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Have you ever wanted to visit Italy?

Italy is the home of ancient civilization from thousands of years ago, and Rome, its capital, was the capital of the old world. Today, it’s one of the most visited cities in Europe, along with Paris and Amsterdam. If you ever thought about visiting but weren’t sure if it would be worth your time, here’s a list of some of the top destinations in Rome and surrounding Italy you need to check out next summer. I’ve compiled this list from my own experiences visiting, and while these locations are far from the only ones, they left an impression on me.

1. The Colosseum
Let’s start the list off with one location you have heard of and probably seen in movies. The historical colosseum is a monument to ancient warrior culture and events. It had the capacity of 50 thousand spectators and held games and championships in combat. It was also an amphitheater, the biggest one in the ancient world. A lot of blood was shed in the arena in gladiatorial fights with animals, but today it’s a relic of the old times. The visit costs a bit of money, and you will need to wait a few hours to enter if you’re visiting during the primary season, but you can save a lot of money by getting a good deal on a ticket online.

2. The Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is a mythological place where Rome was initially founded according to Roman myths. Romulus and Remus started building the city here. At the top of the hill, there’s a cave and ruins of old homes where historical figures such as Augustus, Caesar’s son, and the first Roman emperor lived.

3. The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was the center of the old city and held many ruins of ancient Rome, such as the building of ancient marketplaces, administrative buildings, and religious shrines. This is one of the places that you should really get a guided tour for, as there are too much rich history and information to take in on your own in this place.
Now for a few places outside of Rome itself.

4. Civitavecchia
This is a coastal city northwest of Rome built in the 2nd century, and it retains many historical features. Main sights to check out are the massive Michelangelo Fort, commissioned by the pope to defend the port of Rome from invaders, and the old Roman docks. Civitavecchia shore excursions are another great activity to take part in while you are in the city.

5. Tivoli
Tivoli is a historic town north-east of Rome, and along with Civitavecchia, it’s one of the most popular places to visit just outside the central city. The two most famous attractions you can find there are Villad’Este gardens and the ruins of Hadrian’s Villa, the villa of the legendary Roman emperor who built the wall dividing mainland England and Scotland.

Other big cities include Milan, Venice, Florence, and Naples. In reality, there are hundreds of locations you can visit, so consult the internet or your local travel agency, or just by a plane ticket and travel on your own and plan out a trip that will cover many more!