Night architectural photography of Pantheon in Rome

Top 8 Photography Locations in Rome

Rome stands as a living testament to some of the most ancient and iconic locations in the world. From remarkable architectural wonders to picturesque piazzas, Rome offers an abundance of photogenic spots that are waiting to be captured by any passionate photographer. If you’re planning a visit to this magical city, be sure to include these eight iconic locations on your photography bucket list. 

The Pantheon’s architecture is a photographer’s dream. Its massive domed roof, supported by a cylindrical drum and a stunning colonnade of Corinthian columns, provides a myriad of opportunities for creative composition. The interplay of geometric shapes, the contrast of light and shadow, and the intricate details on the columns all present incredible potential for captivating imagery.

Due to its remarkable structure, the Pantheon is almost always crowded with tourists, therefore photographing it can be challenging. The only time that’s possible to photograph it without tourists clouding the foreground is at sunrise or much earlier. The image below was taken at 4am- crazy I know, but it’s the sacrifice you have to make to get magazine worthy photos. Many Roman buildings are lit up beautifully at night time, especially the Pantheon, and daylight just doesn’t quite do these remarkable buildings justice. 

Night architectural photography of Pantheon in Rome
Pantheon, Rome

Vatican City

The Vatican City is essential for any photographer seeking shots of Rome’s artistic masterpieces. St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world and offers an abundance of photographic compositions. You could spend hours photographing the interior of the Basilica. 

Tips for visiting the Vatican City:

1. When visiting the Vatican City, try to aim for low season as even during this time, it can still be incredibly busy and aim to get there first thing in the morning. 

2. Prepare for low light conditions. While I believe tripods are prohibited, you can experiment with higher ISO settings to achieve detailed photos inside the Museum. 

3. Experiment with various angles, leading lines, and framing techniques to add depth and visual interest to your shots.

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Saint Peter's Basilica

Colosseum

The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of ancient Roman engineering and architecture. It stands as a testament to the grandeur and scale of Roman entertainment and culture during the imperial period. 

Lighting is a crucial aspect of photographing the Colosseum. During my visit, I found that the best time to capture the colosseum was during the golden hour—just before sunset or after sunrise. Like the Pantheon, there are fewer people in the foreground and the lights in the arched windows give the subject some warmth to contrast the cool blue sky.  Shooting at this time also allowed the sky to create a beautiful contrast against the stone façade, resulting in a more dramatic representation of the Colosseum.

Architectural photography of Colosseum in Rome
Morning Photography of the Colosseum, Rome

Roman Forum

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. 

Roman forum at sunrise
Roman Forum

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is an elegant square featuring Baroque fountains and magnificent architecture. The fountains glow quite magestically in the night, with hues of the aqua waters against soft warm tones of the marble.

La Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi- commissioned by Pope Innocent X– is the more interesting of the fountains to photograph, particularly if you frame it in such a way to include the church of Sant’Agnese in the background. 

There are two other fountains in the square, both built by Giacomo della Porta, an apprentice of Michelangelo. It’s best to spend time walking around each fountain to create a more interesting and unique photographic composition. 

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Night Photography of Piazza Navona

Campodoglio

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 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.

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.

campodoglio rome best photography locations
Night photography of Campodoglio
Long exposure photography of Campodoglio

Piazza Del Popolo | Janiculum Hill

Piazza del Popolo and Janiculum Hill may not be the most well-known tourist destinations in Rome, but they offer some incredible viewpoints for a photographer seeking something unique. Piazza del Popolo’s symmetrical beauty, which can also be viewed from behind at Janiculum Hill, is just a short, but steep walk behind the square.

I would recommend visiting Janiculum Hill during sunset or sunrise will reward you with breathtaking vistas of Piazza del Popolo below, as well as the majestic St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance. 

Janiculum Hill best photography lookout in Rome
Photography of Piazza del Popolo
Janiculum Hill best photography lookout in Rome
Janiculum Hill

Spanish Steps

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Creative Photography of Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps offer some of the most breath-taking views over Rome, featuring the Piazza di Spagna in the foreground and the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica emerging from the sea of terracotta roofs. The elegance of this spot is best captured early in the morning before it gets crowded, as well as the morning glow of the sun lighting up the tip of the Basilica, creating majestic photography. 

The stone hand rails can be used to create interesting photographic compositions by framing the buildings through the keyhole. 

I also managed to capture a time lapse of sunrise over the Spanish steps, showcasing this beautiful city coming to life. 

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