How to Visit the Main Monuments of Rome
Visiting Rome is like diving into history, art, and spirituality. Every place you visit has its unique features and rules to follow.
Let’s discover together how to visit the main historical and religious monuments of the Eternal City.
Can You Climb to the Top of St. Peter’s Basilica?
Climbing to the top of St. Peter’s Dome is not only possible but also a truly unforgettable experience! How can you do it? There are two options:
The first option is to climb all 551 steps from the ground to the top. The second is to take an elevator for almost half the climb. However, there are still 320 steps to climb on foot.
The effort is well worth it because from the top of St. Peter’s, at a height of about 130 meters above the ground, the view of Vatican City and all of Rome is magnificent.
The only downside, apart from the number of steps, is that the passage becomes quite narrow in the final section. There are no major issues passing through, even for a larger person, but it might be a problem for those who suffer from claustrophobia. This experience is also not recommended for those with vertigo or heart conditions.
Along the way, there are spaces where you can stop and rest for a while. Additionally, there’s no issue of crossing paths with people descending from the dome, as the descent is via a different staircase.
About halfway up, there’s a stop where you can view the interior of the basilica from above, which is also a very fascinating sight.
When you reach the top, you’ll step out to a breathtaking panorama. You can walk around the circular terrace surrounding the dome, enjoying the view of the city in all directions. Afterward, you can descend, as mentioned, via a different staircase than the one you climbed, allowing other visitors to have the same incredible experience.
While visiting St. Peter’s Basilica is free, climbing the dome requires a fee. There are different prices depending on whether you choose to climb all the steps or take the elevator partway. On the official website of St. Peter’s Basilica, you can find all the details and purchase tickets online, reducing the time spent waiting in line. However, be prepared for some waiting time for security checks.
What Are the Opening Hours of the Pantheon?
The Pantheon, less commonly known by its Christian name Santa Maria ad Martyres, is the best-preserved ancient Roman building still standing today.
Its construction began in 27 BC by Emperor Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (as can still be read on the facade) and was later modified into the form we see today by Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD.
As the name suggests, it was a temple dedicated to all the gods.
In 609 AD, it was consecrated as a Christian Catholic place of worship, and in 1870, it became the shrine of the kings of Italy. Inside, you’ll find the remains of several monarchs, as well as artists like the great Raphael.
The French writer Stendhal, in the 19th century, described the Pantheon as “the most beautiful remnant of Roman antiquity. A temple that has suffered so little that it appears to us as the Romans must have seen it in their time.”
Since 2023, visits are paid—except during liturgical celebrations—for non-Rome residents. The ticket cost is quite modest: €5.
It is open every day except January 1 and December 25, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the last entry at 6:30 PM.
On the official Pantheon website, you can book guided tours, even in English.
The most famous feature of the Pantheon is the circular opening at the top of its dome. This is a “hole” nearly 9 meters in diameter, which allows sunlight to pass through (it’s the only opening to the outside, apart from the entrance door).
What happens when it rains? There’s a sort of legend that the architecture allows for air currents to exit through the hole, diverting the rain and preventing it from falling inside. But that’s not the case. Simply put, when it rains, the water falls inside, is channeled to the center, and drains through holes in the floor.
On the day of the summer solstice, the sun enters the hole perpendicularly, creating a large and perfect luminous disc in the center of the Pantheon.
Another very evocative moment is the day of Pentecost, when you can witness a beautiful shower of rose petals falling from the dome’s opening.
The Pantheon is truly one of the must-see stops on your trip to Rome. In fact, it’s also featured in the itineraries of Sidecar Tour in Rome: among its many routes, there’s one that highlights the Pantheon!
Are There Dress Code Requirements for Visiting the Vatican?
Vatican City is an autonomous state and the headquarters of the Catholic Church. Therefore, the same behavioral norms and dress code that you’ve likely noticed when visiting churches in Rome apply here.
In general, the main dress code rule is that shoulders and knees must be covered, so you cannot enter wearing tank tops, sleeveless shirts, shorts, or skirts that are too short.
Covering shoulders and knees applies to both men and women. However, there are also specific rules for each gender. For example, women may keep their heads covered, while men must remove their hats when entering a sacred place, even within the Vatican Museums.
Footwear guidelines are less strict, but avoid entering the basilica with heels, sandals, or flip-flops. Also, keep in mind that a visit to the Vatican involves a fair amount of walking, so sneakers or hiking shoes are much more comfortable and practical.
If you have tattoos that might offend the faithful, you’ll obviously need to cover those as well.
For these reasons, it’s useful to always carry a shawl or a light sweater, depending on the season and weather. These will likely come in handy if you plan to visit religious sites or, of course, the Vatican.
Can I Take Photos in the Sistine Chapel?
The Sistine Chapel is the most precious gem of the Vatican Museums and is one of the most artistically significant places in the world. Michelangelo’s Last Judgment painted on the vaulted ceiling is an image famous worldwide.
It’s natural to want to capture all that beauty and maybe even take a selfie to show everyone the amazing place you’re in. However, we’re sorry to say, it’s not possible!
Not only are you not allowed to keep your phone on inside the Sistine Chapel, but any photography or video recording is strictly prohibited.
This is mainly for three reasons. First, the flash from cameras or smartphones could damage the priceless artistic masterpieces in the chapel. Second, there’s a legal reason: between the 1980s and 1990s, the Japanese company Nippon TV funded the restoration of the frescoes. In return, they requested exclusive rights to images of the Sistine Chapel.
Finally, the ban is also in place to maintain an atmosphere of contemplation and respect within this special place. In short, they want to avoid it being treated as just another tourist attraction.
In the rest of the Vatican Museums, you can freely take photos, but remember that the use of flash is always prohibited.
How to Reduce Wait Times to See the Most Famous Monuments?
There are two ways to visit Rome. One way is to wander the city and take in all its beauty, trying to see as many wonders as possible without lingering too much on specific details. Another way to see the Eternal City is to plan targeted visits to the places that interest you most.
Both are valid choices that can bring great satisfaction. If you prefer the second option, which involves a more or less in-depth visit to specific monuments, you’ll need to account for a fair amount of time spent waiting in line.
However, you can reduce wait times with a few tips. Let’s look at some of them.
Buy tickets online in advance. Nowadays, almost every tourist attraction, whether it’s a monument, museum, or exhibition, allows you to purchase tickets online. The most important attractions often have their own specific websites, but for a general overview, you can start with the official tourism website of Rome, in the section dedicated to monuments. Here, you’ll find a lot of interesting general information and links to the specific websites of the monuments you want to visit.
Book guided tours. On the web, you’ll find many offers for tour guides or agencies that provide this service. Only rely on guides with official licenses and avoid unauthorized ones. With an authorized guide, you can access monuments more quickly and also learn much more about what you’re visiting.
Choose the best days and times. Of course, this depends on your travel schedule. However, if you can choose, it’s better to avoid weekends and peak hours, such as midday. Try early mornings or late afternoons, always keeping an eye on closing times and especially the last allowed entry time.
Look for alternative entrances. Sometimes, most tourists crowd the main entrance of monuments, unaware that there may be alternatives. For example, at the Colosseum Archaeological Park, there are two ticket offices: one in Piazza del Colosseo and another nearby on Via della Salara Vecchia. Often, this second ticket point is less crowded and could save you some waiting time.
And finally, the best way to optimize your time in Rome:
with Sidecar Tour in Rome, you can visit the main monuments with a fantastic half-day Vespa tour.
