Tour of Rome, Italy

Via della Conciliazione (Road of the Conciliation) is the main street in Rome that runs from the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber River to Saint Peter's Square and Saint Peter's Basilica as seen in the distance.

The road was constructed between 1936 and 1950, and it is the primary access route to the Square. In addition to shops and residences, it is bordered by a number of historical and religious buildings.

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Saint Peter's Basilica gives a good view over Saint Peter's Square and down the Via della Conciliazione.

The Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people.

It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites, described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom".

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The Palace of the Governorate lies within the Vatican City, which is actually a small walled city within Rome. There are many historic buildings and museums within the Vatican City walls.

The Palace of the Governorate is where Legislative functions are delegated for the Vatican City State, led by the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Its seven members are cardinals appointed by the Pope for terms of five years. Acts of the commission must be approved by the pope, through the Holy See's Secretariat of State, and before taking effect must be published in a special appendix of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is situated about 0.5 miles east of Saint Peter's Basilica.

This is a towering cylindrical building in Rome, initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.

This building was later used as a fortress and castle, it is now a museum.

Situated at the east end of the Via della Conciliazione road.

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The Supreme Court of Cassation is situated about 0.7 mile east of Saint Peter's Basilica, next to the Mausoleum of Hadrian.

This is the main court of last resort in Italy. It has its seat in the Rome Hall of Justice.

The name of the court is sometimes translated "supreme court", but this is somewhat misleading, because the Court of Cassation does not rule on the constitutionality of laws. That function belongs to the Corte costituzionale (constitutional court).

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The Piazza Navone is situated about 1 mile southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, on the eastern side of the Tiber river.

This is one of the most famous and arguably the most beautiful of Rome's many squares.

The large and lively square features no less than three magnificent fountains. Another eye catcher is the baroque church of Sant'Agnese in Agone.

The square is situated in the heart of the city with most of the main tourist attractions within walking distance.

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The Pantheon is situated about 1.2 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short distance southeast of the Piazza Navone square.

This is a building in Rome that was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt circa 126 AD during Hadrian's reign.

The Pantheon is the oldest standing domed structure in Rome. The height to the oculus and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 metres (142 ft).

This was the largest dome in the world until Florence Cathedral was constructed in 1436.

Basilica di Santa Maria is situated about 1.3 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short distance southeast of the Pantheon.

The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The present building dates from the time of Pope Sixtus III (432 - 440), containing many ancient mosaics from this period.

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The Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II is situated about 1.5 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short distance southeast of the Basilica di Santa Maria.

This is a monument to honour Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy.

The monument was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in 1895; sculpture for it was parceled out to established sculptors all over Italy. It was inaugurated in 1911 and completed in 1935.

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Capitoline Hill is one of the seven hills of Rome, situated about 1.5 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, close to the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II.

The hill was the site of a temple for the Capitoline Triad, started by Rome's fifth king, Tarquin the Elder. It was considered one of the largest and most beautiful temples in the city (although little now remains).

The main building on the hill is now the Roman City Hall. Its double ramp of stairs were designed by Michelangelo.

The fountain in front of the staircase features the river gods of the Tiber and the Nile as well as Dea Roma.

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The Roman Forum is situated about 1.9 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short distance south of Capitoline Hill.

This is the central area around which the ancient Roman civilization developed. The oldest and most important structures of the ancient city are located in the forum, including its ancient former royal residency, the Regia, and the surrounding complex of the Vestal virgins.

This is where Julius Caesar was murdered March 15th 44 BCE. He was surrounded by as many as 60 or so senators who ended his life with 23 dagger thrusts.

The Arch of Constantine is situated about 2.3 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short distance east of the Roman Forum.

This is a triumphal arch in Rome, situated next to the Colosseum. It was erected to commemorate Constantine I's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge October 28th 312. More Information.

The Colosseum, in the background, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. More Information . Visitor Reviews.

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St. John in Lateran is situated about 2.9 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica, a short disatnce southeast of the Colosseum.

This is the Cathedral of Rome, the mother of all churches in Rome and in the world. Founded by Constantine, during the time of Silvester (314-335) it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current basilica dates from the 17th century.

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Caius Cestius, a rich praetor (an elected magistrate) and member of a group of priests responsible for sacred banquets died in 12 BC. He had built himself a tomb modeled on Egyptian pyramids.

Anything Egyptian had become fashionable after Rome had conquered Egypt in 30 BC, hence the uncommon choice for a pyramidical tomb.

The Pyramid of Caius Cestius can be found at the southern edge of ancient rome, near the Porta San Paolo, part of the Aurelian Wall that surrounds the ancient area of Rome, about 2.5 miles southeast of Saint Peter's Basilica.

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The Fontana di Trevi , or Trevi Fountain, is situated about 1.8 miles east of Saint Peter's Basilica.

This is the most famous and arguably the most beautiful fountain in all of Rome.

This impressive monument dominates the small Trevi square located in the Quirinale district, a short distance northeast of Piazza Navone square and the Pantheon.

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Quirinal Palace, on the Quirinal Hill, is situated about 1.8 miles east of Saint Peter's Basilica.

This is the tallest of the seven hills of Rome. The palace was built in 1573 by Pope Gregory XIII as a papal summer residence.

In September, 1870, what was left of the Papal States was overthrown. About five months later, in 1871, Rome became the capital of the new Kingdom of Italy.

The Palace became the official residence and workplace for the Presidents of the Italian Republic after the monarchy was abolished in 1946.

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The Borghese Gallery in Rome is an art gallery housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana.is situated about 2.5 miles northeast of Saint Peter's Basilica.

The Galleria Borghese houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities, which was begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621).

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Naples and Pompeii is a fascinating day trip from Rome to discover history, art and archaeology, situated about 150 miles south.

Your journey takes you from Rome to the Gulf of Naples, where Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D., devastating the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

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For more tours of Rome and surrounding area such as: hop on hop off buses, river boat tours, Island of Capri, wine-tasting and more, visit the website: www.viator.com/Rome.

For more information on Rome, visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome.