Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Jutting dramatically from Rome’s 1,750-year-old southern city walls, the Pyramid of Caius Cestius stands as a striking relic from 18–12 BC. This 120-foot (36-meter) marble pyramid, built as a tomb for the Roman politician Caius Cestius, reflects the ancient Roman fascination with Egyptian-inspired funerary monuments and is the only one of its kind to survive. Nestled in the Testaccio and Aventino neighborhoods, known for their quaint parks and a vibrant food market, the pyramid offers visitors an unexpected and visually compelling sight. Today, it continues to draw curious onlookers who can marvel at its well-preserved structure and the historical layers that surround it.