THE COLOSSEUM

It's real name is Amphitheatre Flavian. Built in 72AD by an unknown architect. Built in the valley between the Palatine, Esquiline and Celio is the symbol of Rome. In 72AD Vespasian gave way to the construction of the biggest amphitheatre of the Roman world although it was inaugurated by Titus, son and successor of Vespasian, in the year 80AD games for 100 days took place, and 5000 animals were killed.

THE SPANISH STEPS

The hour-glass shaped square is one of the most popular spots in the city. The fountain in the centre of the square, "the fontana della Barcaccia", was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the great Lorenzo in 1629. The stairs, the celebrated Spanish steps, were built in 1726 by Francesco de Sanctis. At the top is an Egyptian obelisk, the so called Obelisco Sallustiano, as well as a church Trinita' dei Monti, with a 16th century facade by Maderno.

THE PANTHEON

A glory of the Eternal City, is the most perfect of all classical monuments in Rome. The inscription on the architrave of the portico "M. Agrippa L.F. Cos tertium fecit" refers to a temple erected by Agrippa in 27 B.C. For a long time, it was thought that the Pantheon, as it is today, was the original temple of Agrippa. In reality Agrippa's building was destroyed by a great fire in A.D.80. Recent studies have proved that the present Pantheon is a reconstruction of the time of Hadrian. In 609, Boniface IV changed the Pagan temple into a christian temple. When entering the temple you know the reason why this temple is famous all over the world. It's a perfect example of an architectural masterpiece. Light and air still enter through the opening at the top. The interior measures 43 meters and is comparable to the St. Peters dome although the difference is that this masterpiece was built more than 1 million years before. Heaven itself seems to pour into this temple left open so that the prayers could freely ascend. All this gives an impression of unequalled solemnity: its simple regularity, the beauty of its proportions and the splendid materials used, combine to make the interior sublime.

THE ROMAN FORUM

Situated at the junction of the Paltine, Capitoline, and Esquiline hills, the Roman Forum was for centuries the site of the city's most important public buildings (and thus of the city's major public events) Severely damaged by the Barbarian invasion in 1700 when excavating there was found remarkable treasures of Romantic art.

ST. ANGEL CASTEL

Hadrian had it built as a Mausoleum for himself and his family in 130 A.D. His successors and Princes of Imperial families were buried here up to Caracalla. In the V century the mausoleum was incorporated by Honoriuous into the Aurelian walls,ever since then the mausoleum took the name of Castellum (castle).The statue of the angel of the XVIII century in which the castle is named was put on the top of it after a vision by Pope Gregory the Great, while leading a procession through Rome to pray for the end of a plague he saw an angel sheating a sword, an act thought to simbolize the end of the pestilence.