Wandering through Rome, just across the grand Via dei Fori Imperiali from the iconic Roman Forum, you’ll discover one of the city’s most fascinating and well-preserved ancient sites: Trajan’s Market. This impressive structure stands as a remarkable testament to both Roman ingenuity and their vibrant marketplace culture.
Trajan’s Market wasn’t just a bustling commercial hub in its heyday. Ingeniously, its grand multi-level design served a dual purpose. Besides hosting shops and administrative offices, the market complex was constructed as a strategic measure to prevent the nearby Quirinal Hill from collapsing onto the city below. This clever blend of practicality and sophistication remains evident in the sturdy arches and ancient corridors that have survived nearly two millennia.
Just below the market, nestled within the vast expanse of the Forum, rises another marvel of the ancient world: Trajan’s Column. Built in 113 AD, this towering column is adorned with intricate reliefs that spiral upward, telling the dramatic story of Emperor Trajan’s victories in battle. Each carved scene offers a glimpse into the military prowess and artistry that defined Rome at the height of its power.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply a curious traveler, Trajan’s Market and the surrounding monuments invite you to step back in time and experience the enduring legacy of ancient Rome.
Source - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajan%27s_Market
The house in which the famous English poet John Keats succumbed to consumption, now preserved as a memorial to his life and that of his friend Shelley, both of whom are buried in Rome's Protestant Cemetery (see Testaccio).
Rome's museum of contemporary art, housed in a former industrial complex. Rotating exhibitions, each one usually lasting about 4 months. The MACRO Testaccio exhibition space is located in Aventino-Testaccio.
An ethnographic collection of around 60,000 pieces from European indigenous cultures. Documents evolution from the Palaeolithic age to the Iron Age.
Contains the tomb of Pope Hadrian IV, the last non-Italian pope before Pope John Paul I.
A 1st-century tomb surrounded by two farmhouses from the Middle Ages, one of which used to be a cheese store. Rather hidden behind a high wall, the tomb is rarely open to the public. You might be lucky on a Sunday: on the third Sunday of every month there is a guided tour at 11:00.
The remains of the ancient Roman archives, where Cicero and Seneca did research. Visible from the Forum and accessible through the Capitoline Museum.
The renamed Rome Zoo, one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1911. On the edge of the Borghese Gardens, a short, well-signposted walk from the Gallery. They try hard, but San Diego this isn't. If you are a regular zoo-goer you will be disappointed.
Built in the 9th century, this ancient basilica crowns the top of the Esquiline Hill. Tons of gold decorate the interior together with impressive mosaics (particularly when the floodlights are turned on), and there is a museum on the premises. If you are in Rome on Corpus Christi (Corpus Domini), which is the Thursday after the 8th Sunday after Easter, an early-evening service is held in San Giovanni by the Pope followed by a procession along Via Merulana to Santa Maria. Good opportunity for a close up view of the Pope. This is a very large church with lots to see, as for example, the main part of the church has two layers of mosaics and paintings high on the walls, the altar and apse are spectacular, and then there are several more or less large chapels you won't want to miss, including the one with the amazing golden baptismal font. Allow at least an hour if not an hour and a half or more to visit the interior, even if you do not take any special tours, and also allow time to view the exterior from all sides. Overall, at least 2 hours would not be too much time to allot.
Like Pasquino, the Facchino is one the so-called "speaking figures" which are peculiar to Rome. He is looking out of the Banco di Roma building. The man depicted is holding a barrel in his hands and is carrying water. It is sometimes said that he is looking similar to Martin Luther, but more probably a porter who died while carrying a barrel is depicted here.
With its strange Liberty- style buildings with influence from the Art Nouveau of the 1920s this small bunch of blocks is one of the most interesting, and less known, landmarks of the city. A must see.
This small museum records the liberation of Rome from German occupation during the Second World War. During the occupation the building was used as a prison. Stair lifts and chair lifts available for wheelchair users (call ahead).
The enormous building at the southeast end of the Circus Maximus is the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). From its roof are undoubtedly the best views of Rome, but you will need to know someone who works there to get past the strict security.
Designed by Bramante to mark the spot of St. Peter's martyrdom, this delightful miniature building is considered a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Open to the public.