What to see in Rome?
While in Rome you can visit many of the ancient Roman ruins such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, Tabularium and Circus Maximus. Other sights in the city include the Capitoline Museums, the Capuchin Monastery, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’Angelo and of course, the Vatican.
What to see in the Rome area?
If you want to head out of the city, then you could perhaps pop out to the Castelli Romani. These 16 hill towns are located outside the city and have served as getaway destinations for city dwellers due to their easy access. Frascati, in particular, is known for its white wine which is definitely worth sampling. The town of Rocca Priora is home to the Savelli Castle and is located in the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani.
Located out of the city and near the airport you’ll find the ancient harbour of Rome, Ostia Antica. This was the first colony of the city and serves as both a harbour and a military base. Unlike in Rome, there is no modern town built on the ruins of Ostia Antica so you can get quite a taste of what a true Roman town was like.
About 30 or so kilometres from Rome you’ll come to the town of Tivoli. Here you’ll find the Villa d’Este which is a masterpiece of Italian architecture and garden design. The whole estate has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List and is definitely worth wandering around.
Pompeii is one of Italy’s most famous tourist attractions and is only about 200kms from Rome on the other side of Naples. This city was destroyed in 79AD by the erupting Mount Vesuvius but it also preserved the city for all time.