On Each Visit We Discovered Iconic Sights In Rome Italy
Rome was a gateway city to Italy for us and on each visit we found more iconic sights in Rome Italy. It was great to re-visit the sites. But every time we planned a return trip, we added a few new spots to wander. And sometimes we just found a great piazza and sat like a local enjoying the atmosphere.
To get a good overview of this city, there were many tours in Rome. And a couple of different hop-on-hop-off bus choices. We often just wandered by foot. Until we gave up and hailed an Uber or cab to end our day. Ready to head back out again the next day.
Historic Landmarks In Rome
There were so many famous historic landmarks in Italy to enjoy. We explored the Colosseum on early visits to Rome. It was fascinating to see the inside and imagine the past.
When we visited Rome to start our trip to Sicily and Malta, we found an amazing viewpoint over the ruins below the Palatine Hill. In the distance we saw the colosseum. We admired Trajans Column with the Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Maria Al Foro Triana in the background.
Piazza del Campidoglio on the ancient Capitoline Hill was always worth a stop in Rome. In the centre of the square we found an imposing bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius on horseback. And horses stood ready for flight high on the building. As we walked around we found even more ruins.
On the highest hill in Rome we found the Piazza del Quirinale and admired the obelisk and the statues of Castor and Pollux flanked by a horse. The Quirinale Palace was the President’s home. When we visited, traffic was stopped and re-routed when the President was en-route. Sadly we missed the changing of the guard that happened each day at 3pm.
We visited the Spanish steps several times. And have enjoyed the local atmosphere sitting on the steps as the sun went down.
Exploring the historic sights of Rome was a great way to enjoy the city. It certainly spurred us on to find new iconic sights in Rome Italy.
St Peter’s Basilica And The Vatican Museum Are Must-See Sights In Rome
St Peter’s Basilica in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City was one of the holiest and perhaps the biggest Catholic churches in the world. The Pope delivered services in this church throughout the year. The inside of the church contained many impressive pieces of art. Wandering around the church we found statues to many of the popes through history.
The incredible dome was a stunning sight. It was started by Michelangelo and was finished by Giacomo Della Porta and Carlo Maderno. We sadly did not have time to climb to the top of the dome and see the panoramic view from above.
Beside St Peter’s Basilica we visited the Vatican Museum. As we walked through we admired the artistic decorations on the walls and ceilings. Marble statues decorated many spaces in the Vatican Museum.
We were amazed when we entered the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling painted by Michelangelo drew our eyes up. Biblical stories filled every square inch of space. With no photography allowed, we used the time to absorb what we saw.
Both St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum were crammed full of amazing things to see. One visit could never be enough. Visiting over and over again will definitely keep these iconic sights in Rome Italy in our minds.
There Was Always Another Church To Visit In Rome
St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum ranked at the top of lists of churches to visit in Rome. But it was hard not to find other local churches as we wandered in Rome.
When we visited the Trevi Fountain we enjoyed some quiet time inside the Chiesa di Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio at the Trevi Fountain. It was definitely worth a stop on a visit to the famous fountain.
The Pantheon drew us early on our visits to Rome. This former Roman temple became a Catholic Church and was still used today. There was much to admire in the interior. And as the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, the roof certainly was impressive.
We stayed in Rome at the beginning of our trip to Sicily and Malta. When we visited the Travestere area of Rome we did not want to miss the Basilica Maria deTrastavere. This was probably the first official place of Christian worship in Rome and there was much history to discover. The inside and outside was an artistic delight.
When we enjoyed a 5 day luxury stay at the St Regis Rome, we barely stepped out of our hotel before we found the Chiasa di Santa Susanna, Chiesa Evangleica Metodista, Chiesa Santa Maria del Vittoria and the Basilca of Saint Mary of Angels. We admired the churches from outside but we did not go inside.
There were always more churches to visit as we wandered for new discoveries in Rome Italy.
The Fountains In Rome Cooled Us Down On Hot Days
Every visit seemed to take us back to the Trevi Fountain. Tossing a coin with our right hand over our left shoulder must work to bring us back!
As we wandered around Rome, it was never hard to find another great water fountain to admire. And in hot weather, the water spray was cooling. While we might have been tempted to cool down in the fountains, we knew it was illegal and frowned upon.
The piazzas in Rome were always a good spot to find a beautiful fountain. When we stayed at the lovely St Regis Rome, a short walk took us to the Naiads (or Nymphs) fountains at Piazza de Republica. In the other direction we found the Fontana Dell’ Acqua Felice. It was fascinating to look at the details carved into the statues.
The Quattro Fontane (Four Fountains) was a set of four Late Renaissance fountains. On this stunning corner, each fountain was different and deserved some attention. One fountain represented the Tiber River for Rome. Another was for the Arno River and Florence. The fountain for the Goddess Juno symbolized strength. And the final fountain for the Goddess Diana symbolized chastity.
Close to the Quattro Fontane we found the Triton fountain. This was built for Pope Urban VIII Barberini. We saw the four dolphins with intertwined tails and the papal coats of arms with bees supported on a large shell.
On wandering to find iconic sights in Rome Italy, we looked for the fountains and enjoyed a cooling stop.
Crossing The Tiber River In Trastavere For New Discoveries In Rome Italy
On our stay in Rome before our trip to Sicily and Malta, we took a day trip across the Tiber River and explored the Trastavere area of Rome. After our Uber dropped us off, we strolled along the riverbank for a calm tranquil view. Boat tours slowly went by as we watched.
We meandered along the narrow cobblestone streets and took in all the sights. There was always something to see when we turned a corner. It had all the charm we expected when we visited.
We were sad we did not book tickets to see the frescoes at the Villa Farnesina. Or explore the Baroque Palazzo Corsini. All good reasons we will return to Trastavere on another visit to Rome.
Heading across the Tiber River was a great thing to do when you start an Italy visit in Rome. It certainly was a very different part of the city for iconic sights in Rome Italy.
We Found New Discoveries In Rome Italy For Tasty Food
I am not sure we ever had a bad meal in Italy. We love Italian food and the Mediterranean cuisine. Seafood and pasta were always plentiful and fresh. We loved when we found discoveries where the locals eat.
We have been spoiled by local Italian food that we found. On a food tour in Bologna, we learned about authentic Parmesan cheese, prosciutto and aged balsamic vinegar. Now we only purchase certified products and look for the good stuff when we travel. Luckily at home in Toronto we have good access to imported Italian products.
We have equally been spoiled by authentic Neapolitan-style pizza with thin crust, sweet tomato sauce and buffalo mozzarella. We always searched in Rome for the perfect pizza.
On our visit to Rome before heading to Sicily, we even went in search of an authentic Sicilian arancini (rice ball). Although we only learned to eat them upside down like an ice cream cone after eating many on our visit to Sicily.
No visit to Rome was complete without a search for the perfect gelato. David the chocoholic found amazing dark chocolate (extra fondonte) gelato at every place we stopped. But it took me several stops and a personal recommendation before I found the salted caramel gelato. And when we spent 5 weeks in Sicily, caramel gelato was also a bit more elusive.
A quest for great Italian food was always brought us new discoveries in Rome Italy.
So Many Iconic Sights In Rome To Discover
Even after many visits, we continue to find new iconic sights in Rome Italy. The sites are so massive that one visit was never enough.
We found new fountains, buildings and churches on every street we wandered. Each area of Rome was quite unique and we loved exploring new areas like Trastavere. Food discoveries spoiled us and changed our taste preferences forever.
Have you found iconic sights in Rome Italy? Was it exploring familiar sites or new ones?
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My daughter recently visited Rome and because of what she shared about her trip, I am excited to visit the place one day. I am glad to read about the iconic Colosseum and the awe-inspiring Vatican City.
I hope you do get to visit Rome one day. So many amazing iconic sites.
Wonderful pictures. Rome is definitely a city one can visit numerous times and still discover new iconic sights and hidden gems. It seems you had beautiful sunny weather too during your visit!
We have enjoyed every visit we made to Rome. And it does seem like the sun is always shining!
I love visiting Rome, it is such a thrilling city. My favorite iconic site in Rome is the Trevi Fountain.
We have visited the Trevi Fountain on every trip to Rome we have made. Always surprised at how crazy busy it is! But glad it was not under repair when we visited this time.
SO much rich history,,the Vatican Museum is at the top fo my list..and a food tour for sure! I want ALL the food!
Every trip to Rome we find more iconic sights to see. And re-visit!
As usual, wonderful photos and great details in this post! I love Rome and we were just there last spring and I remembered again why I love it. I lived in Italy when I was in my early 20’s to model via Ford Models in NYC ( common practice then and a whole gaggle of girls modeling living in one house). It was my first long stay in Europe and even though I got homesick sometimes, I really loved it and feel like Italy will always be one of my homes in this world. These photos bring back so many happy memories!
I am so happy to bring back such happy memories of Rome. We took keep growing our Rome memories.
I’d love to visit Rome so it’s lovely to hear about your visit to these sights, and also about crossing the Tiber River and exploring the streets there. So beautiful!
We have wanted to visit Trastavere on previous trips to Rome and just never made it. Happy when we finally did cross the Tiber River!
Rome is such a unique city, a paradise for history and art lovers. Every time I visit, I end up discovering new things! To the most iconic sights I would also add Villa Borghese gardens and Borghese Gallery. Thanks for the inspiration!
We did visit the Villa Borghese on an early visit to Rome. Need to go back again!
Been to Rome twice and never heard about The Quattro Fontane. They have a very similar thing in Palermo Sicilly with 4 fountains facing eachother 🙂
We saw the Quattro Fontane in Rome and then we sought out the similar fountains in Sicily too!
The Vatican Museum looks lovely, I’d love to visit Rome! I used to live in Palermo and I love seeing some of the same familiar architecture here. Missing arancina as well, so delicious.
We love finding new iconic sights in Rome on each visit. And were happy to discover arancini on this last visit.
Rome is just such a fantastic city to explore! I took my kids last year and even though we spent 4 days there it wasn’t enough to see everything! This blog post has deffo inspired me to go back
Laura x
It is great to find new iconic sights in Rome on each visit. You would definitely enjoy a return visit … or two!
Rome is one of my favourite cities in the world. Maybe because it was the first city I have ever visited abroad. I went there at least 10 times. Last year I revisited the Colosseum and the Roman Forum and ended up spending an entire day just in this area. I was always fascinated by the Roman Empire, and stepping on the same stones that the Romans did, over 2000 years ago, seemed so surreal. I also go to the Vatican, every time I’m in Rome. There’s something about it that makes me want to go over and over, to discover a new painting or sculpture, or a new quiet place inside the Basilica, where I can just sit and gather my thoughts.
We too have always been fascinated with the Roman Empire and how far it expanded. Amazing to see so many ruins in Rome. We really need to plan a re-visit to the Vatican!
I hadn’t thought to use Rome as a gateway to other travels, but it’s a great idea. We’ve visited Rome, but I would love to have more time to find some of the lesser known sights.
Rome is often our first stop in Italy so we are happy to add a few sites on each trip. And to find those off the beaten path.
Dream trip to do sooner then later :D! Thank you for the inspo
I hope you do get to visit Rome one day. So many great iconic sights in Rome to see.
Rome was our gateway to Italy as well. I would love to return and revisit some of these iconic landmarks and discover new ones you have listed. So much history and beauty!
We were so happy to finally get back to Rome. It was great to go back to old favourites and discover new spots too.
Rome is amazing! The combination of architecture, rich history and delicious food is a winning combination for me!
Rome definitely does have that winning combination. Each trip we want to discover more!
Rome has so many iconic sights. Each time I visit I discover something new. I loved Galleria and Villa Borghese and all four Papal Basilicas. I hope see Palazo Colona someday. Thanks for your insights stunning photos.
I forgot all about our visit to Villa Borghese in this post. We will need to go back to refresh those memories. Will definitely have to check ou the Papal Basilicas.
Lovely post! I have been to Rome several times but I have discovered so many new places!! I can’t wait to go back and try that chocolate gelato!
It is great to go back to cities like Rome and keep discovering new iconic sites. And search for that great gelato!
Ooh! I agree that gelato is a must, and I too would love the salted caramel (although wouldn’t complain about double chocolate, either!). I’m sad you didn’t have time to go to the top of the dome. I bet the view was stunning, but as much as you travel, you’ll probably have time next time you go back to Rome! 🙂
Every time we visit cities like Rome, we leave with a long list of places to visit again. We will not miss the dome on a return trip.
I’m looking forward to visiting Rome next month. It’s been years since I was there. This post will come in handy.
I am loving your travels in Italy this year. We were excited to finally get back to Italy and spend some time re-visiting Rome.
Rome was my very first international destination, so it’ll always hold a special place in my heart! I loved this walk down memory lane. When I went though, the Trevi Fountain was under renovation so the whole thing was hidden behind scaffolding. I need to go back to re-see that alone!
We always hate when we run into sights that are under renovation. A visit to the Trevi Fountain will definitely be worth it on a return trip to see iconic sights in Rome.
I have been to Rome many times and this city never stops to amaze me. Vatican Museum is one of the best places to visit, just amazing collection of art!
I have to agree that there are so many great spots to visit in Rome – and go back over and over again!
So beautiful! Italy is definitely on the bucket list for my husband and I. I loved seeing all the iconic sites!
I hope you get to visit Italy and spend some time in Rome. So many amazing sights.
Rome is definitely one of our favorite destinations. I agree with you that there are just so many famous historic landmarks to enjoy. We make sure to visit St. Peter’s Basilica every time. I had no idea that Giamoco Della Porta and Carlo Maderno finished the dome. I thought it was all done by Michaelangelo. Happy to learn something new today. 🙂
We do need to return to both St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican the next time we are in Rome. Always good reasons to go back!
These are sure iconic sights! I’d love to visit the St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum being a Catholic and an admirer of sculpture and intricate decorations. I feel like there’s just so much to really see and experience in Rome. Reading this post already brings me half way there. Quattro Fontane look amazing. The architecture of it is just wow!
Architecture is definitely one of the reasons to spend your time wandering in Rome. So many iconic sights to enjoy.