Rome Travel Guide, Italy

Italy’s capital city is located in the central-western part of the Italian peninsula, in the Lazio region and has about 2.7 million residents. But you can add to this number the millions of tourists that come here every year to see a city with almost 3 thousand years of history. It is the most visited city in Italy.

Seeing the ruins of what once Rome was mingled with all the modern buildings is what attracts tourists. Rome is like an open air museum a much convincing one as you can see relics in the original place where they once were and that’s much more exciting. You don’t really need to visit museums in Rome. Roman citizens have the privilege to live in a city that preserves its past while making way to new technology in a way that it is not intrusive. Being so conscious of your past makes you have a better idea of who you are and where your ancestors came from. I think Romans know more history than any other citizens in Italy as they are bound to know it. If there happens to be an isolated case of someone not wanting to learn anything in school he will just have to ask the tourists.

But anyway it is quite impossible to avoid your past in Rome. You are surrounded with the architectural masterpieces, ruins, monuments, famous paintings, churches listed as world heritage sites and you go about your modern everyday life in ancient surroundings. Romans must feel really privileged and special and they really are as they succeeded in preserving their beloved city not only for themselves but for the whole world to see.

The Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and all the other attractions are invaded by tourists from all over the world especially in summer and then Rome doubles its residents. Streets are overcrowded; the traffic is terrible and chaotic and if you want to drive in Rome you have to be very careful as Romans are not cautious, you’ll see the majority of the cars hit as they bump into each other. The lucky ones are those riding a motor scooter as they don’t get blocked in traffic jams.

But the city kind of empties of its residents in August when everybody has a holiday, except maybe those who work in restaurants, hotels and other places that maintain tourism. This makes way to more tourists.

Tourists who come here for religious purposes and not only, visit Vatican the smallest state in the world, the center of Catholicism and the Pope’s residence. Seeing the Vatican you can realize that the Catholic Church is very rich and powerful.

Visiting all the attractions can take you quite some time, but after a day of running for the sensational with the camera in your hand feeling like a paparazzi and not wanting to miss a spot, you can relax in one of the many cafes and restaurants that offer you the same exciting atmosphere, fine dining, creative cuisine, and rustic Roman tradition.

You can expect good quality food and excellent service so you can indulge in haute and nouvelle cuisine.

Nightlife is excellent and it is pumped by the tourists and locals alike, discos, bars, clubs are full up and you can spend your whole night dancing, parting and maybe put on a robe to feel like a Roman in ancient times.

A mixture of past and modern, Rome has a character of its own, a long story to tell and lots more tourists to host.

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Read our members' reviews about Rome

• Public transportation in Rome
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  After a little fight with the police lady that caught us on the bus without a ticket, we were a bit agitated but still in good shape. And no, we did not go to the world's most important church because we wanted to wash ourselves clean from our terrible sin that morning :) Seriously, I was so mad...
• Top things to see in Rome
  review by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  I really think that walking around in the city is probably the most relaxing. Wherever you look, you see history and not just any history. We started out at the Pantheon and I was probably again the most amazed about this building that was built in 27b.c. When you walk into the Pantheon, you can...
• Attractions in Rome
  review by cipristb posted more then 30 days ago
  When I visited Rome I was impresed by the amount of historic sights and vestiges wich are present there. I've stayd there 5 days but I didn't had enough time to visit all those monuments. The representing colors of the city are red and yellow. As a soccer fan one of my first ojectives when I...

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Read our members' travel tips about Rome

• Via Appia Antica
  travel tip by Wazling posted more then 30 days ago
  Near the catacombs of San Sebastiano and San Callisto in the south from the city center is the ancient old cobblestone street, the most famous road in the world. The Via Appia Antica connects Rome with the area of the Campagna. In...
• Ostia Free Beach near Rome
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Just to get away from the city I think it's nice to visit Ostia and go to the beach. I know it's not the Bahamas, but it's still nice and relaxing and if you go during the week there are barely any people. Also if you go by car be sure...
• Pizza and Pasta and Fiori di Zucca
  travel tip by MadSuh posted more then 30 days ago
  Obviously, Pizza and Pasta are among the most wanted foods in Rome. I suggest Fiori di Zucca (Zucchini Flowers, which is a really cool dish. Basically, Zucchini Flowers stuffed with fish and then breaded and deep fried ;). Anyhow, make...

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