Rome is an ancient city with rich history and beautiful architecture where anyone can fall in love with. It is one of the must see cities of Italy and offers several classic masterpieces all over the city. If you are a history lover, it is definitely a place that you have to visit at least once in your lifetime. It’s been a popular saying that your entire lifetime is also not enough to see Rome.
Here are our lists of top ancient historical sites of Rome which must be visited on your trip to Rome:
1. Palatine
The Palatine Hill is one of the most ancient historical sites of the city located on the center of the Seven Hills of Rome. It is located around the major attractions of the area like the Colosseum, Circus Maximus, and the Roman Forum. It has been known from the archeological findings that the Palatine Hill were inhabited from as old as 10th century BC. The Hill has been linked to a Roman mythology and is being believed that the twins Romulus and Remus were found in the Lupercal Cave where they have been cared by she-wolf. And later Romulus killed his brother Remus and builds the city at the Palatine hill. Present day Palatine is beautiful spot for picnics and great historical sites to witness the imperial ruins.
2. Colosseum
It is the most amazing monuments of the ancient Rome. It is not just the huge building it clearly depicts how gladiators fought till the last breath of their life with hungry lions. The job of gladiator was to entertain the audiences of the Roman Empire by fighting violently with either other gladiators, hungry lions and other wild animals or violent criminals. The Colosseum was deserted in the 6th century by the fall of the empire. After that it was a fortress in the Middle Ages, it has been terribly damaged by several earthquakes. Even after more than two thousand years, it is the major attractions drawing millions of tourists every year.
3. Frescoes in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Frescoes in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Rome is a fine museum opened in the year 1998. The museum offers several gems which include sculptures and marble friezes way back from 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. There are rich coloured frescoes from Augustanera villa, like the cubicula (the bedrooms) which displays various religious and erotic subjects, the landscape paintings from the triclinium (the dining room), and the garden paintings from Villa Livia. It was one of homes of Livia Drusilla, the wife of Augustus.
4. Pantheon
It is distinguishable by its thick brick walls and huge marble columns; it leaves a lasting impression on the minds of the visitors. Here the 43 meter high dome is the most remarkable feature of the building. It was the highest dome in the entire world till 1436. There is a large opening at the top of the dome also called oculus and is the only opening for the source of sunlight. This opening is also having a religious connection between the temple and the gods. It is no doubt that Pantheon is most remarkable building of the ancient Rome. This temple was later converted in to a church in 609. It is however contains tombs of one of the most well known artist Raphael and many Italian Kings.
5. Mithraic temple in San Clemente
The Basilica di San Clemente is an ancient Christian basilica in Rome which was dedicated to Pope St. Clement.The church has a very beautiful interior, and it comprises of three distinctive historical layers. The basilica of 12th century was built on top of the 4th-century church which was basically built next to a Mithraic Temple of 2rd century. Mithraism was a cult which was very popular among the ancient Roman military. As per the mythology, Mithras was a young God who was asked to slay a wild bull by the Sun. but as the bull died, it gave life as the blood of bull flow and offer wheat and other plants to grow.
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