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According to legend, the city
of Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus on April 21, 753 BC.
Archaeological evidence supports claims that Rome was inhabited since the
8th century BC and earlier.[2] The city was the cradle of Roman civilization
that produced the largest and longest-lasting empire of classical antiquity
that reached its greatest extent in AD 117. The city was pivotal and responsible
for the spread of Greco-Roman culture that endures to this day. Rome is
also identified with the Roman Catholic Church and has been the episcopal
seat of the Popes since the 1st century AD. The State of the Vatican City,
the sovereign territory of the Holy See and smallest nation in the world,
is an enclave of Rome. |
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Rome, Caput mundi ("capital
of the world"), Limen Apostolorum ("threshold of the Apostles"), la città
dei sette colli ("the city of the seven hills") or simply l'Urbe ("the
City"),[3] is thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan. As one of the few major
European cities that escaped World War II relatively unscathed, central
Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character. The Historic
Centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site[4] by virtue
of its three thousand years of accumulated history and art.
Rome Attractions: Just walking
around in Rome can by entertaining and you will can something interesting
almost anywhere. Here are some of Rome's top attractions.
St. Peter's Basilica - Basilica
di San Pietro is the largest Roman Catholic building in the world. It houses
important works by Michelangelo and Bernini.
Vatican Museums - Musei
Vaticani, the largest museum complex in the world, house art spanning 3000
years from the Classical and modern world. Here you will find the Sistine
Chapel and Michelangelo's frescoes.
The Colosseum - Colosseo
is the largest monument in existence from Imperial Rome. It is a huge amphitheater
that housed the fierce gladiator and wild animal fights. A good approach
is along the Via dei Fori Imperiali
The Roman Forum - Foro Romano
is one of the city's most important archaeological sites. It was the focal
point of Republican Rome and has monuments from 900 years of history. Best
of all it's free!
The Pantheon is Italy's
best-preserved ancient building, It started out as a pagan temple and then
became a church. There is a nice piazza in front of it that makes a nice
place for an evening drink (although pricey).
The Capitoline Hill is a
great place to get a view of the Roman Forum. The focal point of the hill
is the grand Piazza del Campidoglio designed by Michelangelo. There are
two important museums housing an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings,
frescoes, and mosaics.
Piazza Navona is a lively
piazza ringed by upscale cafes. At its center are three lavish fountains.
The Villa Borghese houses
the Galleria Borghese, a large collection of famous sculptures and paintings
Why Travel to Rome?
The home of one of the world's
greatest ancient civilizations, loaded with history, artistic and architectural
treasures, piazzas, pizzas and the Pope, Rome's 3,000 years old Centro
Storico is a must-see even for artphobes - and it's not an expensive city
either, unlike Venice or Florence.
Rome Sights:
Rome is a very walkable
experience and bikeable too, or you could do the Dolce Vita thing and rent
a scooter.
Apart from the vast numbers
of lovely piazzas [as in square, not thin crust], Roman relics and gorgeous
churches you will want to see at least the mega-rich, independent state
of the Vatican, its museums [see left] and the vast Basilica of St. Peters
[not as interesting or spectacular internally as many other Roman churches,
but big], the Colosseum amphitheatre, the remains of the Roman Forum and
its triumphal arches, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain [try it at night],
the Pantheon [built by angels according to Michelangelo but way more impressive
outside than in], Piazza Navona with its fountains, artists and cafés,
Campo dei Fiori open air market and the narrow streets of Trastevere for
a real Roman dining experience.
Rome transport:
The metro/tube/subway system
is efficient but hardly comprehensive though useful for getting to the
Colosseum, Spanish Steps and Vatican Museums. Beware pickpockets at busy
times, the Bugcrew had their pockets felt in 2006. See 'Dipping'.
Cars: Car parks and directional
signs are more or less non-existant and outside the centre streets are
stuffed with cars parked higgledy-piggledy so don't bring a car here unless
you have GPS, nerves of steel and a hotel with parking!
Four wheels bad, two wheels
good, though beware cobblestones in the rain.
Walking: Pedestrian crossings
are common but walkers need to develop a system to use them effectively
because vehicles will not stop at crossings unless compelled to do so.
e.g. by your lurching body. This is the way it works: stand at the beginning
of the crossing and look at driver's eyes. If they don't stop [most unlikely],
start to cross confidently when there is a reasonable gap in the traffic,
but maintain eye contact with drivers to check they are actually slowing
down. By law they should stop, though Italians have a well-known disregard
for the law - but at the same time they really don't want to maim or kill
you.
Cuisine guide:
Rome has plenty of little
trattorias that serve excellent meals at the right price, but don't expect
much other than classic Italian pastas, pizzas, salads and excellent ice-cream
[gelato]. International cuisine or even wildly different Italian is hard
to come by.
Fast foods and sandwiches
are common.
Some establishments don't
have English menus so if you are a gourmet or even just like to know what
you're eating then study up on the Italian language of food.
BTW, one guide book of much
repute had several pages of food names but overlooked the translation of
'the bill please'! [il conto per favore].
The Trastevere area on the
left bank of the river is a bit of a hike to reach [no metro stop] but
interesting, evocative, very local [as opposed to touristic] and bursting
with tiny eateries, while streets around Piazza Navona offer nice little
places with reasonable prices, though prices often get silly at restaurants
on actual piazza's.
The oldest pizzeria is said
be Da Ricci in Via Genova, the best is Dar Poeta in Trastevere.
For vegetarians try Margutta
Vegetariano in via Margutta.
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