Rome WebQuest: Take a Virtual Tour of Rome

Today you will be embarking on a virtual tour of Rome. Rome has a long history and tons of really awesome sites to see. This post will take you through a Rome WebQuest visiting some of the main sites around Rome from the comfort of your own home. 

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Rome and Italy hotels here!

The History of Rome

Rome was first established in 753BC by King Romulus. It is said that Rome Romulus and his brother Remus decided to build the city together. However, after arguing, Romulus killed Remus and thus named the city after himself. You can read the full story here. There is also evidence that people inhabited the area over 14,000 years ago! Throughout the centuries, Rome has seen many different leaders, empires, and battles. Many of the sites in this lesson are remnants of the Ancient Roman Empire, a time when Rome was the most powerful empire in the area. Later, it contained a lot of artwork from the Renaissance period. Present-day Rome is the capital of Italy and also surrounds the independent country of Vatican City. 

Virtual Tour of Rome

The Colosseum

Start this Rome WebQuest, by taking a virtual tour of the Colosseum. You can check out the live view of the Colosseum here. The Colosseum was originally built by Emperor Vespasian between 72AD-80AD and is still considered the largest amphitheater in the world. During Ancient Roman times, the Colosseum was used for gladiator battles. It could hold up to 50,000 people at one time! Below the Colosseum, there were a series of underground passages for the Gladiators to walk through before rising up to the arena above. 

The Roman Forum

For our next stop on our virtual tour of Rome, head over to the Roman Forum. The Roman Forum, completed in 203AD, was a large plaza that was considered the city center and the center of everyday life in Ancient Rome. Here you could find the government buildings, like the Senate, temples, and tons of art. It also was the location of public speeches, criminal trials, and processionals. Use this website to explore what the buildings look like today and what they are thought to have looked like in the past. 

The Pantheon

In the Ancient Roman times, the Pantheon was a temple to worship the Gods. The Pantheon was commissioned during the reign of Augustus between 27BC-14AD. Although the first Pantheon burned down, it was rebuilt twice more in the same exact spot with the same architecture. It is considered the best-preserved building from Ancient Rome, mostly due to its continuous use throughout history and also the largest unreinforced concrete building in the world! Present-day, it is now a Christian church. Take a virtual tour of the Pantheon here. 

Tour the Vatican Museum

It is now time to explore some art of the Renaissance! The next stop on our virtual tour of Rome is the Vatican Museum. Pope Julius II founded the museum in the 1500s in order to display all the great works of art commissioned during the Renaissance period. The Vatican Museum contains 1400 rooms and over 70,000 works of art that are said to stretch 9 miles long. The most visited part of the Vatican Museum is the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michaelangelo during the Renaissance period. Make sure to view Raphel’s fresco the “School of Athens.” Saint Peter’s Basilica is also considered to be part of the Vatican Museum. You can take a virtual tour of the Vatican Museum here. 

A Stroll Around Rome

For the last stop on this Rome WebQuest, head over to the Trevi Fountain to make a wish. One of the more “recent” features found in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. The original fountain was located at the junction of three popular roads in Rome. It was one of the sources of pure water within the city. Later, Pope Urban VIII commissioned the newer and grander fountain to be designed by Bernini. However, Urban VIII died before he could see it through. Eventually, Pope Clement XII ran a contest for a designer that Nicola Salvi won. Salvi died prior to finishing the fountain, so Giuseppe Pannini and several others finished it in 1762. Present-day, it is said if you throw a coin using your right hand over your left shoulder into the fountain it guarantees your return to Rome. You can view the live webcam here.

Optional Activities for a Virtual Tour of Rome

Did you know Italian food began to form right after the fall of the Roman Empire? Many of the roots of Italian food can be traced back to the 300s BC! Food and culture have always been important to the Italians. Once the Roman Empire fell, the various cities began to make their own unique styles of food, especially different types of bread and pasta. Nowadays, the North is known more for its pasta dishes, while the Southern part of Italy is known for its pizza. The following are some recipes you can make at home after you have explored Rome all day. 

Make Homemade Pizza

Ingredients Needed

• Pizza Dough
• Pizza Sauce 
• Mozzarella Cheese
• Any other topping you may want (sausage, pepperoni, olives, etc)

You can either get pre-made dough at the store or opt to make your own dough. The Food Network has a great pizza dough recipe. If you get pre-made dough, lots of Italian grocery stores carry it, or places like Trader Joes. Sometimes you can find it at regular supermarkets. You can find pre-made pizza sauce at the same locations. 

To make the pizza, roll out the pizza dough to about the size of a plate. Then add a thin layer of sauce on the top (or more to taste). After that add on the amount of cheese you like. Finally, add any extra toppings you would like. Put on a pizza tray and bake at 400 degrees for around 30 minutes. It may need longer, but the crust will be golden brown once complete. 

Make Pasta

Cacio e Pepe is a super popular pasta dish in present-day Rome. You can find it on almost any menu at restaurants. It is super easy to make as it only uses four ingredients! Bon Appetite has an awesome recipe here. Another option for a pasta dish is Spaghetti Carbonara. This is another one of my personal favorites. It is more often found in Northern Italy and is always delicious. Delish has a mouth-watering recipe here.  

Make Gelato

No trip to Rome is complete without gelato. Throughout Rome, you will find a ton of gelato places. You can use this recipe from All Recipes to make gelato at home. 

How to use this Rome WebQuest in the classroom

This lesson can be used in any classroom, especially a history classroom along with a unit about Rome. In California, this is part of the sixth and seventh-grade curriculum. It is a great way to introduce the unit or as a review at the end of a lesson. Sign up below to receive the free worksheet that goes along with this Rome WebQuest and Virtual Tour of Rome. It includes a primary source as well! You can also use this information to explore Rome from the comfort of your own home.

When you are ready to explore Rome in person, make sure to check out these posts!

2 Day Rome and Vatican City Itinerary

An Evening Stroll Through Rome

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Italy

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