Location: Centro
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Top 10 Ancient Ruins in Centro, Lazio
Rome wasn't built in a day--and you'll need much more than a day to take in this timeless city. The city is a real-life collage of piazzas, open-air markets, and astonishing historic sites. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, contemplate the Colosseum and the Pantheon, and sample a perfect espresso or gelato before spending an afternoon shopping at the Campo de’Fiori or Via Veneto. Enjoy some of the most memorable meals of your life here, too, from fresh pasta to succulent fried artichokes or a tender oxtail stew.
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1. Palatine Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24,994 reviews
The commercial, political and religious center of ancient Rome, which features the Arch of Septimus Severus, Temple of Saturn, Arch of Titus and the House of the Vestals.
Reviewed By genie26c - Plymouth, United Kingdom
I would certainly advise pre-booking your tickets, or join a group tour to avoid the very long queues and group tours get to use a separate entrance too, which makes it even easier. We'd just been on an express tour of the Colosseum with 'Tour in the City' and wanted to see the Palentine Hill and Forum as well (your Colosseum ticket includes entry to Palentine Hill and Forum) so our Colosseum guide was able to arrange for us go with another tour company that they are affiliated with ('Fun Tours'), which meant we were able to get into the Palentine Hill/Forum and also tag onto that tour too - which was really informative and didn't take too long, maybe about 45 mins. Then we were left to our own devices. The Palentine Hill is surprisingly tranquil and has some beautiful views. it wasn't crowded and it was nice to simply walk about and take in the scenery and history of everything at our own pace. Thoroughly enjoyed it here and if we'd been a bit more organised, it would have been nice to bring refreshments/food and find a quiet place to sit and have a picnic.
2. Domus Aurea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,324 reviews
The imperial estate of Nero was built in 64AD, which is comprised of a series of pavilions, set in an articulated garden with an artificial lake in its center.
Reviewed By Lesleyjane71 - Kent, United Kingdom
If you love archaeology and Ancient Rome is your thing, and if you are lucky enough to visit Rome over the course of a weekend then please do make sure you book for a guided visit of Domus Aurea. It is only open on a Saturday and Sunday and tickets must be booked on line, which can be a little daunting but well worth it. Despite what some people have written, the site entrance is easy enough to find. Head to the Piazza Del Colosseo and if you use the Oppio Café and the metro across from the Colosseum as your marker you can not go wrong. Turn Left and take a very short walk up the hill to the entrance of a Parco delle Colle Oppio. As you go in the entrance turn left and walk about 50 paces and you will see the entrance to the Domus Aurea and there will be guides and assistants waiting. Ignore the positioning of it on google maps. It will through you right of course! If you are early, do not be scared to walk around the park, there are fine ruins there of Trajan's baths which sit atop the buried ruins of the Domus. For some reason, people think that this is the Domus it is not. Yes there are some refugees sleeping in the park but to be honest they pose no threat. In fact you are more than likely to see them cleaning up the place. The area is full of dog walkers and runners and as a single female traveller, I felt absolutely safe in there. So now that the whereabouts of the entrance has hopefully been demystified, on to the visit. You go in your designated time group and don fetching hairnets and hard hats before being led underground by one of the archaeologists fortunate enough to work at the site and who will be very passionate about their work, so some may find this a little boring others will relish it. To be able to traverse the corridors of a fraction of this once vast and oppulent palace is phenominal. It is damp but well lit so take a light weight jacket or sweater, you may need it. You are free to take as many photos as you like. The VR is amazing and puts you right in the heart of the palace as it may once have been as well as giving you an idea of what the view across Rome from here would have been like. Word of advise, if you are light sensitive or suffer a bit of vertigo or balance problems then the VR headset is likely to make you feel a bit weasy. I had to lift mine up a few times just to get my head back straight. You are sitting down for the VR session so don't panic and it is well worth persevering with. You carry on with your tour and it is hard to believe that you are walking in the footsteps of Nero no matter how sadistic and twisted he was. There are a few wall frescos still visible, the rest having been removed to safe them from being completely ruined by the damp. Unfortnatuely they have now desided not excavate further as the cost of preserving the rest of the underground network of rooms and corridors is just to expensive both in monetary terms, manpower and the tecnologies needed to keep it from deteriorating but please rest assured, what you see is well worth it. Have a great trip!
3. Terme di Caracalla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,464 reviews
The ruins of ancient Rome's public bathhouse, dating back to the 3rd century.
Reviewed By Kufra - Rome, Italy
The Roman thermal bathhouses were the forerunners of the modern fitness and aquatic centres, just as are many practices in ancient Rome. This expansive ruin commissioned by Caesar Caracalla is no exception and is in fact an excellent example. Situated on the route one would take when walking from the Circus Maximus, the ancient Roman racetrack ruins, to the Porta Sebastiano, the southern gate of Rome's surrounding ancient walls leading to the Via Appia Antica, the ancient Roman highway to Brindisi, this imposing structure is surrounded by a green, parklike area, and includes the ruins of its olympic sized swimming pool, steam rooms, hottub, cold and tepid baths, and the structures where its exercise and weight rooms, running track, food court, music room, pleasure gardens, reading room, hair dresser's salon, and other related centres of its complex were located. It is an amazing glimpse into life in ancient Rome, centre to a superpower.
4. Forum of Augustus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,288 reviews
Built in celebration over Augustus' victory over the murder of Caesar in 42 BC, this ancient site is dominated by the remains of the Temple of Mars.
Reviewed By shazbut - Melfort, Canada
We did this, palatine hill and the coliseum. I would suggest 4 -5 hours to adequately give yourself enough time to take it all in. They are all connected so it makes sense just to do them all at once.
5. Mercati di Traiano - Museo dei Fori Imperiali
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,187 reviews
The Markets of Trajan are an archaeological complex of uniqueness in Rome, perhaps even worldwide. They represent an area that has experienced the evolution of the city from the imperial age to today; an area that has been constantly recycled and transformed. The markets once the strategic administrative centre of the Imperial Forums, successively became a noble residence, a military fortress, a prestigious convent and a barracks... a continuous evolution.
Reviewed By JonathonGreen
Brings the Mercati di Traiano to life.Also provides a fascinating introduction to the Imperial forums.Has multimedia displays,explanatory panels and some archeological artefacts.Best bit is wandering around the ruins.
6. Casa delle Vestali
7. Santo Stefano Rotondo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 205 reviews
Reviewed By 823milend - Sofia, Bulgaria
The only round church we saw in Rome. It was hard to get there from the San Giovanni in Laterano, as there is no proper pedestrian walkway. Nevertheless, the rotunda is gorgeous, the murals are very impressive. The church is vary old - the first structue there being built in the 4th century AD, at time of Emperor Constantine, and is to be found on the Celian hill. It is commemorating the first Christian martyr - Saint Stefan and now the church is given to Hungary. Inside, one can find fine cosmatesque flooring and 34 frescoes of Christian martyrs, with captions explaining the scenes.Visited in April 2017
8. Arco di Settimio Severo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 255 reviews
Among the best preserved monuments of the Roman Forum.
Reviewed By SoCalOregonian - Murrieta, United States
This arch spanning the Via Sacra commemorates the acquisition of new territory and for the victory over the Parti. The arch covered in marble and decorated with many relief panels that depict the important moments of the campaign. On the Foro Romano side, above the arch is a small statue of Mars flanked by two statues of winged victory.
9. House of Augustus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 188 reviews
Reviewed By U879EVstever
On the SUPER pass I was able to visit the Domus Augustus which was truly amazing. For me the best part was on the second floor seeing the relatively small chamber that served as Augustus' private study. I imagined him sitting in there planning the future of the Roman Empire. The frescoes have held up surprisingly well for over 2000 years.
10. Foro di Cesare
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 774 reviews
Reviewed By KonstantiaM2 - Piraeus, Greece
The Foro di Cesare or Forum of Ceasar, is a forum (or plaza) built by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. It is a really impressive place, close to city center and the other monuments (Altare della Patria) , and a very good opportunity to learn about the ancient Rome.Ideal for an evening warm night walk to the city center. Don;t forget to book in advance the lights and sound show. Bring your bottle of water, there are people all over the place who sell the bottle of water 3 times its price, otherwise negotiate the price!
