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Must Visit Attractions in Rome

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Many statues have been used in Rome to represent opinions conflicting opinions. One of the most famous is that of Pasquino in the wall of the Palazzo De Carolis, which dates back to the 16th Century. Like the other five "talking statues," Pasquino or Il Facchino had roasts and character assassinations (Pasquinades)—which are certainly not modern-day phenomena—posted beside it in the 14th and 15th centuries. It shows a man holding a barrel from which a jet of water spurts out. Many hypotheses have been put forth as to who the man is supposed to be: Martin Luther, a member of the Università degli Acquaroli or a certain Abbondio Rizzio, a famous and garrulous drinker.

Walking down a long staircase, you will find a deep but small vat. The colors around you are those of the frescoe- and mosaic-covered walls and ceilings. You can see Diana, surrounded by deer and the nymphs of her court, while doves drink from a spring in a bright yellow niche. Small children play and fish near the vat. The mosaic on the ceiling is not entirely visible because of the ravages of time, but some details are still visible, such as two figures, with one kneeling, and a spring gushing from a rock. This has caused some debate among scholars. Do the woodland scenes and the vat filled with water mean it was a nymphaeum? Was it an ancient place of baptism? The presence of pagan figures alongside Christian symbols is also an unusual feature. The mystery has yet to be solved.

Designed by some of Italy's most famous master artists, St. Peter's Basilica is not only the world's largest church but also one of its most spectacular. Originally built at the site of St. Peter's grave around 349 CE by Emperor Constantine, the basilica, as it stands today, was consecrated in 1626 at the culmination of over 120 years of construction. The original designs were laid out by Bramante in 1506; however, over the following years, the ambitious designs were altered by several renowned architects, including Michelangelo, Giacomo Della Porta and Carlo Maderno, each adding their own personal touch to the magnificent design. St. Peter's Basilica now enshrines some of the world's most famed artworks, including Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldachin. An intricately adorned dome that is revered as Michelangelo’s most grand architectural legacy crowns the splendid facade and riches that lie within. The Pope delivers the Urbi et Orbi blessing each year on the occasion of Christmas and Easter from the basilica's central balcony, attracting millions of devout pilgrims to the threshold of St. Peter's each year. He remains the only one who can serve at the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica.

The magnanimous proportions of the Colosseum have long been a source of wonder. Originally envisioned in 70 CE, the construction of this grand structure was completed in 80 CE. At that time, it is believed that this vast amphitheater could seat upwards of 50,000 spectators at once. The Colosseum also features on the Italian version of the five-cent Euro. Deemed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Colosseum was designed to be a horse racing circuit and arena for animal fighting and gladiatorial battles, although it has also hosted significant religious ceremonies in its early days. It is a symmetrical wonder set in the historic landscape of Rome's heart. The enormous ruin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered by many to be an iconic symbol of Italy.

The Colombario di Pomponio Hylas is an ancient Roman columbarium, a repository for cinerary urns containing the ashes of the deceased. The vault, widely used from the time of Augustus, was highly suited for mass burials. The name is derived from the shape of these sepulchres, whose walls had niches capable of holding hundreds of urns containing the ashes of the deceased. The vault of Pomponius Hylas is one of the most interesting, reached by a small staircase with statues of two griffins on each side to protect the sepulcher from the evil eye. The interior contains brightly colored mosaics depicting birds, vines, and dancers in a garden. There are also portrayals of mythological figures like Achilles, Ochus, and Orpheus.

Enclosed by Bernini's magnificent colonnade, this square has the largest number of visitors in the world. Millions of tourists wait here either for the Pope's Sunday blessing or to enter the Basilica. More than a square, the colonnade gives it the atmosphere of a courtyard, inviting people to enter the church. The obelisk in the heart of the square has been standing there since 1586. When a new pope is being chosen, thousands gather at St. Peter's Square keen to see the black smoke turn white and find out who the next pope is going to be. During Christmas, a nativity scene and a Christmas tree are installed, and there is a remarkable atmosphere of celebration, with the majestic dome dominating the scene behind.

A visit to the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano, a minor basilica in Rome, is a fascinating journey through time. From the upper basilica, which dates back to the beginning of the 12th Century, and whose apse boasts the mosaic The Triumph of the Cross, one travels through time into the 4th-century lower basilica, and via a stairway, down to the Roman constructions and the Mithraeum, a 3rd-century temple dedicated to the God Mithras. Of particular interest are the frescoes in the chapel of St Catherine, painted between 1428 and 1431 by Masolino da Panicale, possibly with the collaboration of Masaccio.

Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, the Trevi Fountain was completed in the second half of the 18th Century. A towering likeness of Oceanus forms the centerpiece of the Baroque fountain, with Abundance and Salubrity on either side, while the rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop. Tritons guide the chariot of Oceanus, and all around the water flows, its gushing sound rising to a crescendo befitting the all-consuming power it represents. Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to Rome. Anita Ekberg's dip in the Trevi Fountain was immortalized in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Featured in numerous movies since Trevi Fountain has long inspired the passions of the human race and continues to be revered the world over as one of Italy's most triumphant sculptural works.

Originally commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, and subsequently rebuilt by Hadrian, the Pantheon is a monumental homage to the architectural finesse and ingenuity of the Romans. Massive bronze doors guard the entrance to the central space, sheltered by the graceful arch of the Pantheon's dome. The temple was transformed into a church in the early 7th Century by Pope Boniface IV and has remained well-preserved as a result. The building's primary source of light is the oculus, a circular opening at the dome's apex, rimmed with the original Roman bronze used at the time of its construction. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including the Renaissance painter, Raphael, and King Vittorio Emanuele I.

A bygone beacon of the Roman Empire, the Foro Romano was the nucleus of social, political and economic life in this historic city. Located between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills, it was a revered meeting place that witnessed the alpha and omega of a thriving empire. Triumphal processions raked the regal roads of this plaza, while morbid silences hung in the air after trials and executions that were carried out. Among the priceless vestiges that remain today, the most salient ones include the Regia, the royal residence, the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Saturn. Towards the northwest, the Umbilicus Urbis indicates the symbolic heart of Ancient Rome, and the northern aisle of the Basilica of Maxentius still stands in grandeur. While their transient glory is lost to the ravages of time, what is left behind is not less than awe-inspiring. Worn columns, near-crumbling facades of ancient marble and stoic triumphal arcs still dominate the ruins' antiquated skyline.

The origins of this theater go back to 23 BCE, when Augustus had it built in honor of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, his nephew and adopted son. The theater had space for 20,000 people and was used for games and celebrations. The construction fell into ruin during the following centuries due to plunder and fire. In fact, it became a sort of quarry from which materials were taken for the construction of buildings, churches and so forth. Restoration began in about 1300, when the Savelli family bought the ruins. The same family performed further work two centuries later, and the Orsinis, who acquired the complex to enlarge their own building, continued this. They restored part of the theater. Today, concerts are organized here, and this is the only way of seeing it from the inside.

During the Middle Ages, Piazza del Popolo formed the main entrance to the city for pilgrims and travelers arriving on the Via Flaminia (from the north). It was only when Pope Sixtus V placed the Egyptian obelisk of Ramses II in the center of the square that Piazza del Popolo took on its current function. The obelisk is the tip of the trident formed by the three streets that begin in the square: Via del Corso , Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino. Valadier was the architect who gave the square its present elliptical appearance by building the two ramps that lead to the Pincio. Two shell-shaped fountains overlooked by groups of statues stand in two hemicycles.

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