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Mini Tourism guide of the city of Rome, Italy

November 2005

Rome : It's hard to say what you'll find the most breathtaking about the eternal city. Either the arrogant opulence of the Vatican, the timelessness of the Roman Forum,Colosseum and Pantheon or the masterpiece work of art that is the Sistine Chapel. One thing is sure nowhere else will you find so much history,culture and art packed per square mile than in Rome as it's sheer imperial scale is sure to knock you out ! Armed with my digital for a three day visit and 500 pictures later I wanted share with you my experience online

Now to begin your journey through the streets of Rome you can either:

1. View my entire collection 500 pictures of Rome by clicking here

2. Go right to the links of your choice for the pictures of places of interest in Rome found just below here

• Direct links to places of interest

	Colosseum : The Colosseum or Coliseum is today the most recognisable of Rome's Classical buildings. Even 2,000 years after it was built, and despite centuries when the abandoned building was pillaged for building materials, it is instantly recognisable a Classical template for the stadiums of today. It was the first permanent amphitheatre to be raised in Rome, and the most impressive arena the classical world had yet seen and with accommodation for 60,000 seated and 10,000 standing, all of whom could enter and leave in a matter of minutes, courtesy of 80 entrances, this is a structure that the designers of modern sports stadia could learn from. Originally known as the Flavian Amphiteatre (latin for: Amphitheatrum Flavium), is an amphitheatre in Rome, capable of seating 50,000 spectators, which was once used for gladiatorial combat. Construction was initiated by Emperor Vespasian and completed by his sons, Titus and Domitian, between AD 72 and AD 90. It was built at the site of Nero's enormous palace, the Domus Aurea. The Colosseum's name is derived from a colossus (a 130-foot, or 40-metre, statue) of Nero which once stood nearby.
	Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican :The largest Christian church building in the world, located in the Vatican. The residence of the pope adjoins it, and many ceremonies and speeches connected with the pope's administration take place there. Raphael and Michelangelo contributed to its design and decoration. it covers an area of 23,000 m² and has a capacity of over 60,000 people. One of the holiest sites of Christendom, it is believed to be the site of crucifixion and burial of the basilica namesake Saint Peter. Construction of the basilica began in 1506 and was completed around 1626. The interior of the cathedral has many masterpieces, among which: the Pieta by Michelangelo; the monument to Clement XIII by Antonio Canova; the St.Peter's Chair by Gian Lorenzo Bernini; the monument to Paul III by Guglielmo della Porta; the statue of St. Peter by Arnolfo di Cambio; the monument to Innocenzo VIII by Antonio del Pollaiolo; the controversial baldachin by Bernini built with the bronze taken from the Pantheon. Finally there are the Vatican Museums, whose contents it is impossible to list.
	Sistine Chapel : The Sistine Chapel (Italian: Cappella Sistina) is a chapel in the Palace of the Vatican, the official residence of the Roman Catholic Pope in the Vatican City. It was built between 1475 and 1483, in the time of Pope Sixtus IV, and is one of the most famous churches of the Western World. The name Sistine is derived from the Italian sistino meaning of or pertaining to Sixtus IV. It is known worldwide both for being the hall in which conclaves and other official ceremonies are held, including some papal coronations, and for having been decorated by Michelangelo. It is located to the north of St. Peter's Basilica, after the Scala Regia, and originally served as the Palatine chapel inside the old Vatican fortress. The Pope Leo X de’ Medici decided to create some tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. He commisssioded Raphael who drew the cartoon designs between 1515 and 1516 and sent them on to Brussels where they were woven with Scenes of the Lives of St. Peter and St. Paul. The whole series was completed by 1524 and hung that year immediately below the 15th century frescoes.
	Pantheon : The Pantheon is one of the great spiritual buildings of the world. It was built as a Roman temple and later consecrated as a Catholic Church. Its monumental porch originally faced a rectangular colonnaded temple courtyard and now enfronts the smaller Piazza della Rotonda. The original Pantheon was built in 27-25 BC under the Roman Empire, during the third consulship of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and his name is inscribed on the portico of the building. The inscription reads M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIUM·FECIT, "Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, consul for the third time, built this." It was originally built with adjoining baths and water gardens. As the best preserved example of monumental Roman architecture, the Pantheon was enormously influential on European and American architects from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Numerous city halls, universities and public libraries echo its portico-and-dome structure. Examples of notable buildings influenced by the Pantheon include Thomas Jefferson's Rotunda at the University of Virginia, Low Library at Columbia University, New York, and the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. Some changes have been made in the interior decoration, however. Much fine marble has been removed in the course of the centuries, and there are capitals from some of the pilasters in the British Museum.
	Roman Forum : The Roman Forum is a square which is surrounded by some of the most ancient Roman monuments. The Forum is also the origin of the first Latin population 2600 years ago.The Forum was not simply the core of an ancient city; for many it was the centre of the universe. From the birth of the empire under Augustus in 31BC, and for nearly 500 years thereafter, Rome ruled most of what we call the civilised world. From Scotland to the Sahara, from Gibraltar to the Euphrates, the Roman Empire was in control. Moreover, Rome was the handmaiden of our alphabet, a bellwether of urban organization and its legal institutions, and the creator of startling new horizons in architecture. And it ruled from here, these five acres controlling the known world, setting in place legal and military systems, and giving the word ‘forum’ to our language as a place of debate, discussion and decision. It was to the Forum that Julius Caesar moved his residence in 45BC, as an arrogant demonstration of his absolute power (and one that would lead to his downfall). And the collapse of Rome into decadence and eventual invasion by northern European barbarians can be seen alongside the decay of the Forum in the fourth and fifth centuries AD.
	Monument to Victor Emanuel II : One of the imposing landmarks in Rome is the Monument to Victor Emanuel, II, built between 1885 and 1911 and dedicated to the memory of King Victor Emanuel, II of Savoia who achieved the unification of Italy in 1870 with Rome as its capital.  Visitors climbing a broad flight of steps soon notice an imposing statue flanked by a two-man honor guard and highlighted by an eternal flame, kindled in memory of the Unknown Italian Soldier of World War I. It rises in Piazza Venezia and is called also 'Victorian'. It was built, using white limestone, in 1885 and took almost twenty years to be completed. Besides, being the symbol of Italian unity since 1921, it also considered the altar of the Italian land. Two sentries of honor continuously watch the tomb the Unknown Soldier which keeps the remains of an unknown soldier died during the World War.
	Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) : Located in the heart of Rome's centro storico (the Historic center), the Trevi Fountain derives its name from its position at the intersection of three roads (tre vie). According to legend, anyone who throws a coin into the water is guaranteed to return to the Eternal City. There has been a source of water at this site for over a thousand years, although it was not until 1485 that Pope Nicholas V commissioned Gianlorenzo Bernini to create the actual fountain and even then the project was abandoned after the death of Pope Urban VIII in 1644. In 1732, Pope Clement XII employed Niccolò Salvi to continue the work, and the result is a Baroque masterpiece that dominates the square. Although the water is no longer safe to drink, the fountain is still a popular place to enjoy an icecream from one of the gelaterie in the square. The statues in the centre represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop. Anita Ekberg's dip in it was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita'.