The four best-known cathedrals in Rome are located in the Vatican City, a sovereign state that is the residence of the Pope. The Basilica of Saint Peter is the tomb of Saint Peter. The Papal Basilica was built around the grave of Saint Paul in the fourth century by Emperor Constantine. The basilica also features the Benedictine Abbey, which was used by Benedictine Monks as early as 715 A.D. The Basilica of Saint John Lateran was once a palace occupied by the Laterani family. In the fourth century A.D, it was turned into the first Roman Catholic Church by Constantine. The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a church that draws pilgrims from all over the world and features prominent artwork such as mosaics, is believed to have been built in the fifth century A.D.
The Sistine Chapel is known for its ceiling artwork, a series of religious artwork done by Michelangelo Buonarroti. It also has artwork on its walls, which was done by such artists as Sandro Botticelli and Cosimo Rosselli. The chapel was originally known as the Palatine Chapel, and it was built between 1475 and 1483 with a rectangular shape that matched those described in the Old Testament for the Temple of Solomon. It is located in the Apostolic Palace, the residence of the Pope.
The Basilica di San Clemente is a church dedicated to Pope San Clemente. In the first century A.D., a mansion was built on the site, which was later used as a Christian meeting place. The mansion was converted into a basilica in the fourth century by Pope Siricius. The Santa Maria del Popolo is a church that was built during the 15th century and is located near the Piazza del Popolo. It features works from prominent artists such as Raphael Sanzio and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. A church was originally constructed on the site in 1099 by Pope Paschal II.
The Piazza Navona is a city square that is located around the ruins of the Circus Domitianus, or Domitian's stadium. Here is the site of the church of Sant'Agnese, where it is said that a Christian named Agnes was martyred when she would not marry a pagan, and the la Fontana dei Fiumi, a fountain built in 1651 that holds an ancient Roman obelisk. Piazza di Spagna is a triangular Spanish square that is located near a French church, Trinità dei Monti. The square is connected to the church by a long staircase descending from a hill, which is known as the Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti (the Spanish Steps). The square also features a fountain, the Fontana della Barcaccia, built for Pope Urban VIII and the Colonna dell'Immacolata, a column built to celebrate the immaculate conception. Located in the center of Rome, the Piazza Venezia is a busy town square that features a marble monument dedicated to King Victor Emmanuel II, Italy's first king. The piazza is home to the Palazzo Venezia, which was built between 1455 and 1464 by Pope Paul II. Two other palaces sit in the piazza, Palazzo Generali and Palazzo Bonaparte.
Built in 1584 by Pope Gregario XIII, the Palazzo del Quirinale has been used as a residence for popes, Italian royalty and the President of the Republic. The Palazzo Capranica was started in 1425, and it included a chapel dedicated to Saint Agnes. This mansion was used by Roman nobility. The Fontana di Trevi is a baroque-style fountain that was constructed in 1735. It is located in front of the Palazzo Poli, and there is a legend that anyone that drinks from it or throws a coin over his shoulder in it will return to Rome one day.
Two important historic sites in Rome are the ruins of the Colosseum and the site of the Pantheon. The Colosseum was an amphitheater that was commissioned by emperors Vespasian and Titus in around 70 A.D. It was more than 149-feet tall and could hold 55,000 spectators. It served as a place where criminals, gladiators, Christian martyrs and animals were killed for entertainment and punishment. Earthquakes, such as the one in 847 A.D., have decimated the building. The Pantheon was built around 118 A.D. on a site where other temples existed. It originally served as a temple for the worship of pagan gods, but it was turned into a church around 609 A.D. This building serves as the resting place for the artist Raphael Sanzio and for a number of Italian kings. This structure is distinguished from others by its wide dome, which features an oculus through which people can look out, and its large columns.
