▲▲▲ Colosseum Huge stadium where gladiators fought.
▲▲▲ Roman Forum Ancient Rome's main square, with ruins and grand arches.
▲▲▲ Capitoline Museums Ancient statues, mosaics, and expansive view of Forum.
▲▲▲ Pantheon The defining domed temple.
▲▲▲ St. Peter's Basilica Most impressive church on earth, with Michelangelo's Pietà and dome.
▲▲▲ Vatican Museums Four miles of the finest art of Western civilization, culminating in Michelangelo's glorious Sistine Chapel.
▲▲▲ Borghese Gallery Bernini sculptures and paintings by Caraggio, Raphael, and Titian in a Baroque palazzo.
▲▲▲ National Museum of Rome Greatest collection of Roman sculpture anywhere.
▲▲ Trajan's Column and Forum Tall column with narrative relief, plus nearby forum ruins.
▲▲ Baths of Caracalla Impressive ruins of a lish bath complex (never crowded).
▲▲ St. Peter-in-Chains Church with Michelangelo's Moses.
▲▲ Dolce Vita Stroll Evening passeggiata, where Romans strut their stuff.
▲▲ Catacombs Underground tombs, mainly Christian, some outside the city.
▲▲ Church of San Giovanni in Laterano Grandiose and historic “home church of the popes,” with one-of-a-kind Holy Stairs across the street.
▲ Museo dell'Ara Pacis Shrine marking the beginning of Rome's golden age.
▲ Palatine Hill Ruins of emperors' palaces, Circus Maximus view, and museum.
▲ Arch of Constantine Honors the emperor who legalized Christianity.
▲ Imperial Forums Museum and Trajan's Market Museum displaying discoveries from the Imperial Forums, housed in the tremains of Trajan's Market.
▲ The Roman House at Palazzo Valentini Remains of an ancient house and bath brought to life through a sound-and-light tour.
▲ Piazza del Campidoglio Square atop Capitoline Hill, designed by Michelangelo, with a museum, grand stairway, and Forum overlooks.
▲ Victor Emmanuel Monument Gigantic edifice celebrating Italian unity, with Rome from the Sky elevator ride up to 360-degree city view.
▲ Trevi Fountain Baroque hot spot into which tourists throw coins to ensure a return trip to Rome.
▲ Castel Sant'Angelo Hadrian's Tomb turned castle, prison, papal refuge, now museum.
▲ Baths of Diocletian/Basilica S. Maria degli Angeli Once ancient Rome's immense public baths, now a Michelangelo church.