Rome Travel Guide

  • About Rome
Rome is like a moveable feast of endless courses. No matter how much you gorge yourself on its splendours, you rarely feel you’ve made it past the antipasti. From the remains of its imperial glory days to the Renaissance and baroque riches of its historic centre, the Eternal City is a living masterpiece.Founded upon seven hills, ancient Rome was divided into neighbourhoods with distinct personalities that have survived to this day. On the west bank of the Tiber River, Trastevere is home to countless pizzerias and restaurants. Across the water, the Basilica of Santa Sabina and the church of Sant’Alessio can be found in Aventine, one of the celebrated seven hills. A short walk away is Testaccio, where literary buffs will find the tombs of English poets John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley.With its awe-inspiring architecture and art collection, the Vatican City is also an essential stop. Declared an independent state in 1929, it’s home to St Peter’s Basilica (said to be the largest church in Christendom), the Vatican Museum and the shining star of the Italian Renaissance – the Sistine Chapel.Beyond the seat of Catholicism, there are the Spanish Steps, Pantheon, and Piazza Venezia, which can all be found in the historical city centre. With so many jewels of ancient Rome found on almost every corner, visitors are transported back to bygone days of chariots and gladiators.But there’s also modern Rome where nearly 3 million inhabitants are hardly stuck in the past. You’ll find them packing out trendy bars, and enjoying Roman gastronomy in the many restaurants; Camp de’ Fiori is a notable nightlife hotspot for both tourists and locals.During the day, catch the morning market in the same area, with vendors selling locally made limoncello, pasta and ripe produce at their stalls, or shop along the famed Via Condotti and pick out glamorous fare at Prada or Valentino.All in all, it’s impossible to run out of things to see, smell and taste in Rome. So if you’ve ever wondered what ‘la dolce vita’ means, get ready for a thorough schooling.
  • Rome History
According to legend, the Eternal City was founded in the 8th century when Romulus and Remus (twin sons of Mars, God of War) fought over the rule of the new city, and Romulus killed his brother.Rome’s verifiable (pre-)history dates back some 6,000 years, but it has been confirmed that there was a settlement on the Palatine Hill by the 8th century. In the 6th century BC, Rome declared a Republic in 509 BC, elected a senate, and began to expand rapidly.Despite being sacked by a Gallic tribe around 390 BC, Rome had seized the whole Italian peninsula by the end of the next century.At the end of the republic, military dictators emerged, including Sulla in 82 BC and Julius Caesar in 45 BC. Later, Augustus became the first emperor of Rome and initiated 200 years of peace and prosperity.By the late 2nd century, Rome’s power stretched from Britain to Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Near-constant power struggles followed, until Diocletian divided the Empire in the late 3rd century.After Constantine’s death, Rome split and went into terminal decline. The city was sacked twice in the 5th century and again in the 6th. The Byzantine inheritors of the eastern Roman Empire dominated Rome until the late 8th century, when the Popes struggled for control. Centuries of feuding between the church, nobles and foreign powers followed.Rome thrived in the 15th-century with the Renaissance, and the Papacy took up permanent residence in the city after moving from Florence. Over the next 200 years, many of the city’s most impressive buildings were built, including St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, and the likes of Michelangelo, Raphael and Botticelli were patronised. Rome later became capital city of the newly unified Italy in 1861.After WWI, Benito Mussolini led the March on Rome and fascist rule was imposed until near the end of WWII. After the war, the city grew and modernised significantly, and became one of the world’s most fashionable city’s in the 1950s and 60s.
  • Did you know?
Constantine is said to have converted to Christianity after seeing a cross of light in the sky before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. This was instrumental for the early Christian church. Although Rome was claimed by the Allies in 1944, the German Nazis had withdrawn a year before, which is partly why it suffered so little damage during WWII. When Rome finally joined the new Italy in 1870, after the withdrawal of Napoleon III from the Papal States, the Vatican rejected the new king’s right to rule. The dispute was not resolved until 1929.We Care About Your PrivacyWe and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as unique IDs in cookies to process personal data. You may accept or manage your choices by clicking below, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, or at any time in the privacy policy page. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.We and our partners process data to provide:Use precise geolocation data. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Store and/or access information on a device. Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development.
  • Weather in Rome
Its warm Mediterranean climate renders Rome particularly balmy in autumn (September to November) and in spring (March to May) – these two seasons are widely considered to be the best time to visit Rome as you will find smaller crowds and more forgiving sightseeing weather. There is a string of festivals in spring and autumn for you to enjoy too.Summer (June to August) is hot and sticky, but you are guaranteed brilliant sunshine. The average temperature is 24°C (75°F). Tourists flock to Rome during this time and hotels get booked up months in advance.Rome’s costal central location means you can expect mild, rainy winters (December to February). Temperatures can plummet to 4°C (39°F) in winter but queues and room rates fall with them. Pack a raincoat with you.

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