The ancient Roman Colosseum, also known as the Amphitheatrum Flavium, is located on the lower side of the Roman Forum. It covers six acres and resembles a small hill with a sunken top made of limestone. The exterior walls of the Colosseum are filled with intimidatingly large arches; inside, there are cracked seating areas, and at the bottom, there is a platform where gladiatorial combats between humans and animals once took place. Below the platform are compartments where beasts and slaves were confined. Standing at the bottom, one can feel an overwhelming sense of oppression! This massive Colosseum was always packed during its bloody heyday, with scenes of fervor everywhere, but it has never been as moving as it is today as a ruin.
The Bocca della Verità, or Mouth of Truth, is a marble disc with a carving of a sea god's face. It became world-famous due to the movie 'Roman Holiday'. Legend has it that if you put your hand in the sea god's mouth and tell a lie, you won't be able to pull it out, making it a unique local 'lie detector'. In 'Roman Holiday', it was this very disc that frightened the charming princess.
Pantheon
Used to worship the gods of Mount Olympus, the interior of the temple is spacious and empty, without a single pillar. The dome has a circular opening with a diameter of 9 meters at the top, which is the only source of light in the entire temple, compared to the divine light emitted by the eye of heaven, creating a divine atmosphere similar to that of the gods. The base of the large dome outside the temple starts from half the total height. There is not a single pillar inside the entire temple, which is a miracle in the history of architecture.
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is a well-known fountain in Rome. The fountain is located at the intersection of three streets, and 'Trevi' means 'three-way intersection'. The Trevi Fountain is also a globally famous Baroque-style fountain, gaining worldwide fame after the movie 'Roman Holiday' became popular. There is also a legend about the Trevi Fountain—if visitors throw a coin into the fountain over their left shoulder with their right hand while facing away from it, they will have a chance to visit Rome again; and if couples throw coins into the fountain together, their love will be eternal.
The current Castel Sant'Angelo is a national museum. In addition to housing a large collection of sculptures, frescoes, and residential furniture of the Roman Popes, it also holds precious ancient weapons. It is worth mentioning that the movies 'Roman Holiday' and 'Angels & Demons' were filmed here, which has further expanded its influence worldwide. From Castel Sant'Angelo, you can overlook the Ponte Sant'Angelo and the Tiber River, and from the terrace, you can see the small country of Vatican City in the distance.
The Spanish Steps is one of Rome's large open-air salons. This beautiful square is the city's upscale shopping area, and it also features the famous Spanish Steps. When you walk here, you can't help but think of a princess in her prime, who briefly escaped the confines of the royal family to indulge in her true nature under the bustling sunshine of the streets, greedily enjoying the freedom of being a commoner. The scene of Audrey Hepburn sitting on the grand steps of the Spanish Steps eating ice cream has made it a holy place in the hearts of many movie fans.
