Insider’s Rome: The Pantheon
Proposals to charge entry to the Pantheon remain controversial, after plans were announced to start charging visitors from May this year… Words by Jon Palmer. Image by iStock Up until now, entry to the Pantheon More...
Insider’s Rome: The Capitoline Museums
If it’s ancient statues you want, this is the place to be, but don’t ignore the works on the piazza outside the museum either… Words & image by Jon Palmer Recognised as the world’s first public museum More...
Insider’s Rome: The Forum
The Forum is where Roman history begins, but when it begins is a question that has recently had to be asked again… The Forum, Rome by iStock According to the story, Rome was founded on 21 April 753 BC, which means More...
Insider’s Rome: le Terme di Caracalla
Though they are named for the Emperor Caracalla, it was probably his father, Severus, who laid the plans for these huge baths… Most tourists come here by public transport, though the walk from the Forum takes More...
Insider’s Rome: the Villa Borghese
Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633) was a patron of Bernini and Caravaggio. The Baroque legacy at his Villa is a wonder to behold… People are often surprised to learn that, at least as far as major European More...
Insider’s Rome: the Spanish steps
The official name is the Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti but we know them as the Spanish Steps, for the embassy once located here… After our visit to the Vatican Museums last month, we thought it unlikely that More...
Insider’s Rome: St Peter’s Basilica
Indeed, Rome was not built in a day… Work on St Peter’s began in 1506, but the church wasn’t ready to be consecrated until 1626… Like many other buildings in Rome, St Peter’s uses stone recycled from More...
Insider’s Rome: The Colosseum
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you won’t see it all in a lifetime, but our new series will guide you through what you mustn’t miss… Perhaps the most iconic of all the tourist destinations in Rome, the Colosseum More...