Climb to the top of Palatine Hill (Monte Palatino).
Legend has it that the ancient city of Rome was born atop Palatine Hill. Well-preserved samples of Roman era palaces and temples still stand, incorporated into the natural landscape by trees and vegetation that grow out of the ruins. Today these sites -- which include the Baths of Septimus Severus -- feel more like a park than an archeological site. Quiet paths shaded by slanting maritime pines give the place a serene feel. For a treat, visit Palatine Hill at early dusk, and watch the sun set on the center of ancient Rome -- from Circus Maximus, to the Forum, to the Colosseum.

Stroll the grounds of the Roman Forum (Foro Romano).
You won't have to strain your imagination to picture the Forum as the political, commercial and religious center that it once was, Columns, arches and temples built between 500 B.C. and A.D. 400 -- including the Temple of Vesta, where virgins once guarded the sacred fire -- are artifacts of its ancient prominence. This center fills the valley between Capitoline and Palatine hills.

Imagine yourself a gladiator at the Colosseum (Colosseo).
The Colosseum is the most recognizable symbol of Rome. Once called the Flavian Ampitheater, it was built from A.D. 72 to A.D. 80 -- in just eight years. Here, up to 50,000 spectators -- protected from the sun by an ingenious system of shades -- packed the stands to watch Roman gladiators fight it out in the ultimate combat. Today, the only wild animals haunting visitors are stray cats that make their home in the shadow of this monument.

Make a wish at Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi).
Squashed into the corner of a small piazza, Trevi Fountain's statue of Neptune seems ready to burst forward from the ancient Acqua Vergine aqueduct. The recently cleaned, and gleaming, 18th-century fountain is one of Rome's most famous sights. It draws throngs of tourists, who crowd into the tiny square to toss coins into the water over their left shoulders; legend says this assures a return trip to the city.

Take a break on the Spanish Steps.
A grand outdoor staircase, the Spanish Steps offer a fabulous view of city monuments and rooftops. But they are also a great vantage point for people watching. The Spanish Steps are the meeting place in Rome, filled daily with guitar-playing city dwellers and stylish shoppers descending on the piazza's world-class boutiques. When you've had enough rest, head next door to the Keats-Shelley house, and take a look at memorabilia from literature's Romantic period. Or take a sip and a photo in front of the piazza's azalea-trimmed Fontana della Barcaccia (Old Boat Fountain).


Admire Rome's best-preserved monument, the Pantheon.
An architectural wonder in simplicity, this domed temple was built in 27 B.C. as a tribute to all gods and then rebuilt in the second century A.D. by Emperor Hadrian. It is one of Rome's best-preserved monuments, despite the removal of its marble walls, and bronze ceiling during the Renaissance. The round temple includes a series of columns topped by a dome, which boasts a 30-foot opening to let in light. It remains the burial site of the first ruler of the Kingdom of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, and artist, Rafael.

Take an evening stroll at Holy Angel Castle (Castel Sant'Angelo).
The Castel Sant'Angelo's is a distinctive round building, nestled between the Tiber and the Vatican. It was built in A.D. 135 as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum. Later it was used as a fortress and a prison, even providing an escape route for popes via the connected corridor running atop the wall encircling the Vatican. Inside, the castle not only serves up fabulous views of the city, but also houses medieval cells, frescoed halls and a museum of arms and armor. And if you want to experience the romance of Rome, you can't beat a stroll across the Ponte Sant'Angelo at night. Newly installed floodlights dramatically illuminate the 10 angel statues flanking this approach to the castle.


Visit St. Peter's Square and Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro).
As the largest church in the world, St. Peter's Basilica features stunning architecture, works of art and a chance to see the pope, who addresses the public in the square on Wednesdays and Sundays when he is in town. Inside, the bronze statue of St. Peter draws crowds, as does Michelangelo's 1499 depiction of the Pieta. And ascending St. Peter's 435-foot dome provides a great vantage point for viewing the city and the pope's gardens. But not to be missed is the ancient necropolis, or "city of the dead," beneath the basilica. Plan ahead, because the small tours of St. Peter's scavi (excavation) require reservations through the Vatican offices. St. Peter's bones are believed to be buried there; the burial site is preserved, along with the Constantinian-era basilica and Nero's Circus.

Visit the Vatican Museums, and see the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina).
A journey through the 4.5 miles of displays in the Vatican Museums begins at the foot of an impressive double helix stairwell. Because it is one of the largest collections in the world, seeing all of the Vatican Museums is a near-impossible task for the casual tourist. But no matter how short your time, you don't want to miss the frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, or Michelangelo's Last Judgement fresco behind the chapel altar. The museum also is home to artworks of every age, from early Egypt to the present day.


Walk along the Ancient Appian Way (Via Appia Antica), and visit the catacombs.
The Appian Way, or "queen of roads," was the first and most important of the Roman Empire's great roads. Built entirely from cobblestone in 213 B.C., today it is scattered with ancient monuments and, most notably, a series of catacombs. These burial sites are underground labyrinths dug out of volcanic rock, outside the city walls due to laws forbidding burial in ancient Rome. Be sure to visit the Catacombe di San Callisto, one of the oldest and best-preserved, and the Catacombe di San Sebastiano. Unlike most catacombs, San Sebastiano also contains pagan tombs. But it once housed the remains of St. Peter and St. Paul, and its basilica still contains the basalt Domino Quo Vadis footprint, made, according to tradition, by the foot of Jesus Christ. .