Ancient Rome

Beyond the Colosseum and Forum, there is much more ancient Rome to discover:

Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla) ★★

The monumental remains of the ancient bathing complex (217 AD) give an impression of the sheer size of Roman infrastructure: space for 1,600 bathers simultaneously, with mosaics, libraries, and gardens. In summer, opera performances take place here. Admission €8.

Via Appia Antica ★★

The "Queen of Roads" is the oldest long-distance road in Europe (312 BC). Today a nature park, lined with pines, ancient tombs, and catacombs. On Sundays, the road is closed to traffic — ideal for cycling (rental at the entrance, approx. €15/day). The Catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano with their underground burial chambers of early Christians are impressive (admission approx. €8 each, guided tours only).

Trajan's Markets & Trajan's Forum ★★

The "first shopping mall in the world" — a semicircular building complex from the 2nd century with over 150 shops and offices. Today a museum (Mercati di Traiano, admission €13) with excellently preserved architecture. The Trajan's Column next to it (40 m high) shows in spiral reliefs the campaigns of Emperor Trajan against the Dacians.