Rome travel tips - hotels, photos and maps

Rome , " The Eternal City", fascinates any traveler by its variety of monuments, landmarks and museums and by its inhabitant's kindness, their hospitality and politeness conquer the heart of even the most exigent visitors. Legend has it that it was founded by Romulus and Remus in the year 753 BC and it became capital for the first time sometime between the VI-th and V-th century BC. Numerous works of architecture, sculpture, painting, statues, churches, palaces and other pieces of history are known and recognized in the entire world. The Colosseum, The Temple of Fortune, The Pantheon, The Museum of the Vatican are just a few of Rome's most noticeable landmarks that make up for almost a 5 th of all the monuments in the World. The capital of Italy is also the official residence of the Pope and the scene of many clerical events.

Rome Landmarks

•  The Colosseum is the most important monument of ancient Rome . In its glory days it could hold more than fifty thousand spectators that would assist bloody battles between gladiators and even wild beasts.

•  Palatine Hill displays what once were imposing villas, residence of Roman emperors and other high placed families.

•  The Roman Forum, once the heart of the greatest power of the ancient World. Economic and political center of the city, it is the site of former religious and administrative buildings used in different purposes like temples or tribunals.

•  The Pantheon is based on a structure build by Marcus Agrippa in the year 27 BC and is still almost intact to this present day and functioning as a church. One of the most marvelous Roman landmarks, it holds the remains of the kings of Italy as well as the tomb of painter Rafael.

•  Fori Imperiali offers a complete view over the city and the Vatican . It was the forum of Roman emperors like Caesar, Augustus and Trajan, and includes Trajan's markets, Trajan's Column that celebrated the victory over the dacic people and many other historical items that have been preserved throughout time.

Museums in Rome

•  Galleria Borghese impresses not by the size of its collection so much as by the uniqueness of the exhibits on display here. In what was once the villa belonging to a great Roman family visitors can admire works of such artists like Raffaello, Giulio Romano, Lorenzo Bernini and many others.

•  The Capitoline Museums are considered to be some of the finest of Rome 's museums and probably the oldest collection of art in the world. They instantly catch the eye of any tourist their setting. The collection is housed in the classical center of Rome , in the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Nuovo, that face each other across the Piazza del Campidoglio, layout drawn up by Michelangelo. The gallery includes works by Tiziano, Palma il Vecchio, Rubens, Caravaggio, etc.

•  Villa Giulia Museum has a setting usual with Rome 's museums, in the villa of Pope Julius III build in the 15 th century. It is meant to be the most complete collection of the pre Roman antiquities in the World containing different items belonging to the Etruscan and Faliscan civilizations.