Top Things to do in Mediterranean
Countries
Top 10 Historic Sites in Mediterranean, Mediterranean
Discover the best top things to do in Mediterranean, Mediterranean including Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura, Villa Borghese, Museo Nazionale Romano - Palazzo Altemps, Palatine Hill, Domus Aurea, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Quirinale Palace (Palazzo del Quirinale), Acropolis, Ancient Agora of Athens, Parthenon.
Restaurants in Mediterranean
1. Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura
2. Villa Borghese
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,870 reviews
Famous villa constructed at the beginning of the 17th century for Cardinal Scipione Caffarelli Borghese, nephew of Pope Paul V, which is surrounded by one of the largest and most beautiful public parks in Rome.
Reviewed By FunFilledFamily - Tulsa, United States
My fourth trip to Rome and I decided to try something new that I hadn't heard of before and that was Villa Borghese. Besides the awesome art on display, the property in this area is incredible. We walked and walked enjoying the truly beautiful park and other attractions - Villa Medici, garden, fountains, zoo - it was truly picturesque and incredible. For Americans, it was like Central Park. There were bikes and golf carts to rent to drive around the grounds. Loved my afternoon here and wished I had allowed more time to explore more. Go!!
3. Museo Nazionale Romano - Palazzo Altemps
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 486 reviews
The Museum of Palazzo Altemps houses absolute masterpieces of ancient sculpture belonging to famous and valuable noble collections received in state ownership. The installation aims to integrate - in a harmonious combination - the marbles in the decorative context of the rooms, having in mind and proposing solutions adopted in the arrangement of antique collections. The visit, on two floors, reveals a succession of decorated rooms, a maze of stairs and corridors leading to the discovery of the ancient works of art.
Reviewed By JonathonGreen
Housed in a splendid 15th century palazzi.Houses the best of rome's classical sculptures.Many pieces from Cardinal Ludovico Ludovisi's collection.Houses the amazing Trono Ludovisi,a marble sculpture of Athrodite.Has a grand central courtyard and frescoed rooms.Also has a good Egyptian collection.
4. 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.
5. 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!
6. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,079 reviews
One of seven pilgrimage basilicas in the world, this church was founded in 432 AD and is where the famous architect Bernini is buried.
Reviewed By 282LisaH - Melbourne, Australia
We were staying in Trastevere with an air B and B.we walked around the cobbled lanes and came across piazza Santa Maria and this beautiful church which I had read about it is amazing and inspires serene meditation ????♀️ . The frescoes and building are beautiful and it sits in the piazza . Absolutely stunning and to think it started building in the 2nd century
7. Quirinale Palace (Palazzo del Quirinale)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,193 reviews
This palace was built by Gregory XIII in 1574 as a summer residence, which serves today as the residence of Italy's president.
8. Acropolis
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35,632 reviews
The most famous site in all of Athens, this large hill lies in the center of the city and contains a cluster of ancient ruins.
Reviewed By DavidTis - Campbell, United States
Greek/World history comes alive. The hop on hop off bus is an excellent tour of the city of Athens and one of it's stops is the Acropolis. A must see for sure. Bring good walking shoes and your camera and scratch this one off your bucket list, if you like history you're gonna love the Acropolis!
9. Ancient Agora of Athens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,225 reviews
These ruins, located in the heart of modern Athens, were once the site of the marketplace in ancient times, a political, cultural and economic center of the ancient world.
Reviewed By EileenMtShasta - Mount Shasta, United States
The area is breathtaking to imagine the history but is mostly a field of rubble, though there are many informative signs. The museum has many important and interesting artifacts, like the baby toilet from the 2nd century BC! The most intact structure is the Temple of Hephaistos, but entrance was blocked. The visit was made much more meaningful due to a free audio tour I downloaded from online, by tour guide Rick Steves, so I highly recommend it.
10. Parthenon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,764 reviews
The majestic ruins of an ancient Greek building, known for its dignified white marble columns and perfect sense of proportion.
Reviewed By 223ravik - Bangalore District, India
We visited Acropolis today. It is amazing to see Parthenon with its rectangular structure consisting of 17 columns in length by 8 columns in width- a huge structure dedicated to mythological goddess Athena. It takes you back 2500 years and makes you wonder about the life of folks then and the events that unfolded later on! Do not miss out the story of the Flag - when the nazis came in 1941, a young Greek soldier refused to change the Greek flag, instead wrapped it around himself and leapt to his death. He is remembered and honored even today. There is so much to see in Acropolis- be sure you have at least 2.5 hours! I also loved the story regarding the competition between Athena and Poseidon, and how she won!!
