Monday

The Glories of Rome: Too Much for one Holiday

Rome is the third most popular city destination in Europe and for many good reasons! Benefitting from a beautiful Mediterranean climate the city centre is literally packed with attractions and is awash with colour style and sheer magnificence.

Thankfully, the city emerged relatively unscathed from the Second World War meaning that the buildings that for so long had survived the ravages of time also managed to escape the man-made destruction showered on so many other European capital cities. The real benefit from a tourist’s point of view is that there is still standing a glorious cornucopia of architectural delights on display in Rome.

The city dates from 753BC, but as well as many impressive ancient buildings including the iconic classical quintet of the Coliseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Circus Maximus and Trajan’s Market there is also a fine selection of Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassic and even fascist architecture to discover.

For lovers of classical history the Coliseum is a ‘must-see’. At the height of the Roman Empire it seated 60,000 spectators, being the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire. Featuring frequent gladiatorial contests and mock naval battles, the latter of which involved flooding the arena floor, the Coliseum was an important social focal point for the people of ancient Rome.

However, a more prominent meeting place was situated nearby in the Forum. It was here that politics as well as day-to-day Roman life were discussed and debated by the citizens of the ancient city. Today, remnants of this vast market square still remain attracting millions of visitors annually, especially given its proximity to so many and other ancient buildings which are all within easy reach of the majority of central Rome hotels.

Within the modern day city of Rome there also exists an entirely independent state boasting its own police force. The Vatican City is home to the Roman Catholic religion and its religious leader – the Pope. Queues for entry to the completely enclosed and walled ‘State of the Vatican City’ are always long but once inside the wait is well worth it. The vast and architecturally stunning St. Peter’s Square takes away the breath of many visitors, as does the Sistine Chapel, which features a remarkable ceiling mural completed in 1512 by famed Italian Renaissance painter Michelangelo.

But, unless visitors are staying for several weeks they will be hard pushed to get to see all but a glimpse of what this magnificent city has to offer. Indeed, the city has provided the spectacular back-drop to many Hollywood blockbusters including most recently ‘Angels and Demons’ based on the novel by Dan Brown. A specialist tour is now available offering visitors the chance to trace the steps taken by the film’s hero Tom Hanks on the ‘Path of Illumination’; a tour that takes in or passes close to all the city’s outstanding highlights. If you thinking of visiting Rome in the near future you could do a lot worse than take this tour to get a taste of the city!