Free Sights to See in Rome

The cost of a trip to Italy can be a little overwhelming. You want to see and do everything there is while you are there, but you don't want to break the bank while you do it either. Some of the most important buildings in Rome are free or have a small entrance fee.

The Pantheon is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on holidays that fall on weekdays except for Christmas Day, New Year's Day and May 1, when it is closed. Admission is free. The Pantheon is a Roman temple and is an architectural masterpiece. Upon entering you will see a grand dome with a light hole, or oculus, in the middle. The building has also been used as a Catholic Church. The doors are bronze and the only natural light comes through the doors and the oculus. As the sun moves across the sky during the day, the light causes an interesting effect on the walls and artwork of the circular room.

Colosseum Exterior. The exterior of the Colosseum is free, however, if you wish to visit the interior of the Colosseum there are some interesting hours of operation and you must purchase tickets. The hours of operation are:

Opening hours from 8.30 am to one hour before sunset:
8:30am-4:30pm from January 2 to February 15
8:30am-5pm from February 16 to March 15
8:30am-5:30pm from March 16 to last Saturday of March
8:30am-7:15pm from last Sunday of March to August 31
8:30am-7pm from September 1 to September 30
8:30am-6:30pm from October 1 to last Saturday of October
8:30am-4:30pm to last Sunday of October to December 31
Closed January 1, December 25. Ticket office closes one hour before closing time

The cost of tickets are nine euros plus two euros for exhibitions. There are reduced rates for European citizens and children under eighteen are free.

The Colosseum is an architects dream. It is absolutely amazing what the Romans were able to build in 70-80 AD. The building itself held 73,000 people at one point and was home to numerous Roman games and gladiator fights. The Colosseum was begun while Rome was under the reign of Vespavian and his son Titus finished the construction. Admission into the Colosseum was regulated with a ticket system that helped visitors find the exact location of their seats. This may be perhaps one of the first known systems of its kind that we still use today. The exterior of the building shows four levels. Three levels have eighty arches and the fourth level has windows. The floor was wooden and covered with sand. There is an amazing tunnel system beneath the floor that was used for moving people and animals.

St. Peter's Basilica. St. Peter's Basilica is free, however, if you wish to go to the top there is a small fee. Access to the top is open from 8:00am to 4:45pm. It is four euros if you wish to walk the whole way up or five euros if you wish to take the elevator to the halfway point and walk the rest. From the half way point there is another 20 stories that you must climb before reaching the top. The view from the top offers an exhilarating view of Rome.

Roman Forum. The Roman Forum or as the Roman's knew it the "Forum Magnum" is the area around which Rome developed. It was the city's center for commerce, law, justice, business and cult took place. There are several other temples and structures within the area of the forum. There are temples for the major leaders of Rome and the Roman gods. Clearing of the site began in the 1800s and excavation was completed in the 20 th Century. There are several ruins from different time periods at the forum, as the Romans will build over their own ruins.