New Ranking Reveals Rome’s Monuments from Best to Worst
Check out the new list ranking Rome’s monuments from the must-sees to let’s-forget-about-it. This guide offers a fun way to see which spots are topping the charts and which are worth a detour. Dive in to discover all the incredible sights the Eternal City has in store for you!
1. Pantheon (Rating: 87.46)
This ancient Roman temple, now a church, boasts the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
Interesting Fact: The oculus at the dome’s apex is the only source of natural light in the interior.
2. Colosseum (Rating: 80.41)
The largest ancient amphitheater ever built, and still standing as a testament to Roman engineering and cruelty.
Interesting Fact: The Colosseum could hold between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators and had a complex system of elevators and pulleys to stage dramatic mock naval battles.
3. Trevi Fountain (Rating: 77.58)
One of the most famous fountains in the world, known for its baroque artistry.
Interesting Fact: Tradition holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.
4. Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Rating: 77.18)
One of the largest churches in Rome dedicated to the Virgin Mary, famous for its sumptuous gold-leaf mosaics.
Interesting Fact: The basilica is home to a relic from Jesus’s crib.
5. Arcibasilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (Rating: 73.32)
As the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, this basilica is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope.
Interesting Fact: It houses the Scala Sancta (Holy Stairs), believed to be the steps that led up to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem, which Jesus climbed during his trial.
6. Roman Forum
The heart of ancient Rome, it served as a public area in which commercial, religious, economic, legal, and political activities occurred.
Interesting Fact: The Forum is also the site where the bodies of Julius Caesar and other notable historical figures were cremated.
7. Basilica Papale San Paolo Fuori le Mura
One of Rome’s four ancient major basilicas, originally founded by Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century.
Interesting Fact: The basilica is the burial site of Saint Paul the Apostle.
8. Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651, this fountain in Piazza Navona represents four rivers across four continents.
Interesting Fact: The Nile’s head is covered, representing the then unknown source of the river.
9. Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
A Baroque church dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus.
Interesting Fact: The church’s ceiling fresco by Andrea Pozzo is a masterpiece of trompe l’oeil, visually extending the actual architecture.
10. Church of St. Louis of the French
Notable for its three Caravaggio paintings, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St. Dionigi Areopagita, and St. Louis IX of France.
Interesting Fact: The church is the national church in Rome of France, reflecting its long historical connections with French expatriates and visitors.
11.-37. Various monuments
After showing the first 10 out of the 40 top monuments in Rome, here’s a look at end of the list. These include the ancient Terme di Caracalla baths, the historic Domus Aurea, the lively Campo de’ Fiori market, the grand Circus Maximus, the majestic Quirinale Palace, and the beautiful Chiesa di Santa Maria del Popolo.
38. Mercati di Traiano—Museo dei Fori Imperiali (Rating: 36.87)
This museum is dedicated to the architecture and history of Rome’s imperial forums, the centers of political activity in ancient Rome.
Interesting Fact: The markets themselves are considered to be the world’s oldest shopping mall, with about 150 shops and offices organized in several levels.
39. Palazzo Barberini (Rating: 36.61)
This 17th-century palace houses the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica, one of Rome’s important painting collections.
Interesting Fact: The palace was designed by three of the greatest architects of the Baroque period: Carlo Maderno, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and Francesco Borromini.
40. Bocca della Verità (Rating: 32,60)
Located at the portico of the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, this large marble mask is famous for its legend: if one tells a lie with their hand in the mouth of the sculpture, it will be bitten off.
Interesting Fact: The sculpture is thought to be part of an ancient Roman fountain or possibly a manhole cover, depicting the face of the sea god Oceanus.
Source: A new data study by Vatican Tours & Tickets. Travel experts have compiled a study by taking all 40 existing monuments across Rome and ranking each location against nine determining factors to receive a score out of 100. Rankings are based on nine factors, including the percentage of Tripadvisor reviews with a five-star rating, the percentage of Tripadvisor reviews with a one-star rating, the total number of Tripadvisor reviews, the rating on Google, the total number of Google reviews, TikTok video count, TikTok view count, Instagram media count, and average monthly search volume.
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Emese Maczko is a travel blogger behind Eco Lodges Anywhere. Having explored several destinations around Europe, the US, Indonesia, and Australia, and resided in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg, Emese possesses a keen understanding of diverse cultures and an appreciation for the beauty of each destination she visits. She advocates for sustainable travel and ecotourism.