South of it, archaeological discoveries continue to be made on the excavation sites. At the end of 2007, a grotto with ornate gold and marble mosaics was found on the Palatine Hill at a depth of 16 metres, which presumably served as a "lupercale", a place of worship for the she-wolf who, according to legend, suckled Romulus and Remus. A few years earlier, the remains of three huts from the founding period in the 8th century BC had been excavated in the immediate vicinity.

Even though today's city centre is identical in location to the Roman one, there have been differences in the past. The structures of the medieval city, which had its centre in a different location, mediate between ancient and modern Rome. Rome remained confined to its medieval urban area, the Tiber Arc and Trastevere, until the second half of the 19th century. Its boundaries are indicated by the medieval city wall with its fortified bastions. The medieval city has a rather irregular street layout. Rome at this time was surrounded by the villas and parks of the Roman city nobility, which today form a green zone on the edge of the centre. Noble residences from this period include Villa Doria Pamphili, Villa Borghese and Villa Torlonia to the west and north. Because the areas outside the centre are relatively new, they have a comparatively regular street layout.

Pilgrimage tourism to St. Peter's Basilica and other places in the Vatican City contributes to the great tourist importance of Rome.