Rome, Italy

Answer 1

Rome is one of the most iconic cities in the world. It combines rich history and culture, with sophisticated, modern living. Rome is also home to one of the most powerful symbols of religion in the world, the Vatican. Rome is a beautiful city and has an abundance of splendid historical buildings from the grand Colosseum to the romantic Trevi Fountain. The people of Rome are passionate and outgoing. One will find a warm welcome in the many bars, restaurants, and shops. Rome can be a chaotic city full of people living life to the full, but it is also an extremely friendly and charming place to visit.

Art and Entertainment

Rome is a city that celebrates culture. There are a number of high profile popular performing arts festivals and live concerts held throughout the year. There are also a number of excellent auditoriums and arts venues. These attract renowned international talent from pop stars through to world class symphony orchestras.

If one loves art and history, then Rome can offer some of the best museums and arts galleries in the world including the Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo, which is a national centre for contemporary art. There are plenty of modern activities on offer. Rome has a lively nightlife. Entertainments vary from watching the latest plays at theatres such as the prestigious Teatro Argentina through to a wild night out on the town in one of Rome’s bustling bars and nightclubs. Jazz lovers will also enjoy the Alexanderplatz. This club is located close to the Vatican and attracts a number of prominent name jazz acts throughout the year.

Food and Drink

Roman cuisine is decidedly traditional and focuses on the Italian love of fresh, finest quality ingredients and regional recipes. You will find a few cutting edge restaurants in this city offering the latest fads in cuisine. However, the majority of Romans prefer fresh, quality food that is high on flavor and celebrates the ingredients of the area. One will find a lot of “peasant food’ available in Rome. These are large, hearty dishes of pasta, soups, stews and fresh breads. This is ideal for visitors as these dishes are delicious and affordable and will provide you with a real taste of Rome. Specialties include saltimbocca alla romana, which is an immensely popular dish of veal cutlets prepared with sage and Marsala wine. There are many excellent wines available in Rome including local favorites from the Castelli Romani region.

Family Friendly Activities

Although Rome is known as a city for lovers, it also has a lot to offer families. The Villa Borghese has a fantastic park which offers a wide range of fun activities including pony rides, paddle boats and a children’s train. The Luneur Park has some thrilling rollercoaster rides and is open late on Friday and Saturdays for a special night out for the family. There are also some wholesome family learning opportunities including the Explora Museum. This is aimed at children under 12 years old and has lots of fun “hands on’ activities.

Boutique Hotels

Rome has a number of excellent boutique hotels. These offer unique, quirky accommodations, right in the heart of the city. Boutique hotels are often family run and provide a much more welcoming and personalized service than the leading international hotels. Each boutique has a distinctive style. Many are located in stunning, renovated historic buildings.

Answer 2

Modern Roman citizens live among layers of thousands of years of history every day. For visitors it is astonishing to round the corner and see a two-thousand year old Roman ruin and to realize that is part of everyday life there.

Many visitors come to Rome to see the remains of the Roman Empire. The forum was unearthed by archeologists and visitors can see that it appears to be sunken into the earth as the city grew up around it. The ruins of the government buildings of the republic, the temples and the public structures are all here. Visitors can walk the original streets and imagine the grandness of the republic at its heyday.

The forum stands next to the imposing Coliseum. The coliseum is the symbol of Rome and the most visited site in Rome. It is amazingly intact and standing in the bleachers you can imagine the impressive events that were held there. There are Roman archeological sites all around Rome.

From the grand piazza to the great papal basilica of St. Peter’s the Vatican is majestic. The circus-like uniforms of the Swiss Guard, designed by Michelangelo, make a colorful statement against the dignified architecture. The basilica is the largest in the world and topped by a dome that is taller than any structure in Rome, giving those who climb to the top a spectacular view of the city. Also not to be missed is the Vatican museum where art from all over the world, collected by the church over hundreds of years can be seen. Also in the Vatican museum is the entrance to the famed Sistine Chapel with the frescoes painted by Michelangelo.

Modern Roman life is vibrant and centered on government and business activities. But Romans know when to enjoy life, stopping at a cafe to enjoy a coffee or eating a gelato. In the early evening Romans come out for a stroll through the streets, “the passeggiata”. Well-dressed Romans greet each other with a kiss on each cheek. Older Romans sit in groups, men on one bench, ladies on another as they share gossip and people watch.

Answer 3

The western coast of Italy is home to Rome and the Vatican, the largest city and also the capital.

A great place to People-Watch is the Trevi Fountain as they come to throw their coins in the water. See the Cappuchin Crypt, a quick stop as it is relatively small, home to the remains of 4,000 Cappuchin monks. The Vatican City is a great place to embark on a tour as the experienced guides will ensure the important stops are not missed. If you decide to visit the Colosseum, (how could you not) make sure to do both the Inside & the outside. Pick up a copy of Rome: Past & Present, then venture out into the Roman Forum, where you can take a walk through history like never before. Visit the famous Pantheon and see a Roman building in all its glory.

Before leaving Rome check out the Roman cuisine, where a simple dish like cacio e pepe is all you will need to make you visit memorable.