Tours & Activities Combos in Rome

Known officially as the State of the Vatican City, the Vatican happens to be the capital of the Roman Catholic Church. Making for the smallest independent country of the world, Vatican City is known popularly for its architectural marvels. Packed with historical and religious buildings, this small nation has a charm of its own. Vatican City was founded during the 326 A.D. With the growth of housing and population, the very first palace came into existence during the rule of Pope Symmachus in the fifth century. The Papal States flourished under the Roman Empire and encompassed a huge part of Italy. However, after the Italian unification in the nineteenth century, the only surviving Papal State was that of the Vatican. Vatican City started being considered as an independent state after the Lateran Treaty was signed in the year 1929. At present, the Vatican is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the world. Attracting history fanatics and pilgrims, the country brims with a myriad of amazing attractions including the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Gardens, the Sistine Chapel, and the Basilica of St. Peter. Tourism happens to be the primary source of revenue of Vatican City with the Vatican Museums bringing in more than 4.3 million visitors alone every year.

The Pantheon is the most iconic landmark of Rome that has become a major crowd puller in recent days! It is an ancient monument which is famous for being the first pagan temple that has been transformed into a church! It has a mind-boggling history and has been reconstructed twice after being burned down by fires. The architecture, which was applauded by even Michelangelo, is the reason why people from all over the world flood to see this marvel! Unlike other monuments, it has not fallen into ruins, probably because of the fine quality of the materials used for its construction. It is still relevant in the 21st century and is used for mass gatherings and weddings! It is dedicated solely to St.Mary and it is touted to be the most well-preserved Roman building in the entire world. The mighty dome of the Pantheon is the single largest unreinforced  dome in the entire world. This monument is so celebrated that it has been the inspiration behind the design of a plethora of buildings throughout Europe, including the Belle Isle House in England. The other reason Pantheon is well known is that the painting maestros Raphael and composer Arcangelo Corelli have been buried here. You can witness here two sources of light from the entry door and the oculus. The structure is built in such a way that light from the oculus goes around the room throughout the day in reverse sundial effect.

Roman Forum is an archaeological site in Rome with staggering ruins of ancient monuments, temples, government buildings, and public spaces. It was once the center for all religious, political, public and commercial activities of the Roman Empire and has now turned into a major tourist attraction of present-day Rome. The Roman Forum, also known as Forum Romanum in Latin is located in the heart of the ancient city. It is the most influential representation of the iconic Roman architecture where you can witness the remnants of the powerful Roman Empire and experience its splendor. The ruins narrate countless stories of valor, alliance, deceit, conspiracy, victory, and defeat of one of the world’s oldest civilizations.Walking through the ruins, you can imagine life as it was around 20 centuries ago and gain unprecedented insights into the lives of Ancient Romans. In those times this multi-purpose site had served several royal purposes and was the most celebrated meeting place in the world for centuries. After the Fall of the Roman Empire, the precious monuments on the Forum were torn down and its glory was scrambled. The Forum had been buried for centuries before it recovered to become one of the most visited archaeological sites. Today these mysterious remains attract more than 4.5 million visitors annually. If you are holidaying in Rome, a visit to the Roman Forum along with the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill will let you understand the Eternal City through its history.