Location: Monti
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What to do and see in Monti, Lazio: The Best Things to do
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.
Restaurants in Rome
1. 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!
2. Basilica dei Santi Cosma e Damiano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Located on the fringe of the Forum, this small church incorporates the pagan Temple of Romulus and features a magnificent sixth-century mosaic representing the Second Coming.
Reviewed By lady_britts - Bexley, United Kingdom
We literally stumbled across this incredible church on our walk from our hotel to the Colosseum and I'm so grateful that we did as it is absolutely stunning. Dating back to the 4th century and becoming a church is 527AD & contains greatly restored early examples of Christian art, especially in its mosaics. With a pretty courtyard with a fountain and fish, this lovely & serene church and its grounds are worth visiting & absorbing the history and appreciating your surroundings. If only the walls could talk!
3. 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
4. San Pietro in Vincoli
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,459 reviews
This 5th-century church features Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses that adorns the incomplete tomb of Pope Julius II.
Reviewed By srablair - Lytham St Anne's, United Kingdom
We had a bit of trouble finding this, but so glad we got here as it is a gem of a place. It is on the Oppian hill near the colisseum and looks quite plain from the outside but beautiful once you step through the door. Includes main attractions from art lovers is the mausoleum of Julius 2nd, with its wonderful Michelangelo enlightenment of Moses. Also the chains displayed as a relic reputed to be the chains that held st Peter in Jerusalem and Rome. Unlike some churches, you are welcome to sit down here for private prayer and quiet reflection. A wonderful peaceful place and quite poignant to sit and reflect on the significant history and symbolism of the chains.
5. Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,028 reviews
Known to be the first church in Christendom, this church belongs to the Vatican and has the privileges of extraterritoriality.
Reviewed By endoedibles - Las Vegas, United States
Despite popular belief that St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican holds that title, Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (or The Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist) is actually the Cathedral of Rome. It is also the oldest public church in the city of Rome, and the oldest basilica of the Western world. A stunning building of immense size, visiting is recommended regardless of race or beliefs.
6. Santa Pudenziana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 103 reviews
One of the first parish churches in Rome, this structure's chapel has been dated back to 140 AD, then converted to a regular church after tolerance was granted to Christians in the early fourth century.
Reviewed By stevedurbano - Willcox, United States
There are many historic and spiritually important churches in Rome. This church, however, should be on the top five to visit for anyone considering a trip to Rome. You are immediately made aware of the passage of time when you first see it- the church sits about 20 feet below street level (the street levels rise slowly due to debris, repairs, etc). An excellent source for information about this and other churches in Rome is the "Churches of Rome Wiki". Suffice it to say that the mosaics and other artwork are astonishing- to see them is truly moving. I'm sure most of you have heard the "Dutch Jesus" about the depiction of Jesus, namely that the commonly accepted image was invented in the middle ages by Dutch painters. Although I'm sure the image in the apse mosaic is Romanized (even having Him in Roman dress) it is fascinating that the face is very close to today's commonly accepted image. Do not miss this church if you have an opportunity to see it.
7. Basilica of San Clemente
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,344 reviews
Constructed between 1110 and 1130, this church of San Clemente is not one, but three churches built one above the other, with ruins dating from the earliest Christian times.
Reviewed By 82manuelal - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
A fine medieval Basilica with some fine mosaics and very nice frescos from the fifteenth century; there is the tomb of Pope Clementin I and the church is dedicated to him; The basilic has thee very different eras, there was also a Roman house with a labyrinthine set of rooms.
8. Scala Santa and Chapel of San Lorenzo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 772 reviews
For centuries, the Scala Santa has attracted Christian pilgrims and visitors who wished to honor the Passion of Christ. Tradition says that originally the Holy Stairs led to the praetorium, or judgment hall, of Pontius Pilate's palace in Jerusalem. Today, those same 28 white marble steps lead to the Sancta Sanctorum, or “Holiest of Holy Places”, the first private chapel of the Popes. Many have undergone the spiritual ritual of ascending the stairs on their knees.The Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs, one of the major projects by Pope Sixtus V, encompasses 1700 m of frescoes completed in 1590. These images tell the story of both the old and new testaments while including depictions of various saints, doctors of the church and the superb landscapes by Flemish master Paul Bril.
Reviewed By 421Chris
Just amazing being on the very steps that Jesus Christ walked on... Cannot find the words to describe how I felt!
9. 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.
10. Battistero Lateranense
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 76 reviews
Reviewed By giorgiocannella - Rome, Italy
Today's Lateran Baptistery is housed in one of the structures of the Fausta spa house, wife of emperor Constantine. Of the original Roman structure today remain: - the monumental entrance with two splendid porphyry red columns that emperor Constantine removed from the temple of Venus begetter in the forum of Julius Caesar, - the inlays in polychrome marble on the wall of the atrium of the baptistery next to the apse of today's chapel of Saints Cipriano and Giustina, - the original floor and the frescoes in the room that today is the chapel of Saint Venanzio.
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