Rome, if anything, is a city with rich historical and cultural heritage. This Eternal City located in Western Italy is not only the center of the ancient Roman Empire and the location of world famous historical constructions like the Colosseum or Pantheon, but also the heart and soul of Italian culture and the Roman Catholic Church. The warm-hearted capital of Italy, Rome is also a vibrant city with modern services, shopping opportunities and lively nightlife.

Colosseum, Pantheon and Vatican: Main attractions of Rome

Rome is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world for a reason. Although interesting in many ways, Rome is most of all a historical city. The city’s history knows many legends, of which the first is connected with the founding of the city. An old legend says Rome was founded by mythical Romulus and Remus twins, who were abandoned as newborn, and rescued by a wolf, who took care of them until they were found and raised by a shepherd family. With Rome, this interesting tale is however only the beginning, and many more can be found when exploring the city.

World-famous sights. Rome has several famous sights to be explored. You could start with visiting Colosseum, a monumental amphitheater, which once was the arena of famous gladiators, who played a dangerous game entertaining people with fighting for their life. Today this ancient structure is one of the most attractive tourist attractions of Rome and the most famous remain of the ancient Roman Empire. The popularity of Colosseum is based not only on its monumental appearance, but also in the atmosphere that is said to have remained inside its walls from the ancient times.

From Pantheon to Vatican. Another historical remain of Roman Empire and a place to be experienced in Rome is Pantheon. An ancient temple built for gods of the Roman Empire, which has later been used as a tomb and as a church, Pantheon is one of the best preserved structures standing left from the Roman Empire. Adding the attractiveness of Rome, this ancient city is the center of Roman Catholic Church, and includes the ever popular Vatican City, which in many ways is a subject of specific interest, and a cultural site worth visiting for not only those who belong to the Roman Catholic Church. Don’t forget to visit also the famous Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the impressive Piazza del Campidoglio square. The city offers you also interesting theatres, opera and regular concerts in Rome to enjoy. The numerousmuseums in Rome offer you a great variety of cultural attractions as well.

Shopping and entertainment. In spite of all its cultural and historical attractiveness, Rome is also a vibrant city offering you excellent possibilities to explore Italian culture, and to enjoy excellent city services of a modern capital. Shopping in Romeoffers many attractions, as well as modern spas and wellness services.

Practical information for your trip to Rome

Due to the friendly Italian weather with warm summers and mild winters, you can feel free to travel to this highly popular city destination any time. However, if you visit Rome in the middle of the European summer holiday season in August, be prepared for the fact that Rome is filled with other visitors as well. Hotels in Rome are found in great numbers, including some choices for all price brackets. English is widely spoken in the touristic areas of Rome.

How to get there. Flights to Rome are widely available from all major airports of the world. You can also travel to Rome easily by train or bus from elsewhere in Italy, or by Mediterranean cruises that stop in the nearby Civitavecchia. Moving in the city is made easy by efficient public transport with good and reliable subway, bus and tram services, as well as countless efficient but a little bit expensive taxis. Central parts of rome can also be toured by foot.Rental cars in Rome are widely available, although driving in the city itself is not recommended for those visitors who are not used to the busy and chaotic traffic of Rome. Although a big city with its share of crime problems, Rome is a quite safe city to visit. However, you need to watch out for pickpockets and scam artists especially around crowded tourist sights.

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.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.

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