Attractions in Rome
Travelers in Rome should not miss the Vatican Museums. This group consists of the Pinacoteca Art Gallery, the Collection of Modern Religious Art and four sculpture museums, and contains some of the world's most important pieces of art. The Pinacoteca holds works such as Raphael's Madonna of Foligno, Leonardo da Vinci's St. Gerome in the Wilderness and Perugino's Madonna and Child with Saints. The Collection of Modern Religious Art has works by Rodin, Klee, Dali, Picasso and many others. The four sculpture museums contain such works as the Sleeping Ariadne, the Prima Porta Augustus and various works from the ancient Egyptians and the Etruscans.
Another important stop for travelers is the Sistine Chapel, famed for its architecture and frescoes. Here can be seen the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, one of the most famous paintings in the world, as well as works by Raphael, Bernini and numerous others. Visitors are urged to pay attention to the wall frescoes, often overlooked by people engrossed in the ceiling frescoes. Scenes on the left wall portray events in the Old Testament while those on the right wall show events from the New Testament.
St. Peter's Basilica has a seating capacity of 60,000, giving it the largest interior of any Christian church in the world. The name of the Basilica refers to the belief that the Apostle Peter is buried here, a belief for which there is some historical corroboration. Visitors are advised to set aside a whole day to explore the Basilica and its surroundings, including not only the structure itself, but also St. Peter's Square with its magnificent fountains.
Raphaels' Rooms in the Palace of the Vatican are famous for their frescoes by Raphael and his workshop. Among the many masterpieces here are the Vision of the Cross, the Baptism of Constantine and the Deliverance of St. Peter.
For those who want to see the older heritage of Rome, a site that should not be missed is the Colosseum. Always a favorite for travelers, this structure has been the subject of much archaeological works in recent years, and much of the hypogeum or understructure is now visible.
One of the oldest parts of Rome is the Palatine Hill. It is said to be the location of the cave where Romulus and Remus were cared for by a wolf in their infancy, and mythology also says that Hercules defeated the monster Cacus here.