Last time we covered the first five of the best archeological sites in Rome, including the Ara Pacis monument, the Domus Aurea of Nero, the Vatican Necropolis, the Castel Sant’Angelo and the Forum Boarium.
Today we finish our countdown with some jaw-dropping, eye popping sights. To step on the very earth that ancient Emperors stepped on and to walk the paths of (maybe) our ancestors, today is just fascinating!
I sometimes wonder what they’d think if they saw the Eternal City today. Hmmm. Here we go.
The last 5 most spectacular archaeological sites in Rome!
From public bath houses to the largest arena in the whole of the Roman Empire, these are your must-see sites in Rome.
5: Baths of Caracalla
Emperor: Caracalla.
Time period: 212- 216 AD.
Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, aka Emperor Caracalla (a nickname taken from the cloak of Celtic origin he used to wear and which he made fashionable) was famous for being unpleasant and for instigating massacres and persecutions across the Empire.
(Maybe it had to do a bit with nicknaming someone after an item of clothing? See Calligula).
In his ambition, he decided to leave his mark and overshadow his predecessors by building the largest public bath complex Rome had ever seen.
With an area of 33 acres (25 hectares) in total, including libraries, tabernae and other public buildings, the Baths of Caracalla were a lot more than just a place to get clean.
The main building alone is 750 ft long and 380 ft wide and it is said that it could hold 1600 users. These Romans, they don’t do anything in small size!
It is fascinating to see how such an enormous building functioned, the different hot and cold rooms, the pool, the gym, the massage and sauna rooms and how slaves would tend to the heat coming from below.
You can learn about all this when visiting the site. Bring comfy shoes because you are going to be walking for a long time! It’s huge!
Today there are only ruins, but with a little imagination you can picture the magnitude and magnificence of this marble veneered complex.
Imagine the bathers in their togas coming or going to get an invigorating scrub.
The Baths of Caracalla must have been quite a sight.
Resources:
Baths of Caracalla official website.
Though in italian, this video shows you everything you need to know!
4: Trajan’s market and column
Emperor: Trajan.
Time period: 100 – 110 AD.
Trajan’s market is part of Trajan’s Forum and what’s most visible today. The Hispanic-born Emperor set out to build one of Rome’s most impressive and splendid public spaces.
Originally the forum had many public buildings like a basilica, libraries and a superb square with a gigantic equestrian statue of the Emperor.
Trajan’s market is quite simple a huge ancient shopping mall, but its architecture required some pretty outstanding engineering.
Built upon the Quirinal Hill, a huge chunk of the hill had to be removed for the buildings to rest against them.
The Column of Trajan is an incredible monument that stood between the basilica and the main temple, where it still stands today.
It celebrates the victory of Trajan over the Dacians in today’s Romania.
The Forum of Trajan is one of the imperial forums that form the Imperial For a in Rome and it’s located next to the Forum Augusti (Augustus’forum) and the Forum Iulium (Julius Caesar’s forum).
Resources:
Trajan’s Market’s official website.
Virtual tour from the terrace of Trajan’s market.
Virtual tour inside the shops.
Interactive detailed view of Trajan’s column.
3. The Pantheon
Emperor: Hadrian.
Time period: 126 AD.
The Pantheon is a temple in Rome, originally dedicated to all the Gods. Nowadays it functions as a church.
And it is this very fact that has ensured its fantastic state; it has always been in use.
Initially commissioned by Marcus Agrippa (son-in-law of Augustus) on 31 BC, the first Pantheon was destroyed twice before the current structure was built.
Although it is debated whether the design of the current Pantheon was made during Trajan, it was Emperor Hadrian who finished its construction in 126 AD, leaving the original inscription in the façade which reads:
M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT
(M. Agrippa son of Lucius, made this building).
The Pantheon in Rome is an incredible engineering feat. The façade looks like a regular temple, but once inside, the interior space is unbelievable.
With perfect proportions, the interior space of the Pantheon is as tall as it is wide.
Is has no windows, only a circular aperture called the Oculus at the center of the domed ceiling which is its only source of light.
When it rains in Rome, it also rains inside the Pantheon. However cleverly positioned holes on the floor take the water through an effective drainage system.
The Pantheon is perhaps the only place in Rome (or the Roman Empire) where you can actually see what ancient temples looked like.
Around 80-90% of the Pantheon materials are original, the floors are the same floors that ancient romans of the 2nd century walked on! Can you imagine it lit with torches?
The old gods statues have now been replaced with Catholic imagery, but the overall look, color, light is the same as in ancient times.
The Pantheon is truly one of the most spectacular sites in Rome, you can’t leave Rome without visiting the Pantheon, plus it’s free!
Resources:
Virtual tours of the Pantheon (Hit fullscreen, they’re amazing!)
2. The Colosseum
Emperor: Flavian Dynasty: Vespasian, Titus and Domitian.
Time period: 70 – 80 AD.
The Flavian Amphitheater as it is properly called in basically a sports stadium from the ancient world.
It’s nicknamed The Colosseum because of the colossal statue of Nero that used to stand on the northwest corner of the Domus Aurea.
The Colosseum could seat 50.000 people and it was used for gladiatorial games, executions and re-enactments of famous battles.
It had a hipocaust, underground niches and passageways used to store wild animals, slaves and gladiators.
Attending the events was free and the design of the structure made it so that it could be emptied in less than 15 minutes.
It is a magnificent example of the best of Roman engineering and the biggest arena of the ancient world.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum fell in disuse and its materials were quarried for other important buildings.
After centuries of robberies and earthquakes, only about 40% of the original structure remains and I found it heartwarming that it is still used for concerts and events.
How proud would those Flavians be today!
Resources:
The Colosseum’s official website.
Virtual tours of the Colosseum (Hit fullscreen, it’s incredible!)
BBC’s interactive The Colosseum: Building the Arena of Death
1: The Roman Forum
Emperor: All of them and some kings as well.
Time period: 8th century BC to the fall of the Roman Empire on the 5th century AD.
The Roman Forum was the center of Roman life in every way, a big square that held the most important buildings in the city.
There were temples, basilicas (the supreme court), markets, places to eat, places to speak and be heard and even brothels.
You would conduct business and live life in the Forum! And across the centuries many structures disappeared or were built upon.
Today the Roman Forum includes structures from every era of the Roman Empire. From the place where Julius Caesar was cremated, to the basilica Constantine consecrated.
From the Temple of Vesta and the House of the Vestal Virgins, to the Curia (The Senate House).
If you plan on visiting the Roman Forum, be sure to do your research in advance, there’s so much to see and recognize.
Beware that the Forum has been closed and there is an admission fee. However, you can buy a joint ticket that includes the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill.
Neither places to eat nor restrooms are available, so be prepared, because you’re going to want to spend a long time here.
But if you leave and want to come back again, you’ll have to pay the steep entrance fee again.
Resources:
Roman forum official website.
Well, there you go, my picks for the top 10 archaeological sites in Rome. Did you read part 1 of the series?
Do you wish I’d included any other?
Were there any surprises? Ready to start planning a trip to Rome yet?
Share your comments in the field below or join the conversation in Facebook!
The coloseum should be number 1
It’s been years but the Baths of Caracalla and Trajan’s Column are among my most vivid memories of Rome. Thanks for the memories!
I completely agree! They’re both amazing!