Rome is certainly filled with many signs and sights of what the city used to be like in ancient times. But some sights are a lot more bizarre than others.

The most bizarre one of them all must surely be the Capuchin Crypt. The word crypt will surely make you wonder why you would want to add this to your tour of Rome upon arrival. Certainly, it is not for everyone, but there is something about this particular attraction that does beg to be seen.

So let’s consider what is in store for you here should you be willing to see it. Firstly it is indeed a crypt, and a relatively small one at that. There are several chapels here and each one is tiny, so it might not be ideal for those who tend to feel claustrophobic.

But what of that word Capuchin? Well, Capuchin friars were laid to rest here between the early 1500s and the late 1800s – but they were not laid to rest in the traditional way. Instead their bones were used to create the decorations on the walls and ceilings in the chapels themselves. This bizarre way of handling the dead is undoubtedly the reason why so many people visit this crypt today.

Each part of the crypt has its own unique name, and some of them indicate exactly what you will find inside. For example the Crypt of the Skulls is fairly self explanatory, as is the Crypt of the Pelvises. Some of the bones are used to create designs and ornate patterns on the walls, mixing the bones of hundreds of people to create the finished effect.

If you feel you have the nerve to see this very unusual crypt, you will find it underneath a church on the Via Veneto. The church is called the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini. It is certainly very unlike anything you will have seen before. It might be just a short visit, perhaps an hour at most depending on whether you have the stomach to stay, but it is a memory that will definitely last a lot longer than that.

We’ve mentioned plenty of sights you can go and see in Rome, but of course none is better known than the Colosseum. But you should not expect to see a round building though, because the Colosseum itself looks more oval in appearance if you see it from above. As you walk around the outside of the building you will see this is the case.

This structure goes way back to 80 AD, and this was the time it was actually finished rather than the time it started being built. As such it doesn’t take much imagination to think of all the different people who have walked in and around the Colosseum during its lifetime.

The most famous events which took place in the Colosseum were of course the gladiatorial events. Since many gladiators lost their lives during those times, it is quite amazing to think of how many contests were won and lost during those Roman times.

Of course the Colosseum that we can see today is not the same as the structure the Romans of all those years ago would have seen. It is the same building of course but it has undeniably fallen into some degree of ruin in more recent centuries. However this does seem to give the building a certain classic appearance that cannot be denied.

Amazingly enough there is still occasionally the opportunity to see a performance or two in the Colosseum today. While you won’t see any major shows there, the odd performer has held a concert there from time to time. The one downside is that the Colosseum cannot accommodate a large number of people as it once did. Although you can see the Colosseum is ruined from how it once was, you will see that its interior is even worse. This is why the size of any show held inside the Colosseum is so limited.

Whenever you are in Rome, do as the Romans do and visit the Colosseum. You will love every minute of it and there is no doubt that history will be there waiting for you when you arrive.

No one will argue about the depth of history that is present in modern day Rome. This is one of the most historic cities in the world, with a past that stretches back over many centuries into different ages, times and peoples.

You will notice from the title of this post that we refer to museums rather than just a single museum. This is because the Capitoline Museums are situated in three separate buildings, albeit all next to each other and forming three sides of a square. There is a piazza in the middle so it forms quite a stunning scene even before you enter the buildings themselves.

But what can you expect here? Well, the three buildings are called palazzos. There is the Palazzo Senatorio, the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo. The first of the three buildings is by far the oldest, having been constructed some four centuries before the second oldest building, the Palazzo dei Conservatori. You don’t have to go outside to get from one building to another, since there is a walkway that has been built underground for this purpose.

The Palazzo Nuovo has among other things the Cabinet of Venus. This shows a wonderful statue called the Capitoline Venus, which is quite something to see. You will also be able to view the Hall of the Emperors, which is full of marble busts of various emperors through the ages.

Elsewhere in the Palazzo dei Conservatori you will find another two floors to explore, added to the two in the previous building. The Castellani Halls are just one of the delights to see here, which have many archaeological pieces and historical objects to see and appreciate.

Finally you have the Galleria Lapidaria, which is the underground gallery that runs across in front of the third palazzo. An offshoot of this leads you into the Palazzo Senatorio, which houses the Tabularium among other things.

As you can see there is much to learn and view at these palazzos. The Capitoline Museums hold many secrets and exhibits that relate to the long history of Rome, and it provides a good way to get to know this city.

Every city has a good selection of museums you can visit. Some are unusual, some are absolutely essential to add to any list of things to see and do, and others are not very well known at all.

But just because some museums are not heard of very widely, it doesn’t mean they are not equally worth visiting. One of the best examples of this is the Museum of the Walls in Rome.

Otherwise known as the Museo delle Mura, this museum costs very little to get into and it gives you another insight into Rome’s past. Even the location of this one is a little unusual. You need to look for Porta san Sebastiano to begin with, which is in itself a very attractive landmark to look at. This is essentially a gate, but above it you will see two circular towers. This gate has been standing for many centuries and if you climb the stairs which lead up inside the building you will find yourself entering the Museum of the Walls.

This is exactly what it sounds like – a chance to find out more about Rome’s city walls. These date back as far as the third century, so you really are seeing another slice of ancient life in Rome as it was back then. Access to the museum is definitely advisable because you can enjoy a walk along part of the walls themselves once you are inside. This so called ‘wall walk’ is ideal for tourists because you get a fantastic view of the city below. Watch out in particular for the Baths of Caracalla, or at least what remains of them. You can see plenty more from your vantage point atop the walls though too.

Needless to say you need to be fit enough to walk up the stairs and onto the wall itself. The trip is worth it and you will learn a lot about the history of Rome’s walls while you are there. As museums go this must surely be one of the more unusual ones Rome has to offer, but it is unmissable nonetheless.

It is always captivating to see a building that has stood the test of time and remained standing for many years. But when that building was built way back between the years 118 and 126, you can see that you are standing inside a piece of ancient history.

Such is the case in Rome when you go and visit the Pantheon. When you consider that this building was created nearly 1,900 years ago it really makes you think about who was around at the time and what role they played in its creation. Could they have dreamed it would still be standing and looking this impressive in 2010?

One of the first things you will notice is the inscription which is carved into the stone above the eight huge columns that support the front of the building. It reads “M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIVM.FECIT” which can be translated to mean “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time, built this”. It is essentially a signature placed there by the creator of the Pantheon all those centuries ago.

Rome is filled with countless signs left by the ancient Romans, but the Pantheon is one of the best preserved of them all. But as you step inside you will be able to see beyond the ancient Roman building and witness history as it took place in the years since. With every passing generation a new use has been found for the Pantheon, and this is why you can now see the tomb of Raphael the famous painter among others.

But this is not just a piece of history. The Pantheon still sees regular use today too, as church services go on here on a regular basis. In fact it is possible for some people to get married in the Pantheon, which must surely be one of the world’s most stunning locations to say your wedding vows.

Needless to say though, it receives many visitors each and every year who simply wish to see a slice of Roman history from times when names such as Septimius Severus were a part of life. Don’t miss it.

Most people are familiar with swimming baths. But if you ever visit the Baths of Caracalla in Rome you will be amazed that the Romans had their own version of our modern baths way back in AD 216, when they were finally finished.

And they were quite impressive too, especially when you consider how long ago they were built. The Baths, or Thermae, as they were known, were housed in a large building that looks stunning from the outside. It has survived the ensuing centuries very well, and while it does not look exactly the same as it did all those years ago, you can get a pretty good idea of what it did look like back then. What’s more they were in operation for a full three centuries before finally falling into disuse.

What you see today is a shadow of the former baths as the Romans would have known them. But this does not make any visit here any less worthwhile. You can stand where the Romans would once have bathed and see marks on the walls where other levels would once have been. You may need to use your imagination to get an idea of exactly how they would have looked back then, but you do not need to use much to see how the Romans would have come here to relax and socialise.

There are statues here too and you can see one of Aesclepius which is a full four metres high. It stands among the ruins that cannot fail to charm or delight visitors, no matter how deep their love of Roman history runs. You only have to use your imagination to picture the Romans coming here to swim, to relax and even to box. There was a part of the baths that was dedicated to this activity.

The Baths of Caracalla were so called because they were named after the son of the Emperor Septimus Severus, whose idea it was to construct the baths in the first place. Could he possibly have known or believed that hundreds of years later we would be staring at the majestic ruins of his vision?

Rome is a city that will never run out of things to show you. Your first visit will likely take in many of the most famous sights however, and one of those will surely be the Trevi fountain.

It is not often that you get to see a large fountain taking up lots of space in a relatively small square, but that is what you will see here. And as you might expect from such a famous fountain, there is a legend that goes along with it as well.

The legend states that if you stand in front of the fountain and turn your back to it, you should throw a coin over your shoulder and let it drop into the water. If you do this you will return to the city of Rome at some point in the future. Since many tourists do go in for this legend, it would appear that Rome has enough to offer to make it a firm advantage to want to return to the city.

The fountain itself is breath taking mainly because of its size. Measuring an amazing 85 feet high, you will hear the water long before you actually reach the square that the fountain sits in. This makes it quite easy to find and you will definitely be amazed at the sight of it when it finally comes into view.

The idea for this fountain first came about back in 1629, although it would be some time before it developed to anything beyond an actual idea. In reality it would not be until 1762 that the Trevi fountain was finished for all of Rome to see.

Needless to say since then it has made it onto many people’s ‘must see’ lists while they are in Rome. This at least makes it a good thing that the fountain is so big, because lots of people can crowd around it to throw in their coin and it doesn’t get crowded.

So the next time you are in Rome, listen out for the rushing waters of the Trevi fountain and bring a coin out of your pocket.