Historic centre of Rome

Rome's historic center contains ancient streets, monuments, and buildings from different time periods closely packed together. The layout reveals a dense fabric where the oldest ruins, medieval passages, and Renaissance structures intertwine throughout the area.

This area was founded as a Roman city roughly 2,000 years ago and remained occupied through the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Continuous rebuilding and renewal over these long periods created the layers you see today.

Religious buildings from many periods shape the streets and how people move through daily life. You notice churches and sacred sites woven into the urban landscape, still serving as gathering places where locals and visitors connect.

Walking is the best way to move through this area since many streets are closed to vehicles and the tight layout is easier to explore on foot. Comfortable shoes and water matter because the routes are long and shade is scarce.

Roman structures still hide beneath modern buildings, revealed during excavations that show how the city grew on top of itself. Some churches stand on foundations of old Roman temples, illustrating how settlement never stopped in this place.

Location: Rome

Part of: Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura

GPS coordinates: 41.89900,12.47000

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:47