Rome
The Eternal City
General Information
Other Name: -, District: NA, State: Lazio, Italy
Area: 0 -
Languages Spoken: Italian
Long Distance Code: -
Importance: Rome is a modern, cosmopolitan city, and the third most-visited tourist destination in the European Union.
Best Time to Visit: March to June and September and October
International Access: -Description
Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio.It is Italy`s largest and most populous city.Rome`s history as a city spans over two and a half thousand years, as one of the founding cities of Western Civilization. Even outside of the history of the Roman Empire, Rome has a significant place in the story of Christianity up to the present day, for it endures as the home of the papacy.Rome is a modern, cosmopolitan city, and the third most-visited tourist destination in the European Union. Due to its influence in politics, media, the arts and culture, Rome has been described as a global city. The historic centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city, which is globally perceived as the second most exciting and attractive city in the world according to City Brands Index,attracts over 26 million tourists per year.Visitors come from around the world to see world-famous landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Forum and the Patheon.Young couples love to throw three coins into Trevi Fountain, climb the Spanish Steps or enjoy a latte in Piazza Navona.Location
It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber river.Climate
Mediterranean climate
No visit to Rome is complete without seeing its magnificent Colosseum, a vast amphitheatre with seating for 55,000 that was designed as a horse racing circuit and arena for animal fighting and gladiatorial battles. After its completion, spectacular 100-day celebrations were organized as part of the opening ceremony in 72 BC. Its name is believed to come from Nero''s enormous statue of Colossus that stood close by.
Said to have been 25 times larger than the Colosseum at the height of Nero''s reign, it took 15 years of restoration work before the remaining rooms of this immense palace were opened to the public. The interior is rich in walls covered with frescos, gold, gemstones, and mother-of-pearl, and ceilings tiled in ivory, with openings for creating a shower of flowers and perfumes. After Nero''s death, his successors attempted to eradicate his memory.
Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the world''s most beautiful city.Earlier Fontana di Trevi was the setting for the award-winning Three Coins in the Fountain motion picture, ensuring its popularity worldwide.The statues in the center represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop.
This collection is housed in a building constructed in 1613 for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, one of Bernini''s greatest patrons. In fact, this great sculptor has exhibited some of his most famous sculptures here; amongst them is the renowned Apollo and Daphne.There are six major pieces by Caravaggio in the Galleria, including The Boy with a Basket of Fruit and the Madonna della Serpe. Titian is also represented with Sacred and Profane Love, Raphael with The Deposition, and there are important works by Correggio.
Musei Vaticani''s unique art collection is exhibited in surroundings of unparalleled beauty. The magnificent Raphael Rooms are among the masterpieces of the collection, where each room is decorated with frescoes by great artists. The best known is The School of Athens, in which contemporary artists appear as classical characters.The Sistine Chapel is the museum''s finest treasure, and features Michelangelo''s famous Last Judgement. He was one of many artists including Perugino, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Pinturicchio who contributed to the chapel.
The Pantheon was turned into a church in the early 7th Century by Pope Boniface IV. The building''s sole source of light is the opening at the dome''s apex (the oculus); according to popular legend, this formed the base for the bronze pine cone that is now in the Vatican''s Pigna courtyard, where it is used as a fountain. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including Renaissance painter Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele I.
Piazza del Popolo formed the main entrance to the city for pilgrims and travelers arriving on the Via Flaminia.The obelisk is the tip of the trident formed by the three streets that begin in the square: Via del Corso , Via di Ripetta and Via del Babuino . Valadier was the architect who gave the square its present elliptical appearance by building the two ramps that lead to the Pincio . Two shell-shaped fountains overlooked by groups of statues stand in two hemicycles. Valadier was also responsible for the buildings on Via del Babuino and Via di Ripetta that are today occupied by the famous cafes Rosati and Canova.
An incredible, almost theatrical square with the lovely Spanish Steps leading up to the Chiesa di Trinità dei Monti . One of the most important fashion shows is held here, the steps being used as a catwalk. It is now an international meeting point. The fountain known as the ''Barcaccia'' (boat) was commissioned by Urbano Barberini to commemorate the alliance made with the King of France, whose coat of arms can be seen on Trinità dei Monti. The square leads into several famous streets, Via dei Condotti , Via Frattina and Via Borgognona with their luxurious boutiques, and Via Del Babuino with its antique shops.
The Forum Romanum was designed to be the center of social, political and economic life in the city. The innumerable remains include the well-conserved triumphal arch of Emperor Septimius Severus, with reliefs depicting his victories and the base of the Temple of Saturn with its eight columns and their splendid Ionic capitals. The Rostrum is the famous platform from which Mark Antony gave his oration in Shakespeare''s play after Julius Caesar''s assassination.The platform became the setting for many important events in Rome''s history. It was named the rostrum after the bows of the ships that form the decorative motif. The Temple of Vesta was the home of the Vestal Virgins, charged with keeping the sacred flame alight. The circular foundations still remain, near to a garden in which traces of the House of the Vestal Virgins can still be seen.
San Giovanni in Laterano is the oldest church in the world. It was founded by Pope Melchiade at the start of the 4th century on the ruins of the villa of the Roman family, the Laterani. The church''s current appearance was created by Borromini for the 1650 Jubilee. Although he retained the 16th-century ceiling and floor, the architect altered the appearance by joining pairs of columns in the central nave to make a single pillar inside. In this he built colored marble niches and placed statues of the apostles.