Rome is a place where time folds in layers of marble, art, and espresso steam, where ancient gods watch over cobblestone lanes and modern life hums to the same rhythm it has for millennia. Whether you’re wandering for love, faith, art, or sheer wonder, here are twelve ways to let Rome completely seduce you.
1. Step into History at the 2025 Rome Jubilee
Every 25 years, Rome opens its heart to the world. The Jubilee, a sacred Catholic celebration, turns the city into a stage for faith, beauty, and rebirth. For visitors, it’s more than pilgrimage; it’s witnessing a city reawaken. Basilicas gleam after restorations, hidden chapels reopen, and the Holy Doors swing wide at St. Peter’s Basilica, inviting you to walk through centuries of devotion. Whether you’re religious or not, this is the year to see Rome at its most radiant, alive with ceremonies, concerts, and quiet moments of awe under the Vatican’s marble vaults.
2. Relive the Glory of the Colosseum
No matter how many postcards you’ve seen, the first sight of the Colosseum is breathtaking. Built in 72 AD, this ancient amphitheatre once echoed with cheers of 80,000 spectators watching gladiators battle for glory. Today, it’s silent but mighty, a monument to Rome’s endurance. Stand on the newly opened arena floor, look up to the terraces where emperors once sat, and feel the weight of history in the air. At sunset, when the golden light spills through the arches, you’ll understand why the Colosseum remains the beating heart of the Eternal City.
3. Gaze Heavenward in the Sistine Chapel
To see Michelangelo’s frescoes is to see human genius at its most divine. Inside the Vatican Museums, among sculptures and masterpieces by Raphael and Caravaggio, the Sistine Chapel stands as the crown jewel. The ceiling, painted in the early 1500s, feels almost alive, a swirling cosmos of prophets and angels. Go late in the day if you can, and linger as closing time nears. When the crowd thins and the room quiets, you’ll find yourself alone with the Creation of Adam, one of the rarest luxuries in the world.
4. Marvel at the Majesty of the Pantheon
Perfect geometry, celestial light, and timeless grandeur, the Pantheon is ancient architecture perfected. Built by Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD, it remains one of Rome’s best-preserved wonders. Its massive dome, crowned with a circular oculus open to the sky, connects earth and heaven in one perfect frame. When it rains, the drops fall directly onto the marble floor; when the sun shines, a golden beam moves like a sundial through the temple. Visit during Pentecost, when thousands of rose petals drift down from the oculus, an unforgettable, almost mystical sight.
5. Toss a Coin at the Trevi Fountain
Rome has more than two thousand fountains, but none capture the city’s soul quite like Trevi. Cascading marble, mythic figures, and the music of rushing water, it’s a scene made for cinema (and indeed immortalized by Fellini). The tradition is simple: throw a coin over your left shoulder, and Rome promises your return. Go early, before the crowds gather, when the morning light turns the water turquoise and the city still whispers. It’s a ritual, a wish, and a love letter to Rome all at once.
6. Uncover Legends at Castel Sant’Angelo
A fortress, a palace, a refuge, Castel Sant’Angelo has lived many lives. Commissioned by Emperor Hadrian as his mausoleum, it later became a papal stronghold connected to the Vatican by a secret passageway. Today, it’s a museum filled with frescoed halls, gleaming armor, and panoramic terraces overlooking the Tiber. Climb to the top café—not for the espresso, but for one of the most cinematic views in Rome. As the sun sets behind St. Peter’s dome, you’ll feel suspended between eras.
7. Escape the Crowds at Villa Torlonia
Tucked away in a genteel Roman neighborhood, Villa Torlonia feels like a secret garden. Once the opulent home of the Torlonia family, and later Mussolini’s residence, it’s now a peaceful retreat of English-style gardens, neoclassical villas, and whimsical architecture. Wander through the shaded paths, visit the frescoed halls of the Casino Nobile, and descend into the wartime bunker below. Don’t miss the Casina delle Civette, or House of Owls, a storybook structure with stained-glass windows that shimmer in jewel tones. It’s Rome’s fairytale corner.
8. Taste the Soul of Rome at Testaccio Market
For true Roman flavor, skip the white-tablecloth restaurants and head to Testaccio Market, a culinary paradise under one modern roof. This is where locals grab their lunch: crispy pizza al taglio, slow-cooked tripe, and artichoke sandwiches bursting with flavor. Testaccio was once the city’s slaughterhouse district, and its “quinto quarto” (fifth quarter) offal dishes tell the story of working-class Rome. Today, it’s where tradition meets trend. Grab a panino from Mordi e Vai, find a sunny bench, and taste the city’s history one bite at a time.
9. Wander Among Masterpieces at the Borghese Gallery
Step inside Cardinal Scipione Borghese’s private world, where beauty was the only law. The Borghese Gallery, nestled within lush Villa Borghese gardens, is an intimate museum overflowing with art. Bernini’s marble sculptures seem to breathe; Caravaggio’s canvases ignite with drama and shadow. Apollo and Daphne, mid-transformation, remains one of the most exquisite works ever carved. After your visit, stroll through the surrounding park, Rome’s green heart, and let the city’s noise fade to birdsong and breeze.
10. Climb to Gianicolo for the City’s Best View
Every great love story with Rome needs a panoramic moment. Gianicolo Hill delivers exactly that. Rising above the charming Trastevere district, this quiet vantage point rewards you with sweeping views of domes, rooftops, and ruins fading into golden light. It’s not officially one of Rome’s “Seven Hills,” but no one cares, the view is that good. Bring a gelato, watch the sun set behind St. Peter’s Basilica, and listen for the echo of church bells across the city.
11. Dive Into History at the Capitoline Museums
Set atop Michelangelo’s beautifully designed Piazza del Campidoglio, the Capitoline Museums tell the story of Rome itself. From marble gods to bronze emperors, every corridor reveals the grandeur of a civilization that shaped the world. Stand before the Capitoline Wolf, symbol of the city’s mythical founding, or the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, gleaming under vaulted ceilings. Then slip through the Galleria Lapidaria, an underground passage linking the buildings, to find one of the city’s most cinematic views over the Roman Forum.
12. Discover Hidden Beauty at Galleria Colonna
One of Rome’s best-kept secrets, Galleria Colonna is a masterpiece within a masterpiece. Still owned by the noble Colonna family, this private palace opens to the public only on Saturdays, a rarity worth scheduling your weekend around. Inside, you’ll find a Baroque wonderland of mirrored halls, chandeliers, and paintings that rival Versailles in opulence. Visit Princess Isabelle’s apartment and the secret garden, where history lingers in the scent of orange blossoms and polished marble.
Rome is not a city you see: it’s a city you feel. Between each monument lies a story, between each espresso a moment of stillness. Walk without a map, follow the scent of baking bread or the echo of a violin, and you’ll discover your own version of the Eternal City.
