Visiting Rome with limited time? Focus on the historical layers. The must-see five are the Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Trevi Fountain. Experience ancient grandeur and Baroque beauty efficiently. Prioritize transit (take a taxi to St. Peter's) and check for the original ground level outside the Pantheon! This curated list ensures maximum impact in minimum time.

St. Peter's Basilica is a magnificent basilica. It is the resting place of Peter the Apostle. Originally constructed by Constantine, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance and decorated in the Baroque style. It is lavish and grand and impressive.

The Castel Sant'Angelo, or Mausoleum of Hadrian, is a large, circular structure on the Tiber River, visible from St. Peter's Basilica. Originally Hadrian's mausoleum, its solid construction made it an ideal papal fortress, connected by a visible passage to St. Peter's. It also served as a prison, holding Caterina Sforza and the fictional Mario Cavaradossi from Puccini's Tosca.