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Rome is the capital city of Italy and of the Lazio region, as well as the country‘s largest and most populous comune, with about 2.8 million residents. According to legend, the city of Rome was founded by the twins Remus and Romulus on April 21, 753 BC. Archaeological evidence supports claims that Rome was inhabited since the 8th century BC and earlier.

The founding of Rome is shrouded in legend, but current archeological evidence support the theory that Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill and in the area of the future Roman Forum, coalescing into a city in the 8th century BC. That city developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom (ruled by a succession of seven kings, according to tradition), Roman Republic (from 510 BC, governed by the Senate), and finally the Roman Empire (from 31 BC, ruled by an Emperor); this success depended on military conquest, commercial predominance, as well as selective assimilation of neighbouring civilizations, most notably the Etruscan and Greeks.

Roman dominance expanded over most of Europe and the shores of the Mediterranean sea, while its population surpassed one million inhabitants. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most politically important, richest and largest city in the Western world, and remained so after the Empire started to decline and was split, even if it ultimately lost its capital status to Milan and then Ravenna, and was surpassed in prestige by the Eastern capital Constantinople. The city was the cradle of Roman civilization that produced the largest and longest-lasting empire of classical antiquity that reached its greatest extent in AD 117. The city was pivotal and responsible for the spread of Greco-Roman culture that endures to this day.

Rome is also identified with the Roman Catholic Church and has been the episcopal seat of the Popes since the 1st century AD. The State of the Vatican City, the sovereign territory of the Holy See and smallest nation in the world, is an enclave of Rome. Rome, Caput mundi "capital of the world", la Città Eterna "the Eternal City", Limen Apostolorum "threshold of the Apostles", la città dei sette colli "the city of the seven hills" or simply l‘Urbe "the City", is thoroughly modern and cosmopolitan. As one of the few major European cities that escaped World War II relatively unscathed, central Rome remains essentially Renaissance and Baroque in character.

The Historic Centre of Rome is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The original language of Rome was Latin, which evolved during the Middle Ages into Italian. The latter emerged as the confluence of various regional dialects, among which the Tuscan dialect predominated, but the population of Rome also developed its own dialect, the Romanesco.

Rome is a nation-wide centre for higher education. Its first university, La Sapienza (founded in 1303), currently is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the World, with more than 150,000 students attending. Rome is an important centre for music. It hosts the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (founded in 1585), for which new concert halls were recently built in the new Parco della Musica, one of the largest musical venues in the world. Rome also has an opera house, the Teatro dell‘Opera di Roma, as well as several minor musical institutions.

The city also played host to the Eurovision Song Contest 1991 and the MTV Europe Music Awards 2004. Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics and is an official candidate to hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics (the latter candidacy was withdrawn in July 2006 due to political difficulties, but was later reinstated). Football is the most popular sport in Rome, as in the rest of the country. The Stadio Olimpico is the home stadium for the Italy national football team, and hosted the final game of the 1990 FIFA World Cup; it is also the home stadium for local serie A clubs A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio, whose rivalry has become a staple of Roman sports culture.

Today Rome sports a dynamic and diverse economy with thriving innovation, technologies, communications and service sectors. Rome‘s economic growth began to surpass that of its rivals, Naples and Milan, after World War II, although a traditional rivalry persists with Milan.

Tourism is inevitably one of Rome‘s chief industries, with many notable museums including the Vatican Museum, the Borghese Gallery, and the Musei Capitolini. Rome is also the hub of the Italian film industry, thanks to the Cinecittà studios. The city is also a centre for banking as well as electronics and aerospace industries.

GO THERE FOR

The History - With the juxtaposition of famous Roman remains and more modern (but still historic) architecture, it's a fascinatingly timeless city to explore.

The Art - Rome is rumoured to boast more world-famous works of art, sculpture and architecture per square mile than anywhere else in the world.

The Food - Don't think pizza and pasta, which are at their best in Northern Italy; instead concentrate on an awe-inspiring (and, at its best, world-class) selection of meat and fish, often inevitably at prices to match.


DON'T MISS

Ancient Rome - The ancient city of Rome is home to where, according to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus in 753 BC on the Palatine Hill. The Roman Forum, between the Palatine and Capitoline Hills is home to oldest and most important buildings of the Roman period including the residence of the Kings (The Regia) and the complex of the Vestal Virgins. Palatine Hill, the founding hill, is home to Augustus palace - much in ruins now - but the size and scale of the palace and the "Games Room" are much in evidence. Don't miss the House of Augustus - an impressive restored frescoe from the house of Augustus, who would become Romes first Emporer.

The Colloseum - once the most important "entertainment" venue in ancient Rome where gladiators fought and Christians were executed by Romans. The Colloseum is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most recognisable sites in Rome and an absolute must see for any visitor to this marvellous city.

St Peters Basilica - St Peters Basilica is the centre of the Roman Catholic Church and a major place of pilgramage for Catholics worldwide.

Vatican Museums - The Vatican Museums are, without a shadow of a doubt, amongst the most impressive museums in the world.

Castel Sant'Angello - Originally built as the mauseleom for the Emperor Hadrian and later fortified as a Castle served as a fortress to protect the Popes when Rome came under attack. Walking around the circular fortifications, you are afforded fantastic views across Rome including the Basilica of St Peter and Pont Sant'Angelo - which boasts statues from the workshop of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Galleria Borghese - The Galleria Borghese is justifiably one of Romes premier art galleries. The sculptures by Canova and Gian Lorenzo Bernini and painting by Carravaggio, without a doubt, justify its position as a must see in Rome.

Pantheon - The Pantheon is one of the most important ancient structures in Rome. The dome of the Pantheon remains the largest dome to be built without the aide of scaffolding. Originally built as a temple to all the Gods (Pan -all- Theos -gods) The Pantheon now functions as a Catholic Church.

Trevi Fountain - The largest Baroque fountain in Rome standing an impressive 29.5 meters (85 feet) high and 19.8 meters (65 feet) wide. Famous not only for its aesthetic beauty, Audrey Hepburn got her hair done over the road for the 1963 film Roman Holiday.

Via del Corso - The Via del Corso is well known as one of Rome's best shopping streets - the Roman answer to Oxford Street.

Vittoriano - Variously nicknamed "The Typewriter" and the "Zuppa Inglese," Vittoriano holds The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Built after the First World War, Vittoriano has been subject of its fair share of controvesy as its construction required the demolition of a large section of the Capitoline Hill and a medieval section of town.

Campo di Fiori - Serving as a food and flower market by day "Il Campo" transforms into a vibrant piazza with cafes and bars by evening.

Piazza Spagna - Named Piazza Spagna due to the proximity of the Spanish Embassy, the Piazza Spagna is one of the most beautiful Piazza in Rome dominated, as it is, by the sweeping Spanish Steps which lead up to Trinità dei Monti church.

Piazza Navona - Located on the one time site of a Roman circus, Piazza Navona is the most beautiful Piazza in Rome. Well proportioned and decorated with three symettrically placed fountains of which the most famous is Fountain of the Four Rivers. Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and sporting an Egyptian Obelisk the Fountain of the Four Rivers sits directly in front of the impressive Sant'Agnese in Agone designed by Girolamo Rainaldi.

Cafe Greco - Once the hangout of such literary luminaries as John Keats and Percy Shelley who lived in nearby Piazza Spagna, the Cafe Greco is an odd mix of tails and tourism - tourists are served their coffees by older gentlemen in morning suits.

The Forum - The political, financial and social heart of Rome, and probably the nucleus for modern democracy as we understand it today.


BASICS

Country Code: +39
City Code: 06
Emergency: 112
Directory Enquiries: 12
Electricity: 220V/50HZ
Language: Italian
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Exchange Rate: 1 EUR = 0.84 GBP; 1 GBP = 1.17 EUR (Subject to change)
Time: CET (UTC +1), CEST (UTC +2) Last Sunday March – Last Sunday October

Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport
www.adr.it/home/fiumicino_en.htm

Rome Ciampino Airport
www.adr.it/home/ciampino_en.htm


GETTING AROUND

Flights to Rome arrive in either Leonardo Da Vinci (Fiuminco) airport or Ciampino. Fiuminco is around 16 miles southwest of the city, and is connected to the centre by a direct train, which runs hourly. Ciampino is trickier to get to; there is a subway line, but it needs a connecting bus. Taxis to both destinations are very expensive.
Within the centre, it's best explored on foot or by the Metro system. Driving is not recommended under any circumstances; the stories about the insanity of Roman drivers are all based in fact.

WHEN TO GO

July and August tend to be stiflingly hot (average high 30?C/86?F), which can make the city unpleasant to be in; many businesses are closed in August as the heat is too much. The best times to visit are probably either from April to June (average high 22.6?C/72.8?F with temperatures rising), or September and October (average high 22.4?C/76?F, with temperatures falling). However, it's generally possible to visit at any time.

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