Rome Tour

Rome is the capital of Italy and of the Lazio region. It's the famed city of the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita, Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. Its Historic Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photos of Rome >>

The Vatican Rome

The Vatican

It has been the Popes' residence since 1377. In fact, before the Pontifical Court was transfered to Avignon (1309-1377), the Papal seal was at the Lateran (in Rome).

Since 1377, 265 Popes have followed each other uninterruptdedly on St. Peter throne.

Vatican City is an indipendent State ruled by the Pope.

Saint Peter's Square

It is the biggest square in Rome (240) metres wide and 340 metres long). A wonderful Egyptian obeliks (25 metres high) stands in the middle of it. The cross on the obeliks top is said to contain the relic of the actual Holy Cross. The beautiful colonnade that surrounds the square is a work by Bernini, as wall as the 140 statues of Saints adorning it.

The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel It was designed by architect Giovanni de' Dolci for Sixtus IV, in 1470. The frescoes that decorate it were begun in 1481. In 1508 Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint the Chapel's vault. The gigantic task was begun in 1508 and finished in 1512, twenty-three years before the great artist began the "Last Judgment". The restauration of the Chapel begun in 1980. The project was completed in ten years, bringing the frescoes back to their original splendours.

Saint Angel Castle

Castle - Saint Angel At the time of the Romans it was called Mole Adriana, from the name of Emperor Elius Adrianus (second century A.D.) who wanted it as his tomb. It was later transformed into a forteress and then into a castle. In the thirteenth century the Papal State look control over it. The Popes often found shelter in the castle in war times. Many important diplomatic meetings took place inside its walls, but it was also notorious for the instruments of torture located in its prisons.

The Coliseum

The Colosseum Its real name is "Flavian Amphitheatre".
This beautiful building, the ancient splendour of which is still clearly visible, was begun under Emperor Vespasian in 72 A.D., and Finished under his son Titus in 80 A.D.
The amphitheater could contain more than 70.000 people. Its external front is particularly beautiful. It is organized in three orders of 80 arches adorned respectively with Doric, Ionic,and Corinthian columns.

Trevi Fountain

Its size and architecture make the small Trevi Square one of the most famous and characteristic places in Rome.
The popularity of the fountain is also due to the legend according to which one's return to Rome is garanteed by drinking its water and by throwing a coin into its basin.
The fountain was designed by Salvi (1735) and docorated by several artists of Bernini's school.

Roman Forum

Roman Forum It is the most famous place in ancient Rome.

Cerimonies, meetings, public and private businness used to take place there.
It was damaged by a fire in 283 A.D. and restored under Emperor Diocletian.
From the fourth century, it began to fall into decay, echoing the fate of Rome itself.

Monument to Victor Emmanuel II - Piazza Venezia

Located near the Capitol, il was designed by Giuseppe Sacconi in order to celebrate the unity of Italy (1870). It was begun in 1855 and inaugurated in 1911.

The statue of Rome and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier are two remarkable ornamental and celebrative elments of this monument.
Such beautiful architecture can also be seen in many hotels in Rome.

The Capitol - Rome

Rome - The Capitol Capitol Square was designed by Michelangelo in 1534.

In the center of the square he placed the statue of Marco Aurelio, the only surviving broze equestrian statue among the several ones that adorned Rome in ancient times.
Palazzo Nuovo, the building on the left side of the square, is the seat of the Capitoline Museums, with their prestigious collection of ancient sculptures.
At the back of the square there is Palazzo Senatorio, the seat of the Major's Cabinet.

Pantheon

Rome - Pantheon It is the only pagan temple in classical style still almost intact in Rome.

The inscription on the architrave of the portico ("M. Agrippa L. F. Cos. tertium fecit") informs that the temple was commissioned by Consul Agrippa in 27 B.C. and dedicated to the guardian deities of the Emperor's family.
After a fire, the temple was rebuilt between 117 and 125 A.D..
Today it host the tombs of famous pople, like Raffaello and the kings of Italy.

Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona Also called Circo Angolate, it is one of the largest and more beautiful squares in Rome.

It is located in the area of the ancient Domitian's Stadium, of which it preserves the original shape.

Three fountains adorn the square. The most remarkable is the one in the centre, a work by four statues representing the Danube, the Ganges, the Nile and the Rio de la Plata.

Trinita dei Monti

The monumental Spanish steps, designed by De Sanctis in 1723, are one of the most striking structures in the place.

Trinita dei Monti Church is on their top.

Notice the imposing cupolas of the church (1485-95) and, in front of it, the obelisk, that was found in the Sallustian Gardens in 1808. The "Barcaccia" Fontain, a work by P. Bernini (1629), lies at the foot of the steps.

Discovering Rome

The History of Rome

The history of Rome goes back about three thousand years. It is one of the oldest and most important cities in the world.
Latin, which has its origins in Rome, has dominated culture for two thousand years: law, born in Rome, has inspired Western law codes: art and Roman architectural styles have been used as models for centuries in the most advanced countries. The influence of this city, first as the centre of the Roman Empire, then as the centre of Christianity, has no equal in the history of the Western world. Its beginnings, however, are mysterious. Its very name is on enigma: does it derive from "stroma" (city of the river), from "ruma" (an Etruscan name), or from the legendary Romulus, who might have founded the city with his brothel Remus? This much is certain; Rome originated on the Palatine Hill as a village of shepherds and farmers, and entered history around 753 BC, the traditional date of its founding.

At first it was governed by seven kings; Romans and Sabines intermingled and for o few centuries the city was dominated by its neighbours, the mysterious Etruscans. The Etruscans were later chased from the city and in 509 BC the city become a Republic governed by two consuls. At first aristocratic, Republican Rome adopted a harsh form of democracy and established in 494 BC the Tribune of the People, who defended the people against abuse at the hands of those holding power. In the meantime, Rome's political importance was increasing. By 270 BC virtually the whole of Italy was under Roman dominion which very quickly extended its power beyond the boundaries of the peninsula until it became a huge empire. Under Augustus, the first emperor, imperial Rome reached its zenith, after which started a slow decadence: corrupt emperors (Nero, Caligula, Claudius), the spread of Christianity, the very size or the Empire, the enormous costs of the armies, the pressure of the barbarians along its frontiers. In 313 AD Constantine acknowledged Christianity as a valid religion and Theodosius in 380 AD proclaimed it as the one and only religion of the Empire. Now the barbarians were closing in: first Alaric then Attila ransacked Rome which consequently was reduced to a minor city in the eastern Byzantine empire By installing himself in St. Peter's See, the in creasingly powerful Pope made Rome the centre of Christianity. In 800 AD when the Pope crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, it seemed as though the old grandeur was revived again. It was on illusion. Rome was to witness the long struggle between the papacy and the feudal nobles, and above all between the Pope and the Emperor (struggle for investiture) which gave her historical importance but also left her weakened. In 1305 the Pope was forced to transfer the papal seal of Christianity to Avignon where it remained until 1367. There now followed two difficult centuries (until the imperial sock of Rome in 1527), but meanwhile the papacy was growing in power and splendour both in art and culture.
Popes such as Julius II and Leo X created the great Renaissance and Baroque Rome by commissioning monuments and works of art of unusual splendour to artists such as Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael. The architects Bernini and Borromini built splendid palaces and churches in response to the Protestant Reformation.
Baroque Rome with its fountains, gardens and palaces, is one of the high-lights of Western culture. Now begins a new age: at the end of the 18th century the influence of the French Revolution mode itself felt; Pius VI was deported to France and the short-lived Roman Republic was established.
After the Restoration, Napoleon weakened the papacy. It resurged under Pius II who regained temporal power. Because of the Risorgimento, the Pope was once more forced to flee, and the Republic of the Mozzinian Triumvirate was established. On the 20th of September Italian troops entered Rome, thus putting an end to the temporal power of the Pope and Rome become the new capital of Italy. For half a century there was a cold war between the papacy and the Italian state, ending with the lateran Pact in 1929 by which date Fascism had taken over. The Pope is now once more the head of Christianity and the head of the smallest state in the world: the Vatican City.
Mussolini's Fascist rule tried to bring back to Rome the glories or its antique splendours by demolishing edifices, building avenues, stadiums and monuments. The war, the invasion of Rome by the Germans, the heroic resistance of the Romans and the end of the monarchy, mark the birth of the new Italian Republic.
After World War II, Rome has seen; urban growth, increase in population, the years of the "Dolce Vito" (when Rome was capital of ihe world-renowned Italian cinema) and political problems. It is now preparing itself for the new great world event, the Jubilee of the year 2000.