The capital of Italy,
Rome is called the eternal city and for centuries
until its fall fifteen hundred years ago it was the
capital of an empire which ruled over much of Europe
and parts of north Africa and western Asia. Subsequently
it became the center of the Catholic church and continued
to be a center of Western civilization.
The architecture of Rome ranges from ancient Classical
ruins such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the
Forum to Medieval churches and Renaissance palaces,
such as the Vatican, home to the Pope. The Spanish
Steps and the Trevi Fountain are popular meeting places.
Other tourist attractions include the Sistine Chapel,
whose ceiling was painted by Michelangelo, and the
Vatican Museums. Locals and tourists can enjoy strolling
through the Piazza Navona and visiting the cafes,
restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
As a tourist it is not advisable to drive in Rome.
Much of the historic center of the city is closed
to traffic and best explored on foot. Public transport
includes the metro, trains, trams and buses. The underground
metro is the most efficient way to get around and
runs until 11.30pm. Buses are inexpensive, though
traffic congestion can make them slow. Whilst the
rest of the transport network has stopped running
by midnight, a night bus service is available until
around 5am. Tickets can be purchased before each journey
that are valid for use within a limited time period
or alternatively daily and weekly travel passes are
available. Taxis tend to be expensive and it is best
to prebook them, as the official yellow and white
taxis are not easy to find when you are out on the
city streets.
