Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

With wonderful palaces, glorious churches and basilicas, grand ancient ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. The Historic Centre of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world. Some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city.

Much of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. If you can do so while watching for uneven cobblestones, keep looking upwards.

The narrow streets frequently broaden out into small or large squares, piazzas, which usually have one or more churches and palaces, a monument or a fountain or two. You can plan your trip going from piazza to piazza. There is Piazza Navona and Piazza della Rotonda (in front of the Pantheon), and the nearby Piazza della Minerva, with its unique elephant statue by Bernini, and Piazza Colonna with the column of Marcus Aurelius, and Palazzo Chigi, meeting place of the Italian Government. On the other side of Corso Vittorio Emanuele are Piazza Farnese with the Palazzo of the same name (now the French Embassy) and two interesting fountains and the flower sellers at Campo dei Fiori, scene of Rome's executions in the old days.

The enormous Piazza del Popolo in the North Centre, which provided an imposing entrance to the city when it represented the northern boundary of Rome, is well worth a visit. A short walk back towards the centre brings you to the famous Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps. This area was used as backdrop for the 1953 film Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. (More recently, Rome has featured in the films Angels and Demons, Eat, Pray, Love, and Gladiator.)

On the other side of the river is, of course, the magnificent square of St Peter's at the Vatican. Further south, in Trastevere is Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere, a great place to watch the world go by, either from one of the restaurants or bars that line two sides of the square or, if that is too expensive, from the steps of the central fountain. The square attracts many street entertainers.

Moving back to the Modern Centre you have to see the Trevi Fountain, surely a part of everyone's Roman holiday. Visitors are always amazed that such a big and famous fountain is tucked away in a small piazza in the middle of side streets. Take extra-special care of your possessions here. Further up the Via del Tritone you will come to Piazza Barberini, now full of traffic but the lovely Bernini fountain is not to be missed.

Ancient Roman ruins in Rome are a must-see. The main area for exploring the ruins of ancient Rome is in Rome/Colosseo on either side of Via dei Fori Imperiali, which connects the Colosseum and Piazza Venezia. Heading towards the Colosseum from Piazza Venezia, you see the Roman Forum on your right and Trajan's Forum and Market on the left. To the right of the Colosseum rises the Arch of Constantine and is the beginning of the Palatine Hill, which will eventually lead you to ruins of the Flavian Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus.

There are more than 900 churches in Rome. Probably one third would be well worth a visit! In Catholic tradition, St. Peter is said to have founded the church in Rome together with St. Paul.

A visit to Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican Museum. You need to go to the museum if you want to see the Sistine Chapel. Tapestries, maps and the rooms painted by Rafael are en route to the Sistine Chapel, but there is much, much more to explore, including a stunning Egyptian collection, and the Pinacoteca, which includes a Portrait of St. Jerome by Leonardo Da Vinci and paintings by Giotto, Perugino, Raphael, Veronese and Caravaggio, to name just a few.

Rome has something for everyone: museums and archeological sites, architecture and art, parks and gardens, shopping, nightlife and Italian food! Plan to spend several days in Rome.