Modern Attractions in Rome

Museo dell'Ara Pacis (Ara Pacis Museum)

• The Ara Pacis was first utilized by nearly emperor Augustus in 9 B.C. With priests in tow, he ascended the stairs to the altar. An animal sacrifice took place as well as an offering of wine, in thanks to the gods for helping Augustus pacify his enemies. When the Tiber River flooded, the altar was lost. It was buried under silt and forgotten until the 16th century when people gathered pieces during excavations. Mussolini had the altar reconstructed in 1938. In 2006, the altar reopened to the public in a strikingly modern building--the first new building permitted in the old center since 1938.

  Museo dell'Ara Pacis
  Lungotevere in Augusta
  00100 Rome
  Italy
  arapacis.it

Stadio Olimpico

• Stadio Olimpico is one of the modern attractions in Rome you'll want to see if you enjoy soccer--or simply wild antics. The stadium can hold 73,000 people, so it is a sight to behold when full. But the real modern attraction is the people who go to watch Roma and Lazio--two of Italy's finest soccer teams--with their red-and-yellow garb and dramatic pageantry. What could be more exciting than thousands of people singing soccer anthems set to the tune of "The Entertainer"?

  Stadio Olimpico
  Viale dei Gladiatori, 2
  Rome, 00194
  Italy

Via del Pigneto

• The neighborhood of Pigneto is a short cab drive outside of Rome's busy city center. According to Frommer's "Rome Day by Day 2009," Pigneto has been the "it neighborhood for arbiters of contemporary culture" since 2006. Via del Pigneto is a pedestrian-only strip where you'll find funky boutiques and trendy bars and eateries. Enjoy some of the best people-watching in Rome. You'll be dazzled by the edgy, contemporary stylings of daring Romans in their natural habitat.

Museo D'Arte Contemporanea Roma (MACRO)

• The Museo D'Arte Contemporanea Roma is housed inside a modern building close to Termini Station. Here you will find contemporary paintings, sculptures, installation pieces, photography and videos. The feel of MACRO is definitely younger and edgier than at other museums you will find in Rome. All pieces have explanations in English and Italian. Closed on Mondays.

  MACRO
  Via Reggio Emilia 54
  Rome 00198
  Italy
  macro.roma.museum