Rome, ItalyRome's most atmospheric quarter — a dense tangle of cobblestone lanes, ivy-covered facades, and piazzas full of trattorias that come alive at night. Trastevere has the neighborhood feel that the tourist center lost decades ago. The basilica, the market, and the nightlife are all unmissable.
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The greatest monument of the ancient world — a 2,000-year-old amphitheatre that held 50,000 spectators for gladiatorial combat. Book timed entry tickets online weeks in advance to avoid the enormous queues; the arena floor access and underground tunnels are worth the premium ticket.
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The world's greatest single art collection — 54 galleries of ancient sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and Raphael's Rooms leading to Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling. Allow 4 hours minimum; book timed entry weeks ahead. The early morning tours (before public opening) offer an unforgettable silent viewing.
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The best-preserved building of ancient Rome — a 125 AD domed temple converted to a church, with a 43-meter concrete dome that remained the world's largest for 1,300 years. The oculus (open hole at the dome's apex) lets in rain, which drains through the ancient floor. Extraordinary.