Rome

Away from the city bustle of Rome, this park area is marked by what's left of two ancient aqueducts that once carried water. Both aqueducts were built by the Romans and are worth the ride out into Rome's suburbs.

Rome falls short of Venice and Florence when it comes to art, but this gallery is an exception. The bi-level art gallery, housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana, displays masterpieces by renowned artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Rubens, and Tiziano. The adjacent gardens are as breathtaking as the artwork showcased in the gallery. Tip: Because of its popularity, it is highly recommended to book tickets in advance.

In the city centre, you will find Forum Romanum sandwiched between the Palatine and Capitoline hills. The open-air forum was the commercial, political, social, and religious hub of Ancient Rome. Throughout the Imperial Period, Emperors like Julius Caesar and Augusts expanded the Forum to include temples, statues and monuments, a senate house, and low courts. Today, the Forum Romanum is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world and offers insights into the Roman civilization.

An astonishing 2,000-year-old temple, now a church, the Pantheon is a remarkable building to see when in Rome. The Pantheon, built as a temple to all gods, is the best-preserved marvel from Ancient Rome. Its main and most fascinating feature is the design of the dome and open oculus, the only source of natural light. Tourists from around the world flock into the Pantheon to see what Michelangelo defined as an “angelic and not human design”. The Pantheon also houses the tomb of the great painter Raphael. The square in front of the Pantheon is called Piazza della Rotonda. It is located near Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori so take the opportunity to stroll around in this area, there is much to see.

Designed by Salvi and completed by Pannini in 1762, the striking Trevi Fountain amazes onlookers with its 26.3-metre (86 ft) height and 49.15-metre (161.3 ft) width, making it the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most famous one in the world. Several movies, including Roman Holiday and Fellini's La Dolce Vita, have contributed to its fame. In 2016, Fendi chose the fountain as the stage of one of its memorable shows ever, wherein a clear plexiglass runway stretched across the Trevi Fountain. Some useful tips before visiting Rome's iconic Trevi Fountain: - It's illegal to fish out coins from the fountain. - It's strictly forbidden to bathe in the fountain.

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is an Opera House that still preserves its distinctive features of the 19th century. Since its inauguration in 1880, major works have been staged here, including the premiere of Puccini's Tosca. With its red-and-gold interiors and absorbing history, the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma is worth a visit even if the Opera Theatre isn't your cup of tea. Note that during summer, the ravishing ruins of the Baths of Caracalla are the venue for the opera company's outdoor performances.

Set in what used to be the country retreat for Pope Julius III, the Etruscan museum in Rome stores some impressive artefacts of the mysterious Etruscan and pre-Roman treasures. The Sarcophagus of the Spouses depicting a reclining man and woman on its lid is the masterpiece in here and a true example of art from the 6th century BC.

The Basilica of San Clemente is more than a simple church; it is a real museum that houses layers and layers of history. Behind the humble doors of the 12th-century church lie the remnants of the original basilica dating back to the 4th century, the remains of a 1st-century Roman villa, and breathtaking Byzantine mosaics beautifully adorning the ceiling.

Built in honour of Emperor Augustus after his triumphant return from the wars in Spain and Gaul, the Ara Pacis Augustae or the Altar of the Augustan Peace is dedicated to Pax Augusta. Originally in Campus Martius, the Altar was installed to its current position only in 1938.

Built under Emperor Caracalla, the Thermae Antoninianae is what remains of once functioning ancient public baths. It is, as of today, one of the best (and largest) remaining examples of a similar structure.

While a wax museum might not be among the Eternal City's top attractions, it will probably interest second- and third-time visitors with its curious collection of well-known Italian and international figures (from Pavarotti to Winston Churchill) and a waxworks laboratory open to guests.

Once the temporary retreat and later home to decorated Roman Emperor Hadrian, Villa Adriana dates back millennia when it was conceived as an "ideal city" with baths, pools, fountains, and lush gardens. The structure combined elements of Greek, Roman and Egyptian influences. Since 1999, Villa Adriana belongs to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Villa d’Este is an unparalleled example of Renaissance architecture, located just under an hour away from the city centre in Tivoli (next to Villa Adriana). Marvel at its fountains, terraces and gardens, explore the building from the inside and feel like one of the many artworks featuring Villa d’Este has come alive.

Dedicated to the Romantic poets — Keats, Shelley and Byron — who each stayed in Rome and died tragically young, this charming period house contains a chain of rooms lined with rare books and relics, including Keats’ last resting place. There’s also a gift shop, introductory film, and a spacious terrace.

From 1786 to 1788, the great poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) lived with other German artists in the centre of Rome. Today, the museum Casa di Goethe commemorates the famous guest and his Italian journey with exhibitions and cultural events.

MAXXI, Italy’s first national museum devoted to the arts of the XXI century and designed by Zaha Hadid, is a platform open to all forms of contemporary creativity, from art to architecture, from photography to design, from fashion to cinema. A place for meetings, exchange and collaboration.