Rome Roma Virtual Tours Colosseum, Mouth of truth, Pantheon

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Roman Fourm Italy > Roma The Forum as seen from The Capitoline Hill or Campidoglio, the smallest of Rome's seven hills. The Forum was the center of daily Roman life; here, triumphal processions took place, elections were held and the Senate assembled. Today, remains of temples, basilicas and triumphal arches from different periods are visible. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Colosseum by night Italy > Roma Titus, Vespasian's successor, held hundred-day games to mark the inauguration of the building in 80 A.D. In the process, some 9,000 wild animals were slaughtered. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Colosseum by night with olive tree Italy > Roma The Colosseum was covered with an enormous awning known as the velarium. This protected the spectators from the sun. It was attached to large poles on top of the Colosseum and anchored to the ground by large ropes. A team of some 1,000 men was used to install the awning. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi
Vittorio Emanuele II bridge Italy > Roma Four columns rise up from the three-arched bridge, two on each side, bearing bronze representations of the Winged Victory, but it is the white marble sculptures in the center of the bridge that attract attention, placed over the pillars of the central arch to symbolize the Unity of Italy, Liberty, Oppression defeated, and Loyalty to the Constitution. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Santa Maria Maggiore square Italy > Roma S. Maria Maggiore was built in 431 A.D. and the apse was rebuilt in the 13th century. The church stands on the Esquilino hill and is the first Roman church to be named after the Holy Virgin. Its bell tower is the highest in Rome. The basilica is rich in works of art, among them the frescos by Guido Reni (1575 - 1642) and the coffered ceiling by Giuliano Giamberti. Under the altar is a crypt containing the remains of St. Matthais, who was the Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. In front of the confessional, which holds the relics of the Nativity, is a kneeling statue of Pope Pius IX. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	San Giovanni in Laterano - square Italy > Roma The Egyptian obelisk in the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano is the oldest of its kind in Rome. It has been dated to the 15th century BC and was brought to Rome by command of emperor Constantine II. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi
Mouth of Truth Italy > Roma On the outside of the church, an ancient drain cover called the Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) that greets the visitors and bites the hand off anyone who tells a lie there. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Jewish Ghetto Italy > Roma In the Middle Ages there were as many as 50,000 people of the Jewish faith in Rome. The ghetto was established in 1555 for the shameful purpose of confining Jewish people to one restricted area. Pope Paul IV ordered that a high wall be erected around the area and that the residents be locked in at night. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Portico d´Ottavia Italy > Roma Fairly well hidden at one end of the Jewish Ghetto, this imposing 2nd century BC Portico d'Ottavia enclosed temples to Jupiter and Juno, libraries and other public rooms. It later sank to oblivion and became a fish market, but it was from here that the Uffizi's Medici Venus was salvaged. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi
Piazza del Popolo - obelisc Italy > Roma In 1589, Pope Sixtus V had an Egyptian obelisk moved from the Circus Maximus to the center of piazza del Popolo. The 23,2m/73ft high obelisk was originally built in 1300 B.C. and was taken from the Sun Temple in Heliopolis in 10 B.C. by the Roman Emperor Augustus. The obelisk was erected at the Circus Maximus to commemorate the conquest of Egypt. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Piazza di Spagna Italy > Roma The piazza di Spagna is one of the most popular meeting places in Rome and one of the most visually pleasing squares. The combination of a monumental staircase, an obelisk and a rosy church draw photographers to the square. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Quirinale Square Italy > Roma Piazza del Quirinale is an attractive square with a great view of Rome because it is higher up. It's lined with palaces and ancient statues, and there is an obelisk and a fountain. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi
Lungotevere Vaticano Italy > Roma Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	S. Angelo bridge Italy > Roma Emperor Hadrian built Ponte S. Angelo (the ancient Pons Elius) in 136 AD to access his own monumental tomb. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	S. Angelo bridge Italy > Roma Emperor Hadrian built Ponte S. Angelo (the ancient Pons Elius) in 136 AD to access his own monumental tomb. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi
Trevi Fountain Italy > Roma The Fontana di Trevi or Trevi Fountain is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome. Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. You should toss it over your shoulder with your back to the fountain. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	San Paolo Fuori le Mura - statue of St. Paul Italy > Roma S. Paolo fuori le Mura is located outside the ancient walls of Rome. The original 4th century basilica, built under Constantine, was destroyed by fire in 1823 and only a few of the original fragments remain. The basilica was formed with the union of the pre-existing Church of San Lorenzo (330 A.D.) and the Church of the Blessed Virgin (432 - 440 A.D.). The confessional below the altar contains the Tomb of St. Paul, who was buried here after his martyrdom in 67 A.D. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi	Pantheon Italy > Roma Marcus Agrippa's Pantheon is one of the world's most perfect architectural creations: a perfectly proportioned floating dome resting on an elegant drum of columns and pediments. Photo: Giuseppe Pennisi