TRAVEL

Photos: Travel Through the Eternal City

See the sites of Rome through photos submitted to our annual photo contest

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Walking the streets in Trastevere, Rome. Chelsea Marquis
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The oculus in the Pantheon. Brian Palmer
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Outside the Pantheon. Danica Wolf
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Piazza del Popolo at the sunset. Anatole Klapouch
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The Colosseum. Claudio Sanna
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Ancient stone statue in mottled light on Via Dataria. Alessandro Ciapanna
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The church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti. Claudio Sanna
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Young italian film director with his dog Pepa. Carina Wachsmann
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Street performers. Susan Azar
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St. Peter's Basilica. Claudio Sanna
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The west end of the Roman Forum. Betty Troup
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The Gianicolo, also known as Janiculum. Claudio Sanna
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Sun rays on the altar in St. Peter's Basilica during midmorning. Drew Herron
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Young lovers. Sherrie Pritchard
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The Colosseum. Radford Davis
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Trevi Fountain. Sofija Grupche
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Walking in Rome. Francesco Lo Sapio
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The Vatican Museum. Lisa Milas
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The Colosseum. Tri Nguyen Trong
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The Vatican. Timothy Denehy
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Rome on a sunny day from the steps of Vittoriano. Radford Davis
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Running in Rome. Sergio Parrella
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Churches' rooftops reflected in puddles near the Vatican. Aby Hassani
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The Roman Forum at night. John Poindexter

Rome is a city full of ancient history, delicious gelato, beautiful piazzas and astounding art. If the weather is good, as it usually is, try wandering the city on foot.

Travel back to ancient times at the Colosseum and nearby Roman Forum, once the economic, political and religious center of Rome. The nearby Pantheon, with its iconic domed ceiling, is the best preserved building from ancient Rome.

The famous Trevi Fountain, the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, is only a short walk from the Spanish Steps, a great location to rest and people watch. At the top of the steps is Chiesa della Trinità dei Monti, a church known for its frescoes.

The Trastevere neighborhood is a great place to take a break from the main attractions and amble through streets and small shops. Slightly north of the neighborhood is Gianicolo. Though not one of Rome's famous seven hills, it is known to be a romantic spot with one of the best views of the city. 

End your day watching the sunset over the Tiber River from the terrace of Castel Sant'Angelo, known in English as the Castle of the Holy Angel. This fortress once protected popes during dangerous times in Rome, but now holds medieval firearms, paintings and sculptures. 

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Erin Corneliussen is a multimedia intern at Smithsonian.com.