Discover the best attractions in Ancient Rome including Roman Forum, Palatino, and Colosseum.

In a city of extraordinary beauty, Rome’s ancient heart stands out. It’s here you’ll find the great icons of the city’s past: the Colosseum, the Palatino, the forums and the Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), the historic home of the Capitoline Museums.

Located on top of the Campidoglio, one of the seven hills on which Rome was founded, the Capitoline Museums were established in 1471, after Pope Sixtus IV donated a set of precious bronzes to the city.

An electrifying, spine-tingling sight, the Colosseum is the most thrilling of Rome's ancient monuments. It was here that gladiators met in fierce combat and condemned prisoners fought off wild beasts in front of baying, bloodthirsty crowds.

An atmospheric area of towering pine trees, majestic ruins and memorable views, the Palatino (Palatine Hill) is the birthplace of Rome. This is where Romulus supposedly founded the city and where ancient Rome’s emperors lived in unabashed luxury.

Now a huge basin of dusty grass, Circo Massimo was ancient Rome’s largest chariot racetrack, a 250,000-seater capable of holding up to a quarter of the city’s population. The 600m track circled a wooden dividing island with ornate lap indicators and Egyptian obelisks.

An impressive – if rather confusing – spread of ruins, the Roman Forum was ancient Rome's showpiece center, a grandiose district of temples, basilicas and vibrant public spaces. It can be hard to picture this nowadays but if you can get your imagination going, there’s something truly magical about walking in the footsteps of Julius Caesar ...

Ancient Rome Login Save Said to be the inspiration for the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, this triumphal arch was built by the emperor Domitian in AD 81 to celebrate his brother Titus' military victories in Judea and the AD 70 sack of Jerusalem.

At the foot of the Campidoglio hill in the Roman Forum, this 12-columned portico belonged to one of ancient Rome's last pagan shrines, dating to the 4th…

At the foot of the Campidoglio hill in the Roman Forum, this 12-columned portico belonged to one of ancient Rome's last pagan shrines, dating to the 4th…