Nestled between the Forum and the Coliseum, The Palatine Hill is an excellent place to see Roman ruins and the work being done to excavate them.

According to Roman myth, the Palatine Hill is the location of the cave where Romulus, the founder of Rome, and his brother Remus were found by the shepherd Faustulus, who later raised them. With such an important “history”, it’s no wonder the Palatine Hill was the area that many affluent Roman’s called home.

Much like the Forum, it requires quite a bit of imagination to see the Palatine Hill as it must have been in ancient times. Therefore, it is recommendable to take a guided tour. Guides not only make up for the lack of informational plaques, but they also divulge quite a bit of information about Roman times.

Rome’s Coliseum, aside from being the largest building constructed during the Roman period, was also internationally voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. The sordid entertainment that it provided Roman society, gladiator and animal battles, is no doubt another morbid reason for the modern world’s fascination with the arena.

The Coliseum seated 60,000 spectators and is made up of 80 arches on the ground floor through which ancient Romans could gain access to the grounds. However, nowadays, only a single entrance is used, contributing to massive lines, where tourists can spend hours waiting to purchase admission tickets. To skip the wait, visit the neighboring Palatine Hill first. The line to access the Palatine Hill is significantly shorter, and once there, you can buy a dual Coliseum/Palatine Hill ticket. The halls of the Coliseum also play host to temporary art exhibits that shouldn’t be ignored.

The City of Rome is a living, breathing museum, and it’s hard to walk around Rome’s historic center without tripping over one ruin or another, but by far the city’s most important archeological area is the Roman Forum.

The forum was the center of public life in ancient Rome, and the main spot for political, religious and commercial activity. Unfortunately, the city’s long and turbulent history has not been kind to these ruins, so it takes a bit of imagination to imagine the forum in all its bygone glory, a task made all the easier and more enriching if you read up on Roman life prior to your visit.

The forum is located in the valley between the city’s four centric hills and right next to the Coliseum.

Located just two blocks off of Madrid’s shop laden, centric street (Gran Via) and smack in the middle of the city’s gay district (Chueca), is the excellent café and ice cream shop NuRielle. Aside from an assortment of gorgeous Italian gelatos, NuRielle has a wide selection of mouthwatering sweets, from croissants to cakes to cream or chocolate filled pastries.

For those watching their waistlines, the fruit cup and fresh orange juice is the best way to go. And although NuRielle is technically a café, cocktails are served after 7:00PM. The decor is modern and bold, yet inviting, and the clientele is varied. It’s an excellent place for breakfast (a coffee and pastry are only 2.20 Euros between 8:00AM and 12:00PM), a snack or dessert.