For The Love Of Italy

You've heard the phrase 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. Likewise if you are planning a trip to Rome you will want to give yourself a lot more time to enjoy what the city has to offer. This is something a lot of people already know, as the famous city in Italy has gotten great kudos in recent years. Rome ranked number 2 in the category of Top 10 European Cities in the Condé Nast Traveler's 2004 Reader's Choice Awards.

Places to See

On the top of your list of places to visit in Rome will likely be the Coliseum, the Pantheon, and the Roman Forum.

You have read about the Coliseum throughout your whole life, in history books, in religious literature. Now you can see this location that has been such a historical landmark, where the Gladiators used to fight for their lives. If you sign up for a tour, you may have a guide that looks much like a gladiator of days of old.

Next, you may want to see the over 1,800 year old Pantheon. This building has made it through generation after generation and is an awe-inspiring location. Its name translates to "temple to all gods". Inside its walls is the final resting place of a number of high-ranking individuals of Italian history including two kings, and the famous painter, Raphael. This location is free to visit and is open every day, except Christmas.

The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) was where all the great minds of Rome used to meet, 2000 years ago. Whether it was religious or political meeting, it would have happened here. Unfortunately time has been cruel to the Roman Forum and much of what used to be magnificent columns are now ruins. But, some still stand to help you appreciate the magnitude of this location. This site is free to visit, but there are fees for tours.

Things to Know

If you want to visit this busy city, which has about 2.7 million people living in it, you are going to need a passport to get into Italy and then travel to Rome. Generally the weather is what you may expect in this area of Europe. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are moderate, but full of rain. If you don't want to get lost in the massive crowds that plan a summer getaway to Rome, you may instead want to visit in off-peak months of October through March.

If you only stick to the world of planned tours, you may miss much of what Rome has to offer. Instead you should make sure to take a tour through town and look at the historic buildings and unique shops and the treasures they hold. If you want to go a little further than you can walk, the TramBus system will take you through all of Rome's neighborhoods.

Then don't forget the old cliché, ' When in Rome do as the Romans do.' And make sure to try some of the fabulous cafes and restaurants that are throughout the area.