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‘Rome’

Like many of the world’s greatest cities, Rome is a glorious combination of ancient monuments and modern, bustling life. Visitors will find far too much to do, no matter what their tastes. Read the rest of this entry »

Even though it was named after Pope Sixtus IV, who commissioned the chapel construction, the Sistine Chapel was given everlasting fame by Pope Julius II. He was the one who commissioned Michaelangelo, in 1508, to paint frescoes to cover the 10,000 square foot ceiling. Read the rest of this entry »

St. Peter’s Basilica is one of Rome’s foremost tourist attractions with enough to see to occupy an entire day or more. St. Peter’s is among the most well-known and frequently visited buildings inside Vatican City. Read the rest of this entry »

Growing from humble beginnings with Pope Julius II’s 1506 acquisition of the sculpture of Laocoön and his sons in the grips of a sea serpent, the Vatican Museums now number dozens of individual galleries and thousands of works of art. Read the rest of this entry »

Few ancient buildings have survived the ravages of time so well as the Pantheon in Rome. It is the only example of similar age, size and span that remains intact. The fact is no accident – it’s largely the result of superior engineering. Read the rest of this entry »

Il Colosseo, as the Romans refer to it, began life as the Flavian Amphitheater, an enormous elliptical stadium capable of seating 50,000 spectators within its six acre domain. Read the rest of this entry »

The Forum Romanum, located in a valley between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill, is one of the foremost archaeological sites in the world. Long before the first millennium, the forum was the center of political and cultural life for the Roman Empire. Read the rest of this entry »

Though built by the French, the Spanish Steps in Rome provide a way to get from the Villa Mèdici to the Piazza di Spagna. But, as any traveler knows, it’s how you get there that counts as much as the destination. Read the rest of this entry »

Rome, like almost every metropolitan city, is a bustling, buzzing hive of activity. But, there comes a time when anyone will want to find some peace and quiet and no spot in Rome could serve that purpose better than Villa Borghese. Read the rest of this entry »

The fountains of Rome have an ancient and glorious history with examples that range from the Eternal City’s glory days in the 1st century AD to its even more glorious days during the Renaissance to the 18th century and beyond. Read the rest of this entry »

Despite its many churches, museums, restaurants, theaters and other indoor attractions, Rome is an outdoor city and shines best when seen from one of its piazzas. Read the rest of this entry »

The Golden House of Nero, what remains of it, has been excavated and the ruins are now available for public viewing. Read the rest of this entry »