Appia Antica
Park: The
road starts at Porta San Sebastiano. The beginning of the Appian Way
is closed to traffic on Sundays.
Wikipedia has
an overview.
Castel Sant'Angelo:
M-Sun 9 am - 7:30 pm. Designed and built by the Empereor Hadrian as
his own mausoleum. It was renamed in the sixth century, when Pope
Gregory the Great witnessed a vision of St. Michael here that ended a
terrible plague. Papal authorities converted the building for use as
a fortress and built a raised walkway (the Passetto di Borgo) to link it
with the Vatican as a refuge in times of a siege or invasion.
Clement VII shattered here for several months during the Sack of Rome of
1527. ***The cafe on the top floor offers one of the best views of
Rome. See also
Wikipedia.
Circus Maximus:
For an introduction, see
Wikipedia.
The southern side of the Palatine Hill drops down to the Circus Maximus, a
green strip bordered by heavily trafficked roads. The litter of
stones at Viale Aventino end is all that remains. The huge obelisk
that now stands in front of the church of San Giovanni in Laterano -- the
largest in the world -- was once the central marker in the arean, and its
known the obelisk now in Piazza del Popolo once stood here too.
Isola
Tiberina:
The Ponte Fabricio crosses the Tiber to the Isola Tiberina. Built in
62 BCE, this is the only classical bridge that remains intact. The
island is mostly given over to Rome's oldest hospital, the
Fatebenefratelli, founded in 1548. The island was originally home to
the 3rd century BCE temple of Asclepius.
San Bartolomeo all'Isola: M-F 9:30 am - 1:30 pm and 3:30 - 5:30 pm. Opposite Fatebenefratelli's entrance, the Church of San Bartolome all'Isola stands on the site of the Temple of Asclepius, and incorporates its ancient columns into its design.
Largo
Di Torre Argentina:
Includes the spot at which Julius Caesar was assassinated.
This is in the Camp de'Fiori area. Not only is this the site of
Caesar's assassination, but there is the statue of Giordano Bruno here as
well.
Mamertine Prison:
(Clivo Argentario) -Daily 9 am - 5 pm.
According to tradition, Peter and Paul were imprisoned here.
One can see the column to which St. Peter was chained,
along with the spring the saint is said to have used to baptize his guards
and other prisoners. See
Wikipedia for
an introduction.
Museo di Roma:
(Piazza San Pantaleo) Tues - Sun. 10 am - 7 pm. A collection
relating to the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the present.
Museo
Napoleonico:
See also
Google Arts And Culture.
Palazzo
Farnese:
Tours in English M, W and F 3 pm. Book at least one week in advance
(one month for English). Just south of Camp de' Fiori.
Commissioned in 1514 by Alessandro Farnese, who later became Pope Paul
III.
San Luigi dei
Francesi:
M-F 9:30 am - 12:45 pm; Sat. 11:30 - 12:45 pm. Free. Located
on the eastern side of Piazza Navona. Caravaggio painted work for
the Contarellis chapel (last chapel on the left), including the "Calling
of St. Matthew."
Sant'Agnese fuori le
Mura: (Via
Nomentana) -- Sant'Agnese M - Sat 9am - Noon and 3-7 pm; Sun 3 - 7 pm;
Catacombs Th - Sat 9 am - Noon and 3 - 6 pm; Sun 3-6 pm. Bus to
Nomentana. About a mile up Via Nomentana from the Porta Pia, the
church of Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura dedicated to the 13-year-old martyred
in Domitian's Stadium 303 CE. The catacombs that sprawl below are
among the best-preserved and crowd-free in Rome. See also
Wikipedia.