What to see, what to do in Rome: our must-sees

Walk the cobblestones around the Pantheon

Between the Tiber and the Pantheon beats the historic heart of the Italian capital.

Covered with “Sanpietrini”, lava cubes originally used in front of Saint Peter's Basilica, the alleys around the ancient temple lead to famous squares: Navona, Campo de' Fiori, Farnese… Each conceals treasures.

Among the must-sees, comes the

, the French Embassy in Rome.

Currently wrapped up for work by the street artist, this austere-looking building, one of the most important of the Italian Renaissance, is full of wonders: Sangallo atrium, Hercules room with its tapestries inspired by Raphael's frescoes, gallery of the Carracci whose paintings on the ceiling with mirrors can be admired... Another highlight of the district, the

.

Usually crowded with tourists, the famous square is never so dazzling as at the first light of dawn or after a downpour when the Bernini and Borromini fountains are still glistening with rain.

A stone's throw away is the

, a 16th-century aristocratic residence, now home to masterpieces of ancient sculpture.

A little away from the tourist circuits, this museum is a haven of peace and beauty.

To discover

• Trips to Italy: tailor-made tours, hotels and stays from our partners

Farnese Palace – French Embassy, ​​Piazza Farnese, 67 - 00186 Roma.

Compulsory guided tours to be booked on visit-palazzofarnese.it.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m.

Price: 12 €

Palazzo Altemps, Piazza S. Apollinare, 46-00186 Roma.

Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Price: €12.

Read also48 hours in Rome: beautiful escape in the eternal city

Get lost in the forums

Located between the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, the Imperial Forums were built between the 1st century BC.

JC and the 2nd century of our era.

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Located between the Palatine Hill and the Colosseum, the

built between the 1st century BC.

JC and the 2nd century of our era are the historical memory of the West.

If you are not a lover of ruins, it is best to discover them with a good French-speaking guide, such as those from Visite Rome who will be able to explain their history to you through numerous anecdotes.

For some months a new museum has been created, the

, located inside the complex of the

.

Bringing together a collection of objects discovered during excavations, it provides a better understanding of life in the imperial era and access to the terrace of the Temple of Venus offering a breathtaking view of all the forums.

linking the forum of Trajan to that of Caesar are a great alternative to discover the archaeological site in the basement.

A sound and light show (audio available in French) in

offers an immersion in the time of the famous emperor bathed in the magical atmosphere of the night forums.

The

also offers an immersive nocturnal journey to discover underground passages generally closed to visitors...

The guided tours of Visite Rome.

Such.

: +393774928708.

From €170 per person for a 2h30 private discovery of the forums in French, ticket not included.

Sound and light show in César's forum until October 2, 2022. Purchase the ticket online.

Price: €15.

Night visit of the Colosseum “La luna sul Colosseo 2022: il Colosseo underground” until December 31, 2022. Price: €25.

Climb the steps of the Spanish Steps

The steps of the Place d'Espagne lead to the Trinité-des-Monts church dominating the Pincio hill.

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It is a great classic, ideal in the spring when fuchsia azaleas decorate the 135 steps of the staircase.

Built in the 18th century at the request of France, they lead to

dominating the Pincio hill.

Next door is the

, home to the French Academy in Rome.

This splendid Renaissance palace, surrounded by seven hectares of Italian garden planted with pines, cypresses, punctuated with ancient statues, welcomes artists, authors and researchers from all disciplines all year round.

For those who are not lucky enough to stay there, the Villa Medici is open to visitors, in particular allowing visitors to see the temporary exhibitions of the residents.

Not far away, the

, the most famous park in Rome, extends its 80 hectares to the Tiber.

Built in the 17th century by the influential Borghese family, the main residence in the park has been transformed into an art gallery.

It has many rooms richly decorated by the most influential artists of the time.

Thematic exhibitions are organized there regularly.

Villa Medici, Viale della Trinità dei Monti 1 - 00187 Roma.

Such.

: +39 06 6761200. Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Tuesday.

Price: €8.

Galleria Borghesen, Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5, 00197 Roma.

Such.

: +39 06 67233753. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Price: €13.

Exhibition dedicated to Titian until December 18, 2022.

Read alsoRome confidential, five visits off the beaten track

Marvel at the Vatican

The best way to reach St. Peter's Square is to walk up Via della Conciliazione starting from Castel Sant'Angelo.

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The best way to reach

's Square is to walk up Via della Conciliazione starting from Castel Sant'Angelo.

Once in the square, its dimensions, its columns, its pilasters and its 140 statues of saints, cannot leave anyone indifferent.

Symbol of the power of the Church, the basilica was designed by the greatest artists of the time, Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini.

Its visit can be coupled with those of

, home to one of the major masterpieces of the Renaissance, the

.

You have to ignore the crowd of tourists to admire Michelangelo's fresco and organize your visit with guides capable of offering alternative routes.

Visite Rome is authorized to introduce visitors to the Cabinet of Masks, which are generally closed to the public.

This room owes its name to the sublime mosaics placed in its center, discovered in Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli.

Another alternative to the classic route, the

and

museums housing early Christian sarcophagi and ancient statues, reopened in the spring.

Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, 00165 Roma.

Such.

: +39 06 69884676. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., late-night openings on Friday and Saturday until October 29, 2022. Price: €34.

• Good to know:

  it is now very difficult to find tickets on the official website, it is advisable to use guides or a tour operator to organize your visit well in advance.

Living in the Roman style of Trastevere in Ostiense

Long a popular district, Trastevere has become a festive district in recent years.

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For a long time a working-class district, where you could hear “Romanesco”, the Roman dialect,

has become in recent years a festive district without completely losing its soul.

You have to stroll through its narrow streets where the delicious scent of jasmine floats in spring, make a wish in the

and sit on the steps of the fountain in the middle of the square of the same name.

But discovering Rome, almost without tourists, requires crossing the Tiber and reaching the industrial districts of

and

, south of the capital.

Nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel" of Street Art, Ostiense is the first district of Rome to have proudly displayed its murals around the Fluvial Port and Tor Marancia (listed in the streetart roma app).

You can also discover the astonishing

, a former power station transformed into an archaeological museum, as well as the Mattatoio, a gigantic slaughterhouse in Rome that has become a center for contemporary creation.

In these neighborhoods, few or no souvenir shops and trattorie where you still eat offal, the famous

Central Montermartini, Via Ostiense 106 - 00154 Roma.

Such.

: +39 060808. Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Price: €10.

Mattatoio, Piazza Orazio Giustiniani, 4 - 00153 Roma.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Free admission.

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