Today we are discovering Rome; the eternal city abounds with ancient history, hundreds of Roman cathedrals with plenty of archaeological sites, incredible art and much more to discover…
Ancient City
Rome is the capital of Italy. According to Roman mythology, Rome was founded around 753 BC and is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. Many people regarded this city as the first-ever imperial city and metropolis.
Rome is also called "Caput Mundi” (Capital of the World). After the fall of the Empire in the west, the beginning of the Middle Ages. It became capital of the Papal States in the 8th century which lasted until the 18th century.
The City on the 7 Hills
Rome was built on seven hills: the Aventine Hill, the Caelian Hill, the Capitoline Hill, the Esquiline Hill, the Palatine Hill, the Quirinal Hill, and the Viminal Hill. Rome is the Lazio region in central Italy on the Tiber River.
Rome and Renaissance
Rome became the first major centre of Renaissance because almost all popes since Nicholas V (1447-1455) chased a coherent architecture for over four hundred years. They aimed to make Rome an artistic and cultural centre of the world. Famous artist, painters, writers, sculptors and architects were invited to work in Rome and made it the centre of their activity.
These artists made Rome an art hub by creating masterpieces throughout the city. Even famous English writers like world-renowned William Shakespeare had many plays written on the theme of Rome and Romans. His plays like Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus and many others are all based on Roman society.
The world’s smallest country within a country
Rome is famous for its museums, Roman ruins, historical streets and Roman cuisine. But one thing which gives Rome a special place in the world is Vatican City, a country within a country.
The Vatican City, the capital of Roman Catholic Church and home of The Pope, therefore an important place of pilgrimage for Catholics all over the world. This is the smallest city in the world and is very popular among tourists from all walks of life.
There are many cultural and religious sites within this iconic country of great spiritual and historical importance. Some famous "must-see" landmarks in the Vatican include St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.
These historical landmarks feature numerous famous paintings, frescos and sculptures. You could devote hours here while exploring various art forms.
St. Peter’s Basilica is the world’s largest church located in the Vatican City and also known as the “greatest of all churches of Christendom”. St. Peter’s Basilica is built in the most renowned Renaissance and has been described as “holding a unique position in the Christian world”.
The Sistine Chapel is a palace in the Apostolic Palace, an official residence of the pope, in Vatican City. The chapel has served as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity since the fifteenth century. Today, it is the site of the papal conclave, a process by
which a new pope is selected. The Sistine Chapel is famous for its frescos made by
Michelangelo, a technique of mural paintings on ceilings and mural paintings on walls are a centre of attraction.
Famous historical Monuments
Rome is a dream city where everything is unique from history to architecture and food. There is so much to explore here that just one trip is not enough to cover them all.
There are many points of interests and things to explore offering insights into Rome’s glorious past, architecture and traditions.
The Trevi Fountain, a flamboyant ensemble of mythical figures and horses, is one of the world’s most gorgeous fountain. Trevi Fountain is popular amongst tourists, and they follow the old war
the tradition of throwing a coin into the fountain’s water to ensure their safe return to Rome. You can explore the streets around the famous Trevi Fountain with several notable landmarks like Vicus Caprarius, an ancient Roman house and aqueduct 9 metres below ground level.
Another famous landmark is The Pantheon, a former Roman temple but now converted into a Catholic church. This temple houses tombs of the most significant figures in Roman history. What a great place to explore while in Rome, with bustling streets and iconic monument, you can easily see why this place is so attractive to tourist and locals.
The Roman Forum and the Colosseum
Other significant and photogenic landmarks are the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and Palatine Hills. These three landmarks are situated within the same archaeological area of Rome.
Roman Forum is located in the centre of the city and is a rectangular plaza surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings. This is the showpiece centre of the ancient Roman Empire and the awe-inspiring ruins first developed in the 7th century BC. It was the place where signs of early democratic practices were found as public meetings
and legal issues were debated here.
Another of Italy’s top tourist attraction is the Colosseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre was clad initially in travertine and covered by a huge canvas awning. It is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome and is the largest amphitheatre ever built.
The Colosseum's interior is divided into three parts: the arena, cavea and podium. The Colosseum was abandoned after the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century. This is one of the famous landmarks in Italy and people have a great curiosity to explore it and hundreds of people come to Italy every year to see these magnificent historic buildings.
Rome, a Cultural Food hub
Rome, the capital city of Italy, has a long-lasting love of dining out and people are very traditional when it comes to producing, cooking and eating. The cuisine styles have evolved through centuries, and Rome became a major gastronomical centre during the ancient age.
There are various top quality restaurants which serve traditional Roman cuisine, download the Fly app, and you will have access to the restaurants and more. The best thing about Roman food is that it is fresh, local and seasonal. The humble, exciting and inexpensive cuisine which focuses delicious yet straightforward food techniques. Roman pizzas are world-famous, there's something in the dough the water, which creates the flavour and the myth, that you can’t get Roman pizza outside of Rome. Traditional dishes like spaghetti, pasta, gelato and lasagne are also widely consumed here, some of our favourite foods. Make sure you wear elastic band trousers, you will want and need the extra space to try more exceptional dishes.
There are multiple open local markets to discover where you can also taste local and traditional food. It is rightly said that Rome was not built in a day, so neither can one see all of Rome in a day. One needs time at your leisure to explore Rome and jog down the historical lanes.
Cost of Experience
To enjoy the experience of tourist attractions, one needs to take a full tour of it. Like one can only appreciate the aura of Colosseum with a guided tour:
1. Colosseum & Arena Guided Tour Price: € 52 per person
2. Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica GuidedTour Price: £44.8 per person
3. Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tour Guided Tour Price: £22 per person
Places to Stay
It is important to have a pleasant and comfortable stay to fully enjoy ones holiday trip to any tourist destination. Following are few good hotel options in Rome which provide
comfortable stay as per TripAdvisor:
1. Hotel Artemide
Location: Central Station, Rome Price: £90 (1 Room, 2 Adults)
Amenities: Wi-Fi, Gym, Pool, Bar etc.
2. Hotel Santa Maria
Location: Santa Maria Price: £123 (1 Room, 2 Adults)
Amenities: Wi-Fi, Bicycle Rental, Bar etc.
3. Hotel Dei Mellini
Location: Central Rome Price: £131 (1 Room, 2 Adults)
Amenities: Wi-Fi, Bar, Room Service etc.
Places to Eat
As per TripAdvisor, the following are few well-known eateries in Rome which need to be explored for authentic Italian Cuisine:
1. Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale
Location: Near Vatican City
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean Price: £9 - £23 per meal
2. Grazia & Graziella
Location: Santa Maria, Trastevere, Rome
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean Price: £9 - £30 per meal
3. Pasta e Vino Osteria
Location: Santa Maria, Trastevere, Rome
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean Price: £8 - £27 per
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