The Heart of Ancient Rome

From the window of any hotel, Rome centre offers you the chance to see the architecture that made Rome a truly great city. During its time, Rome ruled the world. All roads did lead, sometimes literally and always figuratively, to this powerful and influential city. Although considered touristy, it is essential you go at least once in your lifetime to experience many of these sights to give you a brief glimpse of the glory that was once Rome.

The Forum

The problem with Rome is there is so much to see and so little time to see it. It would take a lifetime to explore all that Rome has to offer. From any hotel, Rome centre whispers or blatantly shouts about the history you can explore. While it is not possible to see it all in one day, start off with a visit to the Forum - once the centre of all commercial, judicial and political life.

The Forum consists of several fragmented buildings with columns jutting skyward. Trajan's Column is an elegant marble construction dating from AD 113, while the eight remaining columns of the Temple of Saturn, with their Ionic capitals, attest to its early date of 42 BC. This is quite young compared to the fragments that make up the Temple of Castor and Pollux. This, the oldest temple in the Forum, dates from 484 BC. Unfortunately, all that remains are stones, rubble and three Corinthian columns. If you want see the smattering of what remains of the sculpture, pottery and even mosaics from the site, visit the Antiquarium of the Forum.

The Colosseum 

Another must-see is the single most-well-known symbol of Ancient Rome - the Colosseum, or Flavian's Amphitheatre. This was the ancient and Imperial Roman world's most impressive amphitheatre. During its peak performances, it held upwards of 70,000 spectators, 10,000 of which stood to watch the games take place. Today, you can see the travertine exterior as you drive by, or arrange for a close up look at this building that once covered six acres.

Upon leaving your hotel, Rome centre offers you a chance to explore some of the former homes of Rome's notables. Two examples of opposing styles and approaches to life are the Domus Aurea and the House of Livia.

Domus Aurea

The opulence and overwhelming nature of Nero is legendary. He made his most obvious statement of his character in the design and content of his Domus Aurea - the Golden House. A tour through this famous Roman Emperor's domicile gives you a slight hint of his eccentricity, wealth and madness. The Octagonal Room features a domed salon with a hole in the centre, intended to follow the movement of the sun in its passage. The building still has elegant fresco work and amazing trompe l'oeuil work. Some terraces have also survived the centuries of neglect. You can see the fountains and visit the distinctive underground chambers. The mechanisms and rotating banquet hall were uncovered in 2009.