Have you ventured into Italy’s capital before? It certainly looks like an exciting city break. From local food markets bursting with the freshest of ingredients that would drive any foodie wild, to the many temples and archaeological sites that will keep a history buff happy for hours, I’m sure there’s something for everyone in Rome. If you’re travelling over there soon and you’d like some direction on where to head, here are just a few places to get you started.

1. Terme di Caracalla

If you’re a fan of the opera, then you’ll be truly spoilt by the venues on offer in Rome. You could play it traditional, by heading down to the official opera house, Teatro Costanzi, where you’ll be seated with the elite in plush, luxurious surroundings. However, for a true taste of Italy, the only place to really take in a concert or aria is in Terme di Caracalla, or “opera under the stars”.

This open-air amphitheatre is completely immersive, as you’re surrounded by ancient relics and will know how it felt to be a Roman citizen some 2,000 years ago, experiencing a stage show for the first time. Thankfully, you still get the modern option of being able to buy tickets for a variety of performances from www.romeoperatickets.com in advance.

2. Sistine Chapel

Next on our list of attractions is the famous Sistine Chapel and its neighbouring sites. The official residence of the pope and set into the very heart of Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel is synonymous with the Renaissance period, and you’ll find every golden, gilded inch of this building to be an awe-inspiring masterpiece. In particular, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is what keeps people coming back year after year; painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, it’s revered as the greatest piece of Renaissance work to have ever been created.

His wall fresco named The Last Judgement is another famed work; depicting the second coming of Christ and the judgement of humanity, it took four years to complete. As if this weren’t enough though, you can also visit the Vatican Museums in this area, home to an extensive art collection of over 70,000 works which has been built up by generations of popes.

3. Capitoline Hill

This ancient ruin was once the citadel of the first Romans, and some of the most significant buildings here include the temple of Juno Moneta, the temple of Virtus, and the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus. The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus is the most important to note, as it was nearly as large as the Partenon, showing just what a crucial structure it was at the time.

Built in 509 BC, Capitoline Hill and the Temple of Jupiter became the symbols of Rome, but little of that remains now. Traces of the earliest Romans were covered by Medieval and Renaissance palaces, and these relics you can see in the Capitoline Museums.

When are you heading out to Rome?