best places in Rome for photography colosseum

A guide to Photographing Rome

Rome’s appeal lies in its unparalleled historical and cultural heritage architectural marvels. The charming streets, historic architecture and overall ambience contributes to its allure, bringing in people from all around the world to bathe in its charm. 

From the awe inspiring ruins of the Colosseum to the artistic treasures of the Vatican and the vibrant streets and piazzas that pulse with life, Rome captures the essence of Italy’s cultural and historical legacy. 

In my personal opinion, it is one of the best capital cities in the world to photograph. However, due to its popularity, it can also be one of the most difficult. The historical monuments of Rome while beautiful to photograph, are often crowded with people, which almost makes it impossible to capture their beauty. 

best places in Rome for photography
best places in Rome for photography colosseum
Photography of the Colosseum at Sunrise

The best piece of advice I can give if you want magazine worthy photography of Rome’s ancient treasures is that you need to set your alarm super early. 

‘Lucky’ for me, I usually struggle with a bit of jet lag upon arriving in Rome and am usually awake at some ungodly hour of the morning and can’t get back to sleep. I usually start my morning at around 4am.

Despite what you hear about pickpockets, scams etc , Rome is actually a very safe city. I have spent many early mornings wandering around the city as a solo female and have never felt unsafe- something I can’t even say about my own city of Melbourne. I actually love exploring Rome at night, as all of the monuments are lit up and look much more magical than they do during the day.

When I photographed the Colosseum, I arrived about an hour before sunrise so scout a good composition. I always try to look for a composition that is a bit different from the classic photos. There were about 3 other photographers set up in this spot when I arrived and almost no tourists. 

This photo below was taken in the more classic location. The photo above was taken about 10 minutes before sunrise, however this was a bit earlier, perhaps half an hour before sunrise. I shot at around F/18 to create the star effect of the light for 30 seconds to create some motion in the sky. Another benefit of arriving at dawn is that even if there are some people walking around, they will become blurred out and disappear during the long exposure.  

best places in Rome for photography colosseum
Colosseum at Dusk

Photographing the Pantheon

The Roman Pantheon is one of the most iconic and well-preserved buildings from ancient Rome, known for its impressive dome and classical architecture.

Despite its various reconstructions and changes in use, the Pantheon remains an enduring symbol of Roman engineering and architectural prowess, attracting visitors from around the world. The Pantheon is renowned for its massive dome, which was a groundbreaking architectural achievement in its time. It remains the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome. The dome has a central oculus (circular opening) at its apex, allowing light and, on occasion, precipitation to enter the building. The portico at the entrance has a pediment supported by a row of Corinthian columns. The bronze doors are not the original ones but are still ancient and notable.

Due to its remarkable structure, the Pantheon is almost always crowded with tourists. Similarly to the Colosseum, the only time that it’s worth photographing is at sunrise or even earlier. Even by around 9am, this attraction is already flooded with tourists. The photos below was taken at around 4am, roughly two hours before sunrise. I was quite lucky on this night to have a full moon setting behind the Pantheon. If you’re lucky to have a moon in your photo, I recommend a shutter speed of 30 seconds, any slower and the moon may get motion blur as it moves through the sky. A small aperture of around f/16 should create a diffraction effect on the moon, as well as the lights beneath the Pantheon. In the early hours of the morning, there are often vans and trucks doing their deliveries to local cafes, so with the right shutter speed, you can create lines of light as these vehicles move across the street, adding some extra flair to the photo. 

best places in Rome for photography pantheon
Night Photography: Full moon over the Pantheon

Photographing the Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum or plaza located in the heart of ancient Rome, surrounded by several important government buildings, temples, and monuments. Its history spans over a millennium, and it played a central role in the political, religious, and social life of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

The Forum served as the inspiration for piazzas in Italian cities and town squares across Europe. Underground channels once drained the rainwater, a testament to early Roman engineering. Some of the Forum’s structures like the Arch of Titus still boast intricate reliefs depicting historical events. Some of the key moments that occurred here would have been

I have found the Roman Forum easier to photograph than the previous two attractions. There is a ticketed entry to get to the forum and since the best view is from Palatine hill, I find there are relatively few people in the photo. I would still recommend getting here for sunrise rather than sunset, so that you can set your tripod up without being uninterrupted. The best time is to capture the golden light just starting to hit the top of the dome of Santa Maria di Loreto. This will happen a few moments before sunrise. The soft light will create a rosy glow on the marble. Once the sun rises too far up, it can be quite harsh on the buildings and they will just look gray. 

best places in Rome for photography Roman Forum
Sunrise Photography at the Roman Forum

Photographing Campidoglio

From the moment you climb the grand staircase designed by Michelangelo himself, the Campidoglio unveils itself in all its splendour. The Piazza del Campidoglio, an exquisite trapezoidal space, is flanked by three impressive buildings: Palazzo Senatorio, Palazzo dei Conservatori, and Palazzo Nuovo. The harmonious symmetry and careful proportioning of these structures create an awe-inspiring panorama, a visual symphony that resonates with the spirit of ancient Rome.

The geometric patterns of the cobbles underfoot, meticulously designed by Michelangelo to guide the eye towards the central statue. The optical illusion created by these patterns enhances the overall aesthetic experience, elevating the Campidoglio from a mere architectural ensemble to a work of art.

The centrepiece of the square is the equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, a bronze marvel that captures the power and majesty of the Roman Empire.

Similar to the Roman Forum, I find this location doesn’t quite get as busy as many other monuments in Rome, since it’s not one of the main attractions. But in my opinion, the compositional options are some of the best Rome has to offer. There are a few angles that work the best for this location, utilising the geometric layout of the tiles and various staircases as leading lines toward the statue in the centre. The buildings on the outside of the square also work well to frame the centrepiece. Since this location doesn’t get that busy, it works well for an evening shoot, especially for those who aren’t keen on waking up early. A lot of locals walk through the square, with a couple of permitted vehicles which create great subjects. Using a shutter speed of a second or two can create movement in these subjects which can really bring the location to life. Like the rest of Rome, Campidoglio is beautifully lit up, so I do recommend a dawn or dusk shoot to capture the true essence of Campidoglio. 

Long exposure of the Campodolgio, Rome
Long exposure at Campidoglio
Long exposure of the Campodolgio, Rome
Night photography of Campidoglio

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About Me

I am a photographer based in Torquay, an hour south of Melbourne. I have wide range of experience in landscape, portrait, aerial and construction photography. 

I have spent extensive time overseas, attending workshops with world renowned photographers, refining my photography style and knowledge.

Feel free to check out my other blogs, or browse my photography galleries. .  

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