Here are is a collection of pictures of must see places in Rome. Here are a few photo previous before you visit Rome. If you can’t make it all the way to Rome I hope you can at least enjoy the photo snapshots I’ve taken.

Please leave a comment whether you like the pictures or not, I welcome the feedback. Thanks for visiting, please come again.

The Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. – I purposely seeked out this church and missed it the first day I set out to find it, since it is over shadowed by the Emmanuel II monument to it’s left. The reason I searched for this small church is because it’s my name sake. Aracoeli (Araceli) means heavenly altar – The city church of Rome, a basilica dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I don’t know the name of this sculture but it was one of the many scultures found in the exterior of a church, which is very common in all of Rome.

Heading towards Rome’s Piazza San Bernardo is the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria pictured below.

Picture of the Fontana del Moses, near the piaza Barberini. The fountain depicting Moses was erected in 1588 by Fontana to celebrate reactivation of the ancient aqueduct bringing to Rome Acqua Alessandrina, executed by Sixtus V (Felice Peretti), from who the present name of this water derives: Acqua Felice.

My favorite picture of Rome, mostly because of sentimental memory. This is a picture of the Cupola from the church of San Pietro in Rome, Italy. My mother and I climbed all the way to the top. I forgot how may stairs it took, but I recall the passage up kept getting narrower and narrower. The escalation was tiring but completely worth it.

After a VERY long and mostly spiral staircase was my favorite view of Rome from the top of St Peter’s Church – From there you have a magnificent view of Rome and of the Saint Peter’s square in particular. The famous square with long symmetrical colonnades was designed by Bernini. It features a central obelisk and two identical fountains.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Vatican City – A view of Rome from the top of St. Peters Church

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

After an extensive climb to the top of the dome in St. Peters here’s a picture from above the church viewing the main entrance.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Inside view of the dome of St. Peters Basilica (La Cupola di San Pietro) from below.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

To the right of Piaza de San Pietro (ST. Peter’s Plaza) begins the many columns and statues of the Basilica of St. Peter

The piazza of St. Peters was laid out in the 17th century as a place for the Christians of the world to gather. It is bordered by two semi-circular colonnades, each of which is made up of 4 doric columns. Above there are 140 statues of saints.

Above the columns in the photo are the Pope’s offices, it is also here that he stands to give an audience to the people in the square.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Vatican City, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s. This was a pilgrimige for my mother a devout catholic I was glad that I was able to give this to my mom.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

I took a moment to rest on Capitol Hill (Campidoglio). Yes rest I did not once get on a bus or metro in Rome. During my four day stay in Rome I walked and walked and walked all over Rome. I must go back to Italy if not for anything else but to gain my leg muscle again.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

I was a bit concerned before going to Rome of the rumors of my pick pockets and pan-handlers. I must admit this was one of the infrequently seen homeless people came across.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Typical Roman streets all cobblestone, ancient style and tryly ancient buildings. I was fortunate to have great wetaher everyday.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

A closeup of the Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi), in my opinion the most beautifl fountain in Rome. The sculptures on the right are said to represent the legend of the soldiers of Agrippa who were in the countryside looking for water and met this young girl who indicated them a pure water source. it s in the memory of this girl that they gave the name “virgin” to this water source.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

A closeup picture of the Ulpian Basilica in the Trajan Forum.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

The ruins of Trajan’s Forum – Trajan’s Forum was built nearly two thousand years ago by the Roman emperor Trajan (A.D. 53-117, reigned 98-117) to celebrate the victory of the Roman army over the Dacians, who lived in what is now Romania.

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II – This grandeous building can be seen miles away. This was the first building I saw as our taxi approached our hotel. At the site I felt and thought to myself: “This is Rome!”

© 2003 Araceli Arroyo | Rome

Pictured here is my mom taking a rest from the many steps we climbed.

I climbed the many steps of the “Altare della Patria”, fatherland’s altar (Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II ). From the first steps up I looked back and directly across you see the Piazza Venezia. My hotel was about 10 blocks to the right of this picture.

A picture from accross the Trajan forum looking at the Monumento Vittorio Emmanuele II, constructed in dedication of the first king of unified Italy.

My mom and I accidentally walked through and found the Plaza Navona (Piazza Navona, the elegent lady). There were artist and vendors and of course many torist.Out of the many plazas we visited I like this one the best. A close second is the one by the Trevi Fountain. Pictured below is the plaza and a street performer who earned her tips in front of the famous Fountain of the Four Rivers by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

One of the three Bernini’s fountains – La Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi in the Piazza Navona. I tried to get a better shot but the plaza was really crowded.

picture of the Forum from the Temple of Roma and Venus. West of the Colosseum sits this temple that was dedicated to Roma, the personification of the city, and Venus, the mother of Aeneas, who is supposed to be the father of Remus and Romulus.

I recall our walk to the Colosseum on a beautiful Sunday morning. The street was closed to all vehicles. I’m not sure if they do this every Sunday in Rome but I enjoyed the walk more.

The Colosseum’s top most corner.

A closer look of the many entrances the Roman Colosseum has, today all gated.

Pictured below is the Arch of Constantine which stands next to the Coloseum. It is the largest triumphal arch preserved in Rome.