So, what are the true must-do?

Let's take it easy and build up a nice bucket list

Obviously, a lot depends on how many days you have available, but we believe that even with little time it is possible to get a taste of this city, Capital of Italy, trying to grasp a bit from its atmosphere and complexity.

Here are our suggestions, our personal TOP 10 of the best attractions that the whole family will enjoy.

1 - PANORAMIC TERRACES.

Rome is the city of 7 hills, you really don’t want to miss the view of its roofs and domes from above.

Walk up to one of its many terraces. Here some suggestions:

•   Gianicolo Hill. Try to be there some minutes before 12:00 and attend to the traditional cannon shooting!
• Pincio Hill.
• the Orange Tree Garden on the Aventine Hill... so romantic!
• Saint Peter’s dome
• Castel Sant'Angelo. From its rooftop you can admire one of the most unique panoramas in the world!

The Tiber river divides the city in two parts and flows like a green artery through the center of its palaces and churches. Did you know that its embankments were only built in the XX century and that, until then, the level of the roads was much lower down?

For this reason, starting from the Middle Ages, many floods brought ruin and plague to the population.

On some buildings it’s still possible to see plaques recalling the water level reached during the floods of the Tiber.

2 - Food!!!!

This is one of the main reasons to visit Rome (back home, you'll be surprised to realize that you have not gained weight, even having had pasta....  pizza....  gelato.... practically everyday).

The city offers, in addition to many classic restaurants for lunch and dinner, great ways to eat something to go. Tasty and cheap, street food is a great way to save time to explore the city and taste something really typical.

So do like the locals do and grab your delicious homemade ice cream (ask for “panna” added to the top of your cone or cup!).

You’ll find plenty of pizza by the slice (which is to go), sandwiches of all kinds and the legendary “supplì” (fried rice balls with a stringy mozzarella filling).

3 - Get lost in the narrow streets of the city center.

Relax and savor the pleasure of wandering through narrow streets, without paying too much attention to the map: it is an experience which can disclose you unexpected surprises, such as discovering a small hidden church beautifully painted, an artisan workshop or, simply, a tiny piece of life in a city which still hasn’t lost its authenticity.

The area between Piazza Navona, the Pantheon and Piazza Venezia is probably the one that best preserves intact corners

of what is universally known as true Made in Italy.

4 - Vatican

We are pretty sure it is safe to assume that a visit to the Vatican Museums, to marvel at the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica,

is a staple of any trip to Rome.

The Vatican represents an experience of unparalleled beauty and spirituality at the same time.

Visited by millions of tourists and pilgrims every year, the Vatican Museums are like an open book of art history,

ranging from antiquities to Renaissance, from Baroque style, up to contemporary art.

Especially during the high season, it’s better to plan and book your visit in advance, since the tickets are likely to sell out very quickly.

5 - Ancient Rome

Discovering the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill will be probably the most exciting moment of your vacation and,

for sure, the most instagrammable!

The Colosseum is the main symbol of Rome and one of its best preserved monuments;

the Forum represented the pulsing heart of the city and the richest site in history.

The Palatine hill is the true birthplace of the Empire and it’s linked to the legend of Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome, abandoned at birth and raised by a she-wolf.

A good option is to admire the Roman Forum from the Campidoglio hill:

walk past the senatorial palace to reach a breathtaking vantage point... below you temples, meeting places for the citizens and the palaces where some of the decisions that would have changed the destiny of the ancient world were taken.

6 - Visit one UNDERGROUND site.

In addition to the Rome we see on the surface, we need to imagine another hidden city, below street level, hiding incredible stories from the past. The reason is that the surface level has grown by several meters over the centuries and many buildings retain their ancient foundations, built on top of pre-existing buildings.

We suggest:

• the Catacombs on the Appian way (our favorite one is that of Saint Sebastian); 
• Ancient houses on the Celium hill;
• Saint Clement’s Basilica, not far from the Colosseum.

7 - Painted ceilings

There are churches in Rome in where to lose yourself, looking up, admiring the jaw dropping beauty of the ceilings.

In particular, we recommend these 3 Baroque churches:

• Saint Ignatius’ from Loyola (just a few steps away from the Pantheon, the square where the church stands is a true jewel);
• the Jesus' Church (Chiesa del Gesù);
• Sant'Andrea della Valle, not far from Piazza Navona.

8 - Trastevere

The neighborhood across the Tiber is perfect for a stroll, day or night.

Full of life, restaurants and picturesque corners, the feeling is that of being catapulted back in time.

From Trastevere, cross the river Tiber, get to the Tiber Island and to the Jewish Quarter. If you wish to visit the Synagogue (which we highly recommend!) you can join a guided tour led by an inner member of the Roman Jewish community.

9 - Shopping by the Spanish Steps

The area of the famous staircase is known for its luxury shops: from via Condotti to via del Babuino, up to piazza del Popolo, you can find all the biggest fashion stores and dream in front of their glittering shop windows.

Some historic shops, such as Palazzo Fendi, allow you to visit the store and the workshop (the fourrure), where expert artisans still hand-make precious and tailor-made clothes. The big fashion brands are active in the restoration and conservation of Rome's monuments: the Trevi fountain was restored by Fendi, the Spanish Steps by Bulgari.

In via Condotti, the Bulgari store has recently opened a delightful museum of jewelry.

10 - Pantheon

A visit to the best preserved temple of the ancient world is essential. The Pantheon will surprise you with a perfectly shaped dome.

Just realizing that a similar structure was built 2000 years ago, without the technological means we have now, is something incredibly blow minding.

The Pantheon could enclose another upside-down dome inside: the height of the dome is identical to its diameter.

A spherical building, perfect and immutable as the universe was thought to be.

That of the Pantheon is the largest dome in Rome and the biggest one in the world in non-reinforced concrete (yes, that dome is made of a single huge block of Roman concrete).