When I was a kid I remembered looking at photos of different places that had to do with the history of Rome. Like most people who have seen the photos, I’ve always wanted to go to Rome to see these places. If you happen to be in the area (or if you live in Rome, obviously) you know these places I’m talking about, and you would take the time to see them because they are magnificent and beautiful, and it is amazing that these places still exist to this day, even if only in portions. Take these three examples as your starting point.
The most striking for me, and therefore the first I will mention, is the Colosseum. It was used in the past to host gladiator fights and other public executions (possibly even public executions – I’m not aware of the history that much). From what I’ve gathered, it’s beautifully lit at night and in the day, you can appreciate what remains of its architecture. You can also visit the Roman Forum, which contained many temples and shrines for the different Roman gods and goddesses, and which served as the center of civilization during the time it was built. Most of the structure is gone, but you’ll be able to find tour guides to tell you what was once there. Also, some of the pillars are still there for you to admire.
If you want to see a temple that is still intact, you can go see the Pantheon. It was built originally for the gods of ancient Rome but has been used by the Roman Catholic Church from 7 BC to the present. Inside you will see many famous people – architects, painters, kings – buried there, because it is also used as a tomb.
From these three you can proceed to visit the other fora in the city, as well as visit the nearby Vatican to see more castles from later times and, of course, to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. I still say it’s best to start with the ancient history before going anywhere else.