These Are the 20 Most Famous Buildings in Rome to Inspire Your Next Roman Holiday

One of the most recognizable landmarks today, The Colosseum, was built between 70 A.D. and 80 A.D. Its travertine façade was one of the most complicated structures in the world at that time. Interestingly enough, the building represents not one but three architectural styles—the Tuscan style based on Greek Doric style, Ionic, and the more elaborate Corinthian style.

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The magnificent 65-foot tall Arch of Constantine, located between the Colosseum and the Temple of Venus and Roma, was built in 315 A.D. to celebrate Emperor Constantine's military victory over Maxentius. It is one of only three surviving Roman triumphal arches and incorporates examples of multiple styles mainly because it is decorated with statues taken from older monuments that date back to 2 B.C. The structure famously inspired another similar monument, located in France: the Triumphal Arch in Paris.

Also known as Altare Della Patria (or the Altar of the Fatherland), this impressive 20th-century monument of Italy's first king, Vittorio Emanuele II, is prominently located on Piazza Venezia, just a short walk from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Its overly ornate neoclassical façade, decorated with marble statues has prompted some to nickname it "the Wedding Cake." Its construction caused quite a stir in the Italian capital as workers had to clear ancient ruins found on the building's site.

It took over a hundred years to complete St. Peter’s Basilica, which covers more than 227,000 square feet. The monumental building—a fine example of Renaissance architecture—is in the shape of a Latin cross with a dome over the crossing. While Donato Bromante is credited with the initial design, Michelangelo, too, dedicated the last 18 years of his life to the construction of St Peter's Basilica.

Built to serve as the final resting place of Roman emperor Hadrian in 135 A.D., Castel Sant'Angelo (also known as Hadrian’s Tomb) stands at the end of Ponte Sant'Angelo, one of the main ancient Roman bridges. Located inside the cylindrical building are residences once used by popes seeking refuge during times of military conflicts. That's why some of the apartments were lavishly decorated with Renaissance paintings. The building now serves as a museum and also offers some pretty impressive views over the Tiber River, Rome, and the Vatican.

Zaha Hadid once said of the MAXXI (abbreviation for Museum of Arts of the 21st Century) that she designed it not to be "an object-container, but rather a campus for art." The fluidity of the curvaceous façade is reflected inside as galleries overlap or connect via pathways without clear separation between them. The idea behind the architecture was for the building "to embody the chaotic fluidity of modern life."

This complex of buildings is considered the earliest covered shopping mall in the world. It was built between 100 and 110 A.D. during the reign of Trajan and featured six levels of shops and apartments. With its curved façade largely constructed from concrete and bricks, the market is also an excellent example of Imperial Roman architecture.

While the earliest records of the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, or Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, date back to the mid-15th century, the grand palace as we know it today took about four centuries to complete. That's why the structure is influenced by several architectural styles such as Renaissance and late Baroque. This magnificent 1,000-room palace that now serves as a gallery is also the private residence of Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj, a descendant of the Pamphilj family.

The Pantheon's circular domed structure dates back to 27 B.C. and is a true wonder of Roman architecture. Some even speculate that it gave the building its name (which is widely believed, comes from the Greek words pan, meaning all, and theos, meaning gods, or a temple of all gods). Cassius Dio, a Roman historian and a consul, who lived in the late 2nd century, wrote: "It has this name, perhaps because it received, among the images which decorated it, the statues of many gods, including Mars and Venus; but my own opinion of the name is that, because of its vaulted roof, it resembles the heavens."

Designed by renowned architect Richard Meier, the Ara Pacis Museum's purpose is to house the Ara Pacis, a sacrificial altar and an exquisite example of Roman art that dates back to 9 B.C. The modern glass and concrete structure that consists of a single-story glazed loggia allows visitors to see the altar directly from the outside. The museum also welcomes temporary exhibitions and installations dedicated to archaeology.

Rome's Palace of Justice, designed by architect Guglielmo Calderini, was completed in 1910 after 22 years of construction. The eclectic façade is decorated in Renaissance and Baroque styles and covered with Travertine limestone. The structure is topped with a bronze quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses, and a symbol of triumph.

Dubbed the Square Colosseum, the Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana was built for the 1942 World’s Fair in Rome. Designed by Giovanni Guerrini, Ernesto Bruno La Padula, and Mario Romano, the building is a famous example of fascist architecture, a style that favors minimalism and emerged in totalitarian states in the ‘30s and ‘40s. The Palazzo Della Civiltà Italiana is currently the headquarters of Italian luxury brand Fendi.

Auditorium Parco Della Musica, designed by Renzo Piano, opened in 2002 and is located on the 1960 Olympics site. The complex consists of three music halls, each set in an independent building, inspired by music boxes. The three halls are arranged around an open-air venue that represents the fourth auditorium.

Leave it to Italy's Studio Fuksas to design a conference center that is also an architectural landmark. The husband-wife duo is behind some of the most talked-about modern buildings today including Tsbilisi's Music Hall, Armani's Fifth Avenue store in New York City, and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. Located in Rome's business district, The Cloud is "an independent cocoon-like structure" suspended inside the glass and concrete convention center. The Cloud is accessible by a walkway that leads to a large auditorium with a capacity of 1,800.

This fairytale-like neighborhood is located in the Trieste district in Rome and is the result of architect Gino Coppedè's eclectic vision. He designed about 40 buildings in several architectural styles. Art nouveau, Medieval, Ancient Greek, and Baroque structures make the Quartiere Coppedè one of the most whimsical places to tour in Rome.

While the façade of the Palazzo Sciarra is beautiful in its own right, the courtyard that now represents Sciarra Gallery is absolutely stunning. The six-level structure is covered in colorful frescoes painted by Giuseppe Cellini at the end of the 19th century. The courtyard has a beautiful glass-and-iron ceiling that lets plenty of natural light in during the day.

Built as a vacation home for the Pamphili family, Casino del Bel Respiro dates back to the 17th century and is located in one of Rome's biggest parks. The elegant building was designed by sculptor Alessandro Algardi, which probably explains why its elaborate facade is covered in statues, sculptures, and bas-relief. The property also includes several fountains, a chapel, and impeccably landscaped gardens designed in French style.

An ancient pyramid is probably not a landmark you would associate with Rome—or even Europe—but the magnificent pyramids of Egypt inspired the ancient Romans so much that they built their own at home. The Pyramid of Cestius, completed around 12 B.C., was the final resting place of Gaius Cestius. The structure is much steeper than those in Egypt and was made from concrete and white marble.

Built for Pope Sixtus IV in the 15th century, the Sistine Chapel is located in the official papal residence in the Vatican. While its façade lacks any major ornamentation, the interior offers a complete foil. Several Florentine painters, including Alessandro Botticelli, worked on the décor, but the highlight is, of course, Michelangelo Buonarroti's Genesis fresco that covers the ceiling.

Villa Borghese was the suburban retreat of Cardinal Scipione Borghese located just outside Rome's ancient Aurelian walls. The Cardinal, who was also the nephew of Pope Paul V, was an avid art enthusiast and started collecting works of art (mostly by confiscating them from other people). By the end of the 17th century, the Borghese family owned about 800 paintings (including some by Raphael and Caravaggio), as well as an impressive collection of antiques, most of which are displayed in the Borghese Gallery today.