a very impressive gilded ceiling and chapel. The church is located on the top of the Esquiline hill. Its name means that it is the most important of the eighty churches in Rome dedicated to Mary.


Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, Italy

The church is sometimes called Santa Maria della Neve (St. Mary of the Snows). According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to a local landowner in a dream and told him to build a church on the spot where he saw snow. The next day, at the height of summer, snow fell on the Esquiline Hill in the shape of a floor plan for a church. Despite the beautiful legend, however, there are no documents confirming this story.


Interior of the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, Italy

Campo de Fiori

The name of the square is translated as “field of flowers”, since once upon a time there was a meadow on the site of the square. Despite the fact that the meadow was located in the very center of the city, it was never developed, since it was in this place that the Tiber would be prone to flooding the bank every spring. In the 15th century, shopping arcades gradually began to appear on the site of the meadow, and gradually the place turned into a market square. The buildings at Campo de Fiori have a somewhat chaotic appearance, since it was never built according to plan.


Market at Campo de' Fori, Rome, Italy

In the Middle Ages, Campo de Fiori became notorious as a place of public executions. Here criminals and heretics accepted death, and the methods of killing were the most sophisticated and painful. In 1600, it was here that the great astronomer Giordano Bruno was burned by order of the Inquisition for his idea that the earth revolves around the sun. In 1887, a monument to Giordano Bruno was erected on the square.


Monument to Giordano Bruno at Campo de' Fori, Rome, Italy

Roman Catacombs

The catacombs of Rome were used in the era of early Christianity as a place where Christians took refuge from Roman persecution for their faith. Here they performed their religious rites in safety, and here they held the first secret burials of dead Christians. Subsequently, the catacombs began to be used for burials throughout the city, since there was no space for cemeteries and tombstones at the top due to overcrowding.


By the 5th century, burials in the catacombs had ceased, but the catacombs gained popularity as places of pilgrimage and veneration of the holy relics of the early Christians. The catacombs began to fall into disrepair after the church began to gradually remove the relics of saints and place them in the numerous temples and basilicas that were built above. From the end of the 9th century, the catacombs were forgotten for 10 long centuries and were rediscovered only in the 19th century.

Video. 10 interesting places in Rome

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