Top Ancient Rome Sites

Rome is full of remains from its glorious past. You'll find a variety of sites from the famous Roman Colosseum and Forum to Roman baths and catacombs. Some ancient Rome sites can be visited for free but most charge admission.

The glories of ancient Rome are easily accessible to the visitor. Some sites can be visited for free while others are part of Rome Passes and Cards. Most ancient sites are in Rome's historic center so you can visit several places in one day. Even if you don't have time to take an in-depth look, just walking by some of these places is incredible and gives you an overview of ancient Rome's history.

The Colosseum

Ancient Rome's huge amphitheater, holding up to 55,000 people, was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD 80 and was the scene of many deadly gladiatorial and wild animal fights. Today you may see men dressed in gladiatorial costume as you walk between the Colosseum and the nearby Arch of Constantine, built in AD 315. On Sundays, the Via dei Fori Imperiali leading to the Colosseum is closed to traffic so it's a great place for a stroll (if you don't mind the souvenir vendors). Ticket lines can be long but there are several ways to buy Colosseum tickets faster.

Opening Hours and Tickets: check the web site, COLOSSEUM TICKETS OFFICE, for updated hours, cost, and special events.

The standard admission ticket covers all three monuments, The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, and is valid for 2 days.

The RomaPass also covers The Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.

Roman Forum

The ancient Roman Forum is a huge complex of ruined temples, basilicas, and arches. It was the ceremonial, legal, social, and business center of ancient Rome (The food stalls and brothels were removed in the second century BC). To get a good view, walk up the Capitoline Hill behind the museums. Give yourself at least 1-2 hours to wander around, then continue up to the Palatine Hill, also included in the ticket.

The Palatine Hill

The emperors and aristocrats of ancient Rome lived on the Palatine Hill starting in the first century BC. The Domus Flavia and Domus Augustana, built in the first century AD, were the official residence of the emperors for over 300 years. Admission also includes the Palatine Museum, the Roman Forum, and Colosseum.

Trajan's Market

Thought to be the world's oldest shopping mall, the arcades in Trajan's Market are now believed by many to be administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. The shops and apartments were built in a multi-level structure and you can visit several of the levels. Highlights include delicate marble floors and the remains of a library. The new Museum of the Imperial Forums houses a wealth of artifacts from all of ancient Rome's forums. Trajan's Market is at Via Quattro Novembre 94, closed on Mondays.

Opening Hours and Tickets: check the web site, Mercati di Traiano, for updated hours, cost, and special events.

The Capitoline Hill  and The Capitoline Museums

Above the Roman Forum, the Capitoline Hill was Rome's symbolic center and held the Temple of Jupiter. Today there are two museums, the oldest public museums in the world, the Palazzo Nuovo, with Greek and Roman sculptures, and the Palazzo dei Conservatori, with art galleries, sculptures, and frescoes. One ticket gives you admission to both. Just like in ancient Rome, the hill still has the best view of Rome's center.

Opening Hours and Tickets: check the web site, The Capitoline Museums, for updated hours, cost, and special events.

The Pantheon

Rome's Pantheon, the temple of all the gods, was built between AD 118-125 by Emperor Hadrian. In the 7th century it was made into a church by early Christians and now is lined with tombs. Go inside to see the spectacular dome. Admission is free. The Pantheon is the best preserved building of ancient Rome and today is surrounded by a pleasant and lively piazza, a nice place to sit in the evening and enjoy a drink.

Pantheon Visitor information

The Pantheon is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on holidays that fall on weekdays except for Christmas Day, New Year's Day and May 1, when it is closed. Admission is free.

After the Mass of Pentecost (50th day after Easter) is celebrated, firemen climb to the top of the dome to drop rose petals from the oculus. If you get there early (hours before the mass) you may be able to find a few inches of floor space from which to observe this extremely popular event.

Piazza Navona

Originally built as a stadium in the first century for athletic contests and chariot races, Piazza Navona is now lined with luxurious cafes and is the home to three lavish Baroque fountains. The much-touted ice-cream dessert, tartufo, is said to have originated here and you can still try it in the cafes as a splurge.  The square still retains its oval shape. The obelisk at the far end of the picture came from Egypt and was originally in the Circus of Maxentius but later moved to Piazza Navona.

If you want to see the remains of the ancient stadium, you may visit the Stadio di Domiziano Archaeological Area.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Check the web site, the Stadio di Domiziano Archaeological Area, for updated hours, cost and special events.

Baths of Diocletian

The Baths of Diocletian, once covering 32 acres, were the largest public baths or thermae in ancient Rome. Although much of the original structure has been destroyed, remains of the baths are now part of the National Roman Museum. Several painted tombs have been moved and reconstructed inside the baths. They can be seen when you visit the baths, open every day except Monday. The baths can be visited with the Four museums ticket and Rome archeology card.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Check the web site, Baths of Diocletian, for updated hours, cost and special events.

Baths of Caracalla

At the foot of the Aventine hill are the monumental ruins of the Baths of Caracalla, used from the Second to Sixth century AD. Taking a bath was a social event for the people of ancient Rome and the huge complex could hold up to 1600 bathers! Besides baths, they held an array of facilities such as a gym, art galleries, gardens, and shops selling food and drinks.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Check the web site, Baths of Caracalla, or updated hours, cost and special events.

Via Appia Antica and Catacombs

The Via Appia was once the major road to ancient Rome with construction starting in 312 BC. The Appian Way is now a 10-mile long archaeological park, lined with ruins of tombs and monuments. A good way to visit is by bike, although I enjoy walking it. Some of the catacombs, burial places of the early Christians, are open for public tours - check for the time of the English tour when you arrive.

To get to the catacombs and Via Appia Antica, take bus 218 from San Giovanni Metro Stop or the Archeo bus that stops at several sites. The catacombs are visited on a guided tour lasting 20 minutes to an hour, given in several different languages. The three catacombs easiest to visit have different closing periods so you should always find at least one of them open. Hours are generally 8:30-12:00 and 2:30-5:00. You can buy tickets for the tours at the entrance to each catacomb.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Check the web site, The Christian Catacombs of Rome, for updated hours, cost and special events.

Ostia Antica

Although not actually in Rome, the ruins of the ancient Roman port of Ostia Antica, easily accessible from Rome on public transportation, are well worth a visit. It's a huge complex and you can easily spend several hours wandering around the old streets, shops, and houses. You should plan at least a half day for this trip.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Check the web site, Ostia Antica, for updated hours, cost and special events.

Roman Houses Under Saints John and Paul Church

Under the Church of Saints John and Paul are excavations of Roman buildings, including what's believed to be the house of the two saints and an early Christian worship site. The Roman buildings were discovered during excavations to find the tombs of John and Paul and are now open to the public along with a small museum.

Opening Hours and Tickets: Case Romane di Celio is open Thursdays - Mondays, 10:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 18:00. Admission in 2014 is 6 euro. Check the web site, CaseRomane di Celio, for updated hours, cost, and special events.

Source http://goeurope.about.com