Rome and culture go together like spaghetti and meatballs. Whether you’re visiting for a Roman weekend city break, an entire week or longer, it takes lifetime to explore the so-called Eternal City’s nigh-on 2800 years worth of history.
To help steer you in the right direction, here are our 10 tips of the best cultural experiences and spots for sightseeing in Rome, directly from our updated city guide, momondo places. Download it today – it’s free!
Galleria Borghese
Nestling amid the greenery of Villa Borghese, the Galleria Borghese contains one of the world’s richest art collections. Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1557-1633) favoured two artists in particular, both of whom turned out to be bright stars on the world’s art stage: sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini and painter Caravaggio.
At Galleria Borghese, both are amply represented with works demonstrating their formidable and legendary talent. You will also find other world famous works exhibited here: Antonio Canova’s marvellous sculpture, Venus Victrix. Quite unusually for its time, it depicts a half-naked Pauline Borghese.
When you visit the museum, don’t forget to look up at the magnificent ceilings. They have often been painted in the trompe-l’oeil technique that gives the observer a feeling of three-dimensionality. Note that booking is required.
Where: Piazzale del Museo Borghese 5
Tel: +39 06 84 13 979
San Luigi dei Francesi
Sixteenth-century San Luigi may be the French national church in Rome, but its main drawn is resoundingly Italian: visit the Contarelli chapel and marvel at vast canvasses by Baroque master of light and shadow, Caravaggio.
The three works show scenes from the life of St Matthew, with the characters in the paintings brilliantly illuminated to leap out from the gloom of the background and of the chapel itself. Flamboyant Caravaggio scandalised his patrons with depictions of biblical figures as unwashed commoners, and had to ‘clean up’ his act before these works were hung.
With such an artistic feast, it’s easy to overlook San Luigi’s other treasure: Domenichino’s lovely St. Cecilia fresco cycle.
Where: Piazza di San Luigi de’ Francesi
Tel: +39 06 688271
Terme di Caracalla
The famous Baths of Caracalla were constructed by a cruel Emperor during the years 212-217 AD. The famous buildings contained swimming pools, gyms, sports facilities and baths. All sorts of baths could be found here, from the warm calidarium and the lukewarm tepidarium to the cold frigidarium.
For the residents of ancient Rome, this place had gigantic bathing areas with room for no less than 1,600 people at once. People from all walks of life frequented the baths and were served by an army of slaves. Only the rich, however, were allowed into the special massage facilities. This was, in other words, the fitness centre of the past, and it was in operation for more than 300 years.
The party ended when the Goths invaded in 573, and later the Farnese family helped itself to the baths’ rich marble decorations.
Where: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 52
Tel: +39 06 39 96 77 00
Galleria Lorcan O’Neill
Irish art dealer Lorcan O’Neill shook up Rome’s private gallery scene at the beginning of this century when he began showing big and up-and-coming names of the international contemporary scene in a space in Trastevere.
In this gallery – a huge space in a 17th-century palazzo near Campo de’ Fiori – he shows no sign of slowing down. It opened in July 2014 with shows of Jeff Wall and Richard long, and exhibits by Rachael Whitehead and Tracey Emin were scheduled soon after. But it’s not only big names that make it into O’Neill’s shows: promising younger artists feature regularly too.
Where: Vicolo dei Catinari 3
Tel: +39 06 6889 2980
The Mouth of Truth
Do you dare? The Mouth of Truth, la Bocca della Verità, depicts the face of a bearded man with five holes for the eyes, nostrils and mouth. The face has been interpreted as a shouting faun, a river god and an oracle.
The mouth attracts the most attention for it is through it that you will learn the truth. It is said that when you stick your hand into the terrifying mouth, it will be bitten off if you have been telling lies. The story creates a formidable and enticing atmosphere, entrenching you in legend. The most persistent myth about the Mouth of Truth claims that it will amputate, in particular, the hands of those who have had extramarital affairs.
You may not believe it, but the Mouth of Truth has actually bitten several innocent people through time. According to the local history books, this owes to merry pranksters and custodians placing scorpions in the mouth of the face of stone.
Whether you dare to prove your truth or not, your trip to Rome would truly be incomplete without taking the opportunity to stare into the face of its legends.
Where: Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Piazza della Bocca della Verità
Tel: n/a
MAXXI
As one of Europe’s premium short-break destinations, Rome had no need of a ‘Bilbao Effect’ – a phrase coined to describe the image and tourism boost that Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim gave to the Spanish city.
There’s no denying, however, that British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid’s eye-catching new MAXXI (Museo d’arte del XXI secolo – Museum of 21st-Century Art) is helping to put Rome on the map – not just as a repository of ancient beauty, but as a contemporary art and design destination as well.
In the northern Flaminio suburb, the glass and concrete vision hosts regular, changing exhibitions dedicated to modern and contemporary art and architecture. You’ll also find a pleasant café with al fresco tables.
Where: Via Guido Reni 4A
Tel: +39 06 32 01 954
Ara Pacis
Ara Pacis, the altar of peace, was erected in the year 9 BC to celebrate Emperor Augustus’ victory over his enemies in the Mediterranean.
In 1938, Mussolini moved the altar to its present location. In April 2006, the municipality of Rome inaugurated a magnificent project by the world famous architect, Richard Meier: a sort of a partly transparent box. The installation has caused much discussion, debate, and yes, even quarrelling. Visit the Ara Pacis and judge for yourself if the architectural relationship between the old and the modern is appropriate.
Where: Lungotevere in Augusta
Tel: +39 06 06 08
Galleria Doria Pamphilj
Galleria Doria Pamphilj will most definitely make most art-interested visitors quite ecstatic. Rome’s largest private art collection started in 1651 by Giovanni Battista Pamphilj when he was appointed Pope. Through the following centuries, the collection grew to be an incredible jewellery chest of precious treasures.
At Galleria Doria Pamphilj, you can see a cornucopia of 400 paintings, sculptures, lots of mirrors and other precious decorations. There are paintings by Titian, Raphael, Vasari and Caravaggio here. The end result is so magnificent that the venue goes by the name ‘Rome’s answer to the French Versailles’. Don’t miss this rare gem, and do visit the fabulous Galleria degli Speech (Gallery of Mirrors) at the same address.
Where: Via del Corso 305
Tel: +39 06 67 97 323
Villa Farnesina
The 1510 renaissance Villa Farnesina is situated close to the Botanical Garden. The villa was built by Agostino Chigi, a powerful bank advisor to several popes. Later on in 1590, the building was acquired by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, from whom it takes its name.
The building is especially known for its beautiful frescos, created by, among others, painters Raphael and Baldassarre Peruzzi. Of the five rooms that together form a magnificent explosion of colour and art, Raphael’s fresco paintings stand out in particular. Peruzzi’s decorations in the perspective hall on the first floor are also definitely worth a long look.
This is a hall in which a number of frescos work together to create the illusion of a view of Rome through several marble columns. Totally mesmerising!
Where: Via della Lungara 230
Tel: +39 06 68 02 72 68
Centrale Montemartini
There are many reasons to venture out past Rome’s second-century city walls to the southern Ostiense district, one of Rome’s hippest spots and home to great food, bars and midnight haunts.
Most fascinating of all is this remarkable eponymous museum. Some extremely impressive ‘minor’ pieces of ancient art – leftovers from the Musei Capitolini collection – are set against the beautifully preserved heavy machinery of a decommissioned power station. Classical sculpture meets industrial archaeology: the effect is simply stunning.
Where: Via Ostiense 106
Tel: +39 06 06 08
