Temple of Saturn The structure with the prominent remaining columns is the Temple of Saturn, located at the western end of the Roman Forum. The temple was one of the oldest and most important sacred buildings in the Roman Forum. It primarily served as the aerarium, the state treasury, housing the Roman Republic’s and early Empire’s reserves of gold and
The Aqua Virgo aqueduct – considered one of the great engineering works of the Ancient Roman era – was built between 25 and 19 BC by Marcus Agrippa, the son-in-law and confidant of the emperor Augustus. The name probably stems from the purity of its water but according to legend it derives from the apparition of a virgin who showed
This historical image is an 18th-century copperplate etching titled “Scalinata in Piazza di Spagna”, created by the famous Italian engraver and architect Giuseppe Vasi around 1740–1752. It was published as part of his monumental ten-volume work, Delle magnificenze di Roma antica e moderna. The Fontana della Barcaccia sits at the foot of the iconic Spanish Steps in the heart of
The Column of the Immaculate Conception (Colonna dell’Immacolata Concezione) is in the Piazza Mignanelli in Rome, Italy. The monument was erected in 1857 to commemorate the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX in 1854, which states that the Virgin Mary was conceived free from original sin. The monument was designed by architect Luigi Poletti.
The Baths of Diocletian were the largest imperial public baths in ancient Rome. Construction began in 298 AD under Emperor Maximian, appointed Augustus of the Western Roman Empire, as a tribute to co-emperor Diocletian. They were completed by Constantine’s father in 306 AD. The baths survived the first sack of Rome in 410 AD but were abandoned after their water
The Colosseum is an iconic ancient Roman amphitheater located in the center of Rome, Italy. Officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater, it is a renowned symbol of Imperial Rome and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Colosseum was built between A.D. 70-80 under the emperors Vespasian and Titus of the Flavian dynasty. It was used for
St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are located in Vatican City, a microstate enclaved within Rome, Italy. The monumental square was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1656 and 1667. It features a large elliptical space framed by colossal Tuscan colonnades, which consist of 284 columns and 88 pilasters arranged in four rows. These colonnades are often
Teatro dell’Opera di Roma (Rome Opera House) is a theater is located in Rome, Italy, and is known for its iconic 19th-century architecture and lavish productions. The interior features the traditional horseshoe-shaped auditorium with vertically stacked private boxes, ornate gold decorations, and red seating, which creates an intimate atmosphere. Also known as the Teatro Costanzi after its builder Domenico Costanzi, the
The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla), are an ancient Roman public bath complex in Rome, Italy. The baths are located near the ancient Appian Way, south of the Circus Maximus in Rome. Construction of the vast complex began around 212 AD under Emperor Septimius Severus and was completed by his son Caracalla in 216 AD. They were the second-largest
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major papal basilicas and the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is a masterpiece of Christian art and architecture with origins dating back to the 5th century. As one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, it has a special status and is a significant pilgrimage destination.