During their 3rd-century reign as the most opulent public baths in Rome, this facility, named for the emperor Caracalla, covered 27 acres (11 hectares) and could accommodate 1,600 bathers at a time.

In addition to bathing facilities, the on-site art galleries, libraries, recital halls, exercise rooms, and sports grounds also made the baths a place to improve the mind and body.

Begun in 206 and inaugurated in 217 by Caracalla, the Terme di Caracalla were an exercise in opulence. The impressive structure was adorned with majestic columns and decorated with rare marble.

The pillared halls, gymnasiums, porticoes, and beautiful ceilings of the baths are gone, but the brick and concrete structure, rife with arches, is distinctly Roman-style architecture.

During their 3rd-century heyday, Terme di Caracalla contained a luxurious selection of basalt, granite, and alabaster baths in hot, cold, or warm temperatures.

This 2000-year-old remnant of ancient Rome served as a mausoleum for the ashes of many of the 1st-century emperors until the 5th century when the tombs were ravaged by invading barbarians.

The beautifully kept Orto Botanico, once the garden of Palazzo Corsini and now the property of Rome University, is home to a gorgeous variety of plant species.

For a break from Rome's manic pace, explore the Orto Botanico. By following its network of paths you'll find ponds, ancient fountains, and stone stairways amidst a stunning botanical backdrop.

Piazza Garibaldi is located north of Rome in Cortona. This area is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination for its annual outdoor film festival and its excellent art galleries.

Offering a scenic view of the surrounding countryside is Piazza Garibaldi, one of the main squares of Cortona, a picturesque town sitting atop terraced olive groves on a Tuscan mountainside.

A side trip to the beautiful town of Cortona is a great break from Rome's crowds and manic pace. Piazza Garibaldi, at the town's south end, offers a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery.

The octagonal fountain in the historic Piazza Santa Maria di Trastevere is a remnant of ancient Rome. In the 17th century it was restored and added to by Carlo Fontana.

This Romanesque church, Santa Maria di Trastevere, built around 350 AD, is one of the oldest churches in Rome and is said to be the first church to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Being the site of the tomb of Bernini, Italy's most notable baroque sculptor/architect, the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is of particular interest to fans of Italian architecture.

For visitors to Rome, Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore is conveniently located near the city's transportation hub. The square's major landmark is the 1,600-year-old Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.

Built by Pope Liberius in 358 and rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III between 432 and 440, the elaborately and beautifully decorated Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is one of Rome's four major basilicas.