Rome (Eternal City)

Rome is called the Eternal City. With more than 3,000 years of history behind it, it is difficult to sum up this ancient city in words. The best way to know this city is to explore it. There are many faces to this city – the capital city of the old, the center of food and fashion, and the Catholic faith. Your journey of this city will depend upon how you want to remember it.

You can start your tour of Rome by going back in the past. A visit into ancient Rome is not only enchanting, but will help you understand Rome better. Most important remnants of the era gone by are the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Pantheon. Situated in close proximity to each other, they relate the story of the days when Rome was the greatest city on the earth. The Colosseum is an open-air theater. In past times, this site was used for gladiator fights. The Forum will provide you a glimpse of the Imperial life in Rome. You can see the magnificent remains of the Roman gods and goddesses here, and take a look where some of the greatest rulers debated over state and policy in the Roman Senate. The Pantheon was designed in 125 AD as a pagan temple by Emperor Hadrian. It is a gigantic structure with a huge sphere. Till recently, it had the world’s largest concrete dome. Walking around this monolith, you will come across the final resting places of artist Raphael, and the 19th century King Vittorio Emanuele II.

Those who want to experience the spiritual side of the city; the Vatican is the place to visit. Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereignty inside another city. Here, you can visit the St. Peter’s Basilica. While the Basilica itself is a sight to behold, with its rich interiors, there are several other places of interest here that you should not miss. Do remember to visit the tomb of St. Peter’s, situated underneath the Basilica. The Basilica’s museum is a must-visit. It is a treasure chest of some of the best artistic works this world has ever known, including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. But, before you visit this holy place, make sure you are dressed adequately. The women must wear clothes that do not reveal their shoulder, midriff, or knees.

The streets of Rome, you will notice, often open up into a square. These are called piazzas. Several such piazzas are tourist points, mostly for their architectural wonders. You can visit the Piazza della Minerva, which is known for its statue of a strange elephant made by Bernini. The Piazza Colonna is the meeting place of the Italian government. A lot of such piazzas have beautiful fountains to mark the square center. One such famous fountain is the Trevi Fountain. It is the largest baroque fountain in Rome, with a height of 25.9m and 19.8m width. But the Trevi Fountain is more famous for the legend that surrounds it. It is believed that if a visitor throws a coin into the fountain, they are sure to come back to this city. Coins amounting to approximately 3,000 euros are thrown in the Trevi Fountain daily.

Italians are food-lovers, with a penchant for both cooking and eating. So, while you are here, do sample some authentic Italian pizza, pasta, cappuccino, and gelato.