Rome

According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus, who, along with his twin brother, Remus (whom he later conveniently “did in”), were suckled by a “she wolf.” Although a far less colorful story, historians concur that it was the Etruscans who first settled here and gave the city its name. By the time Christ was born, Rome controlled the entire Italian peninsula plus many areas around the Mediterranean. Rome is bursting with a wealth of fantastic museums, ancient monuments, spectacular cathedrals, gourmet restaurants, beautiful boutiques, colorful piazzas, whimsical fountains, inspiring statues, theater, and opera—the city itself is virtually a museum. You cannot possibly savor it all. Either before you leave home or once you arrive in Italy, purchase a comprehensive guidebook and decide what is top priority for your special interests. There are many stalls along the streets as well as bookstores throughout Rome where guidebooks are available and every hotel has brochures that tell about sightseeing tours. If there are several in your party, a private guide might be money well spent since he will custom-tailor your sightseeing—with a private guide you squeeze much more sightseeing into a short period of time. To even begin to do justice to Rome’s many wonders, this entire book would need to be devoted to its sightseeing possibilities. However, we cannot resist mentioning a few places you must see.You must see the Vatican City which includes in its complex St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. The original construction was begun in the 4^th century by Emperor Constantine over the site of St. Peter’s tomb. In 1447 Pope Nicolas V began plans for the new cathedral, which took over 100 years to build. It is no wonder the complex is so utterly breathtaking—all of Italy’s greatest Renaissance artists were called upon to add their talents—Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Sangallo, to name just a few.The Vatican is a miniature nation tucked within the city of Rome. It is ruled by the Pope, has its own flags, issues its own postage stamps, has its own anthem, mints its own coins, and even has its own police force—the Swiss Guard who still wear the uniform designed by Michelangelo.Fronting the cathedral is the Piazza San Pietro, a breathtaking square designed by Bernini. It is so large that it can hold 400,000 people (making the square a favorite place for the Pope to address large audiences). A double semicircle of columns encloses the square, so perfectly designed that the columns fade into each other, giving the illusion that there is a single row. In the center of the square is a towering ancient Egyptian obelisk—adorned, of course, by a Christian cross. As you stand at a distance, the Piazza San Pietro forms a visual frame for the cathedral.To fully appreciate all the Vatican City has to offer, you could easily spend two days, one in St. Peter’s Basilica and one day in the Vatican museums. The Basilica is like a museum. Not only is the structure magnificent, but the vast collection of works of art inside are almost unbelievable: imagine gazing at such masterpieces as the Pietà (the ethereal sculpture of Mary holding Jesus in her arms after the crucifixion, carved by Michelangelo when he was only 25) and the Baldaccchino, the bronze canopy over the papal altar created by another master, Bernini. Also, be aware when you gaze up at the double-columned dome, that this too was designed by Michelangelo. The Sistine Chapel alone is well worth a trip to Rome. Savor the breathtaking beauty of its ceiling painted by Michelangelo. In addition to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican museums, the gardens and the rest of the Vatican can be visited, but only on guided tours. If you are interested, inquire at the Ufficio Informazioni Pellegrini et Turisti in St. Peter’s Square. NOTE: The Vatican museums are closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month when they are open free of charge. Vatican City, as spectacular as it is, is just one small part of what Rome has to offer. You must see the gigantic Colosseum, the entertainment center for the citizens of ancient Rome. Here 50,000 people gathered to be entertained by flamboyant spectacles that included gladiatorial contests, races, games, and contests where Christian martyrs fought against wild beasts.Another landmark is the Forum. It is difficult to make out much of this site because it is mostly in ruins, but at one time this was the heart of Rome. Once filled with elegant palaces, government buildings, and shops, it teemed with people from throughout the known world. My favorite building in Rome is the Pantheon. It is difficult to imagine that this perfectly preserved jewel of a temple dates back to 27 B.C. Step beyond the heavy bronze doors which open into a relatively small, beautifully proportioned room lit only by light streaming in from an opening in the top of the dome. No trip to Rome would be complete without a stroll down the Via Veneto, lined by fancy hotels and luxury boutiques. There are also many outdoor restaurants where a cup of coffee costs almost as much as a meal in a simple trattoria. However, along with your coffee, you are paying the price for the fun of people watching along one of Rome’s most elite avenues. While walking the back streets of Rome, you find many picturesque squares, usually enhanced by a fountain adorned with magnificent sculptures. Especially popular is the Trevi Fountain into which tourists go to throw a coin—assuring that they will return to Rome. Rome has many festivals including the Festa de Noantri (Our Festival), which starts on the third Sunday in July. It takes place in Trastevere, which is transformed into the venue of a village fair with stalls, open-air taverns, band music, and theatrical shows throughout the entire neighborhood. The event is wrapped up with fireworks over the River Tiber.The Spanish Steps is definitely a landmark of Rome. Topped by the twin spires of the Church of the Trinity of the Mountains, the wide avenue of steps leads down to the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square). This large square is highlighted by the Fountain of Baraccia (Fountain of the Boat), a masterpiece by Bernini. The steps are usually crowded both with tourists who come to capture the moment on film and vendors who lay out their wares to sell.Leading from the Piazza di Spagna, the Via Condotti is an avenue lined by shops and boutiques selling the finest of merchandise. Branching off the Via Condotti are the narrow lanes of Old Rome, again featuring exquisite small boutiques.When you are ready to relax, walk to the Villa Borghese, a splendid large park in the center of Rome that originated in the 17^th century as the private gardens of the Borghese family. Stroll through the park watching the children at play. If you are not saturated with sightseeing, there are many museums to see in the park. One of the loveliest is the Museo di Villa Giulia, a museum in a pretty villa that features artifacts from the Etruscan era.