QC Termeroma Tickets

Built between 1609 and 1613, this opulent structure - fountains, gardens, pink marble walls, frescoed ceilings - seems ideally suited to house one of the world's best collections of art. And that was exactly what it was built for. Architect Flaminio Ponzio designed it for the cardinal and art collector Scipione Borghese, who wanted a party villa on the edge of town where he could house his enormous collection of priceless art. In 1901, the collection (and the gallery, and the park that surrounds it) was acquired by the Italian government, and opened to the public. As a museum, Galleria Borghese punches well above its weight with an impressive hit rate of masterpieces. Sculptures by Bernini and Canova, paintings, by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian... the list goes on.

The towering cylinder of Castel Sant'Angelo, and its statue of Archangel Michael, is an instantly recognizable silhouette on the banks of the Tiber. Initially built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian and his family, its purpose has changed many times over the years, from a fortress, a residence, a prison, and now a museum.

Skip The Line Vatican Museums Tickets

The Vatican Gardens are private urban gardens in the Vatican, covering an area of approximately 23 hectares (more than half of the country!). Established during the Renaissance and Baroque era, the gardens are decorated with typically ornate fountains and sculptures from these times. It is claimed that the foundation site of the Vatican Gardens was spread with sacred soil brought from Mount Calvary. Visiting the gardens requires booking a private tour, as no general public access is allowed.

The Colosseum is a massive ancient amphitheater in the center of Rome. Picked apart by scavengers and ravaged by earthquakes and time, the Colosseum still stands as an impressive symbol of life in Ancient Rome. It showcases the power of past emperors and the durability of the Eternal City. This huge, marble and limestone structure was built to hold more than 50,000 spectators, all there to revel in the various forms of (mostly violent) entertainment, such as hunts, gladiator battles, and executions.

The Mamertine Prison holds over 3000 years worth of treasures and is one of Rome's most interesting and important monuments from the Roman Republic. It's located below the Church of St. Joseph of the Carpenters and offers one of Rome's best views of the Ancient Forum.