Créé par Romane, le 7 mai 2026
Votre guide Ryo
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Ancient Rome has fascinated for centuries: colossal monuments, imperial forums, temples still standing, grandiose baths... Visiting Rome means diving into two millennia of history without leaving the city's cobblestones. To prepare your trip, we have selected 9 wonders of ancient Rome not to be missed, those that transform a simple stroll into a real journey through time. From the Colosseum to Trajan's Forum, passing by the Pantheon and the Baths of Caracalla, each monument offers you a unique encounter with the grandeur of the Roman Empire.
1. The Colosseum, eternal symbol of ancient Rome
Impossible to talk about the wonders of ancient Rome without starting with the Colosseum. This Flavian amphitheater, the largest ever built by the Romans, stands in the heart of the city with its four floors and 50,000 spectator seats. Inaugurated in 80 AD under Emperor Titus, it was for four centuries the theater of gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts and sometimes even naval battles when the arena was flooded.
Its architecture is a masterpiece of Roman engineering: 80 arches on each of the first three levels, a velarium system (protective canopy) stretched by sailors from the imperial fleet, and underground galleries (the hypogeum) where men and beasts waited before being hoisted into the arena by winch elevators. From the outside, the monumental façade is as impressive as the interior space. The Colosseum is today one of the most visited monuments in the world — remember to book your tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
Just beside it stands the Arch of Constantine, commissioned by the Senate in 315 to celebrate the emperor's victory over Maxentius. These two monuments alone form one of the most impressive panoramas of ancient Rome.
2. The Roman Forum, political heart of ancient Rome
A few steps from the Colosseum extends the Roman Forum, one of the most important archaeological sites on the planet. For centuries, this vast public square was the nerve center of Rome's political, religious and commercial life. Temples, basilicas, tribunals and triumphal arches follow one another in an apparent disorder that, in reality, tells two thousand years of history.
We particularly admire the Temple of Saturn, one of Rome's oldest (4th century BC), of which eight Doric columns of Egyptian granite still remain. The Basilica of Maxentius, colossal 4th-century courthouse, impresses with its coffered vaults. The Arch of Septimius Severus, erected in 203, celebrates the emperor's victory over the Parthians with bas-reliefs of remarkable finesse. To understand what you see, let yourself be guided by the Ryo audio circuit, which traces in detail the history of this high place of Roman power.
The Forum is included in a combined ticket with the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill. Allow at least two hours to enjoy it fully, and good shoes: the ancient cobblestones are magnificent but uneven.
3. The Circus Maximus, the largest circus in the Roman world
Between the Palatine Hill and the Aventine, the Circus Maximus occupies a valley 620 meters long. It takes a good dose of imagination to restore its past grandeur: today a simple grassy esplanade, it could accommodate up to 300,000 spectators, the largest human concentration ever assembled in ancient history. It was here that chariot races (ludi circenses) took place, those frenzied spectacles where four teams competed — the Greens, Blues, Reds and Whites — in an atmosphere of absolute passion.
The construction of the circus dates back to the 7th century BC according to Roman tradition, and it was enlarged several times until its monumental form under the emperors. In the center of the track stood the spina, a long platform adorned with Egyptian obelisks and statues of deities. Two of these obelisks now adorn Piazza del Popolo and the Lateran. Even in its ruined state, the Circus Maximus is an essential stop on any journey in the footsteps of ancient Rome.
Download the audio-guided circuit to discover Rome on foot and independently
To effortlessly connect the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Circus Maximus, and not miss any of the secrets of these extraordinary monuments, download the Ryo audio-guided circuit to visit Rome. This 7.3 km walking itinerary guides you through 23 points of interest — from ancient ruins to historic neighborhoods — with fun and documented audio commentary, directly in your earpiece. No need for a human guide or group tours: you explore the Eternal City at your own pace, in complete autonomy.
4. The Pantheon, the best-preserved temple of all Antiquity
Hidden around the corner of the historic center's narrow streets, the Pantheon (Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Rome) emerges with incomparable striking force. Built under Hadrian between 118 and 125 AD on the remains of an older temple erected by Agrippa, it owes its reputation to a striking paradox: it is both one of Rome's oldest monuments and one of the best preserved in the world. Its name, from the Greek pan theion ("all the gods"), reflects its original vocation: a temple dedicated to the entire Roman pantheon.
The interior is an architectural vertigo. The Roman concrete dome, with a diameter of 43.3 meters, was for 1,300 years the largest in the world — before being surpassed by Brunelleschi's in Florence. It is pierced at its summit by a single oculus 8.7 meters in diameter, an opening to the sky that represents the celestial vault and constitutes the only source of natural light in the building. In good weather, a ray of sunlight slowly crosses the interior space throughout the hours, creating an unforgettable spectacle. The Pantheon is now a Catholic basilica and houses the tombs of the kings of Italy. Entry is paid but remains accessible.
5. The Baths of Caracalla, Rome's most grandiose public baths
Less known than the Colosseum or Pantheon, the Baths of Caracalla (Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 52, 00153 Rome) are nonetheless one of the most impressive wonders of ancient Rome. Built between 212 and 216 under Emperor Caracalla, these monumental public bath establishments could simultaneously accommodate 1,600 bathers in their 130,000 m² halls. Imagine rooms 30 meters high, covered with mosaics, stucco and colored marble, enhanced with libraries, gardens, gymnasiums and shops.
Romans didn't just come to wash at the baths: it was a place of social and intellectual life, open to all, free or for a modest sum. The classic Roman bath route went from the frigidarium (cold water) to the tepidarium (warm water), then to the caldarium (hot water), before a passage through the apodyterium (changing room) or the palestra (exercise room). Today, the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla are sufficiently preserved for one to perceive the scope of this complex, and the site hosts outdoor opera performances each summer. A spectacular way to pay tribute to this extraordinary monument of ancient Rome.
6. Castel Sant'Angelo, from imperial mausoleum to museum
On the right bank of the Tiber, two steps from the Vatican, Castel Sant'Angelo (Lungotevere Castello 50, 00193 Rome) is one of the monuments that best illustrate the sedimentation of Roman history. Built between 123 and 139 AD by Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family, it was successively transformed into a military fortress, papal refuge connected to the Vatican by a secret passage — the "Passetto di Borgo" — and state prison where illustrious figures such as Giordano Bruno were imprisoned. It is now a national museum offering an exceptional panoramic view of Rome.
The visit takes place on several levels: from medieval halls to Renaissance apartments decorated with striking frescoes, passing through the former prisons and upper terraces. Don't miss the statue of the Archangel Michael at the summit, which gives the castle its name since the 6th century — according to legend, the archangel appeared there during a procession of Pope Gregory I, announcing the end of a plague epidemic. To reach Castel Sant'Angelo from the Colosseum, the Ryo audio-guided walk follows the Tiber and takes you through Rome's most beautiful neighborhoods.
7. Augustus' Mausoleum, the largest circular tomb of Antiquity
Built in 28 BC on the Campus Martius, shortly after Augustus' victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Augustus' Mausoleum (Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 00186 Rome) is the largest circular tomb in known Antiquity. With a diameter of about 87 meters, this monumental funerary monument was to house the remains of Rome's first emperor and his Julio-Claudian successors. Tiberius, Claudius, Livia and many others were buried there, making the mausoleum the dynastic pantheon of nascent imperial Rome.
The original building was covered with a cypress mound and topped with a colossal bronze statue of Augustus. Over the centuries, it had very varied uses: medieval fortress, garden of the Soderini family, bullfighting arena, concert hall... Now restored and open to the public after decades of work, Augustus' Mausoleum is gradually regaining its ancient splendor and constitutes one of the most moving discoveries for any lover of ancient Rome. It is best visited in combination with the Ara Pacis, just a few meters away.
8. The Ara Pacis, the most beautiful marble poem of Augustan Rome
A few steps from the mausoleum, the Ara Pacis Augustae (Lungotevere in Augusta, corner Via Tomacelli, 00186 Rome) is undoubtedly the most refined sculptural work of all ancient Roman art. Commissioned by the Senate in 13 BC to celebrate Augustus' triumphal return after his campaigns in Spain and Gaul, this altar of peace is first a political message: Augustus, master of the Mediterranean world, has restored the Pax Romana after decades of civil wars.
Its Carrara marble friezes represent a procession of identifiable characters — Augustus himself, his family, priests and senators — in unprecedented realism in ancient art. The vegetal reliefs that adorn the lower part of the altar, of extraordinary botanical luxuriance and precision, have led some art historians to say that the Ara Pacis is a "marble poem". The monument is housed in a modern museum designed by American architect Richard Meier, which allows admiring the altar in natural light, while exploring its historical context through detailed explanatory panels.
To discover the Ara Pacis and Augustus' Mausoleum in their urban context, the audio-guided circuit "From Trevi to the Vatican" guides you through this Campus Martius sector, retracing the history of Augustan Rome with its 24 audio commentaries.
9. Trajan's Forum and Markets, the last great imperial forum
Let's end this tour of ancient Rome's wonders with Trajan's Forum and Markets, the most ambitious of the Roman imperial forums. Built between 107 and 113 AD to commemorate the conquest of Dacia (present-day Romania), this monumental complex extended 300 meters long and 185 meters wide. To create it, architect Apollodorus of Damascus had to move some 61 million cubic meters of rock by razing the natural spur that connected the Quirinal to the Capitol — an engineering feat praised by all contemporaries.
At the heart of the forum rises the famous Trajan's Column, 38 meters high and entirely sculpted with a spiral frieze that unfolds over 200 meters the scenes of the two Dacian wars. This masterpiece of imperial propaganda, still standing after twenty centuries, was the model for all triumphal columns in history, including the Vendôme Column in Paris. Trajan's Markets, which adjoined the forum, constitute the first "shopping center" in history: six levels of shops and warehouses organized around a large central hall. Now transformed into a museum of the imperial forums, they offer total immersion in the economic life of ancient Rome.
From the panoramic walkway of the Ryo circuit, the clear view over the entire Trajan's Forum and Via dei Fori Imperiali is one of the highlights of the audio-guided visit to Rome. An image that will remain engraved for a long time in the memories of any traveler in love with ancient Rome.
In conclusion, ancient Rome offers heritage of unique richness and density in the world. Whether you are passionate about history or simply curious, each of these 9 wonders — from the Colosseum to Trajan's Column, passing through the mysterious Pantheon and the sumptuous Baths of Caracalla — offers you a particular emotion and a direct connection with the grandeur of the Roman Empire. To fully experience this adventure, without getting lost in the crowd of tourists and without missing any of the hidden treasures of the Eternal City, trust the Ryo audio-guided circuit to visit Rome: 23 audio commentaries, interactive navigation and total freedom to explore ancient Rome at your own pace, on foot and in complete autonomy.
FAQ – Wonders of ancient Rome
What are the monuments of ancient Rome that must be visited?
The must-see monuments of ancient Rome are the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant'Angelo, Augustus' Mausoleum, Ara Pacis and Trajan's Forum. These nine sites cover the essentials of ancient Rome's history, from the Republic to late Antiquity.
How many days are needed to visit Rome's ancient sites?
Allow at least two full days to see Rome's main ancient monuments in good conditions. A first day can be devoted to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (combined ticket available), then the Circus Maximus. The second day will allow discovering the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Campus Martius sector with Augustus' Mausoleum and the Ara Pacis. Trajan's Forum easily integrates into either of these two days.
Can you visit Rome's ancient monuments with free access?
Some monuments of ancient Rome are free or accessible from outside without tickets: the Circus Maximus, Arch of Constantine, Forum Boarium or Trajan's Column visible from the street. However, the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant'Angelo and Ara Pacis require entrance fees. Book your tickets online in advance, especially in high season, to avoid long queues.
How to visit ancient Rome independently and without a guide?
The best way to visit ancient Rome independently is to download the Ryo audio-guided circuit. The app guides you step by step between monuments, with contextualized audio commentary on each site. You thus enjoy a visit as rich as with a human guide, but at your own pace, without time constraints or groups.