Rome is a 

huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife

and accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.
Rome (Italian: Roma), the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy and of
the Lazio region. It is famous for being the home of the ancient Roman Empire, the Seven
Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome, as
a millennia-long center of power, culture (having been the cradle of one of the globe's greatest
civilisations ever) and religion, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its roughly 2800
years of existence.
The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With wonderful palaces,
thousand-year-old churches, grand Romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and
graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan
atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and
beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping
heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world (some of Italy's oldest jewelry
and clothing establishments were founded in the city).
With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a "global city".

Central Rome[edit]
Rome can be divided into several districts: the so-called historical centre is quite small - only
around 4% of the city area - but it's the place in which most of the tourist attraction are located.
Districts are explained below:

Rome's central districts

Modern Centre
Where many of the hotels are, as well as shopping and dining galore along the via Veneto; home to the areas
around the Quirinal, Trevi fountain, piazza Barberini, Castro Pretorio and piazza della Repubblica.

Old Rome
The Renaissance-era centre of the city, with beautiful squares, cathedrals, the Pantheon, and plenty of laid-
back dining; includes piazza Navona, piazza Campo de' Fiori, and the (former) Jewish Ghetto.

Vatican
The independent Vatican City and its endless treasure troves of sights, relics and the Vatican Museums - as
well as the surrounding Italian districts of Borgo, Prati and Monte Mario.

Colosseo
The heart of ancient Rome, the Colosseum, the Imperial Fora and the Markets of Trajan, the Capitoline hill
and its museums.

North Centre
Situated in the northern part of Rome, it is home to the Villa Borghese, the Spanish Steps, and the elegant
districts of Parioli and Salario.

Trastevere
The charming district south of the Vatican, on the west bank of the Tiber, full of narrow cobbled streets and
lonely squares that served as the inspiration for artists such as Giorgio de Chirico. Now arguably the centre of
Rome's artistic life.

Aventino-Testaccio
Off-the-beaten-path districts of Rome with plenty of surprises waiting for interested travellers, as well as
some truly great food.

Esquilino-San Giovanni
South of Termini, with an indoor market, piazza Vittorio Emanuele II and the Cathedral of Rome - Saint John
in Lateran.

Nomentano
The districts "behind" the train station. Vibrant night life in San Lorenzo.

Outskirts[edit]
North
The vast suburban areas to the north of the centre

South
Home to the Appian Way park, several catacombs, Fascist monumental architecture in the EUR district and
extensive suburbs.

Ostia
A Roman district (not a separate town!) with a view to the sea and several beach resorts. Home to the ruins
of Ostia antica, ancient Rome's harbour.
Understand[edit]

The Pantheon

Situated on the river Tiber, between the Apennine mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal
City" was once the administrative centre of the mighty Roman Empire, ruling over a vast territory that
stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, the city is the seat of the Italian
government and home to numerous ministerial offices. Rome has 2.6 million inhabitants while its
metropolitan area is home to around 4.2 million.
Architecturally and culturally, Rome has some contrasts - you have areas with pompously huge
majestic palaces, avenues and basilicas which are then surrounded by tiny alleyways, little churches
and old houses; you may also find yourself walking from a grand palace and tree-lined elegant
boulevard, into a small and cramped Medieval-like street.
The abbreviation "S.P.Q.R" - short for the old motto of the Roman Republic Senatus Populusque
Romanus ("The Senate and People of Rome") - is ubiquitous in Rome, being also that of Rome's city
council; a humorous variation is "Sono pazzi questi romani" (these Romans are crazy).
For two weeks in August, many of Rome's inhabitants used to shut up shop and go on their own
vacations; today, however, things have changed - many shops and restaurants (especially those
located in the historical centre that cater to tourists) are open in summer. On the other hand, the
ones located in residential areas do close. The temperature in the city at this time of year is not
particularly pleasant: if you do travel to Rome at this time, you might see chiuso per ferie (closed for
holidays) signs on many establishments. Even in these weeks the city is very beautiful and you will
always be able to find somewhere to eat.

Climate[edit]

A
Climat Ja Fe M A M Ju Ju S Oc No De
u
e n b ar pr ay n l
g
ep t v c

High 11 13 15 17 22 26 30 30 26 21. 15. 12

(°C) .9 .0 .2 .7 .8 .9 .3 .6 .5 4 9 .6

Low (°C) 3. 3. 5. 7. 11 15 18 18 15 11. 6.9 4.

 1 5 2 5 .6 .3 .0 .3 .2 3 2

Precipita 6. 7. 5. 8. 5. 3. 1. 3. 7. 11. 11. 8.

tion (cm) 69 33 78 05 28 40 92 68 33 33 54 10

Rome, Italy - Weather forecast

Spring is a relatively mild and rainy season. The temperatures remain cool until mid-April. In May the
first warmer days arrive but the seabreeze keeps it cool.
Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny. Clear days are the norm especially in July and
August. On hot days the temperature touches easily 34/35 °C, and every year it reaches for a few
days 37/38 °C. It goes better on the Roman coast, where the daytime temperature can be a few
degrees lower than in the city center.
Autumn, from September to November, is mild and humid, with sunny days alternating with periods
of cloudy skies and rain, which gradually becomes more frequent. There's no shortage of sunny
days, at least in the first part; in October the nice and almost summer-like days are frequent
especially in the first half of the month. In November, the rains are frequent and the temperature
decreases fairly rapidly: at the beginning of the month the temperature is often very mild, while at the
end of the month, the weather is often similar to that of winter.
Winter, from December to February, is quite mild, given that the average temperature in January is
about 7.5 °C. There's no shortage of sunny days, which can be mild, but it often gets cold at night,
with lows around freezing or slightly above. Cloudy periods, accompanied by wind and rain, are
milder, especially at night, because of the wind from the south, and cloud cover which is able to
prevent nocturnal cooling. In early December, an autumn-like weather can still prevail, and abundant
rainfall. In the second half of February, in some years you can already see the first spring-like days.

History[edit]

Roman Forum
The artsy piazza Navona.

The Vittoriano, a symbol of a united Italy.

The Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy.

Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, which have seen its transformation from a
small Latin village to the centre of a vast empire, through the founding of Catholicism, and into the
capital of today's Italy. This is a long and complex topic; what follows is merely a quick summary.
Rome is traditionally said to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus (the
sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia) on 21 April 753 BC. The twins were abandoned as infants in the Tiber
river and raised by a she-wolf (Lupa) before being found by a shepherd (Faustulus), who raised
them as his own sons.
Actually, Rome was founded as a small village on top of the Palatine Hill (including the area where
the Roman Forum is found) sometime in the 8th century BC; due to the village's position at a ford on
the Tiber river, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade. The settlement developed into the
capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of
the Roman Republic in 509BC and then the centre of the Roman Empire from 27BC to 285AD. For
almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western world,
with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Western
Roman Empire in 476AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth. Beginning with the
reign of Constantine I (306-337), the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and
religious importance, establishing the city as the centre of the Catholic Church. The city was
sacked by the barbarians, first in 410 and again in 455; after the fall of the Western Roman Empire
in AD 476 the city withstood a siege by the Ostrogoths in AD 537 and a Saracen raid in AD 846,
followed by its capture by the Normans in 1084.
During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the
capital of the newly formed Papal States; Charlemagne, for example, was crowned Emperor at Saint
Peter's in 800. Throughout the Middle Ages, most of the city's ancient monuments fell in disrepair
and were gradually stripped of their precious statues, ornaments and materials; these were either
recycled in other constructions or, as in the case of marble, baked in order to obtain mortar for new
buildings... meanwhile, the ancient Fora became nothing more but pasture land. However, Rome not
only was a major pilgrimage site but was also the focus of struggles between Roman nobles and,
most importantly, between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy. In 1309 The Pope left Rome for
Avignon, at the request of the King of France, and the city plunged into chaos; despite it being
formally under the authority of the Pontiff, nobles ruled it as they pleased and were known for
oppressing its citizens, often engaging in bloody feuds. By 1347, the populace was on the verge of
rebellion - a commoner, Cola di Rienzo, became "Tribune of the People" and promised to rule for
the good of the city; a free comune (city-state) was established, nobles were exiled and a vast
reform programme was started. However, said nobles conspired against Cola and this, along with
the Tribune's own vanity, caused his downfall in 1354.
The Santa Maria in Trastevere church, a symbol of early medieval Rome.

Following the return of the Papacy (1377) from the Avignonese captivity and with the Italian
Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant
churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel,
were constructed by the Papacy so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the
period. The city recovered quickly from the sack of 1527 and, in the following 200 years, it became
the centre of Baroque architecture; renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Bernini and Caravaggio
worked there while the new St. Peter's basilica was begun in 1506, only to be completed in 1626.
During the latter stages of the French Revolution - more precisely, in 1798 - local revolutionaries
inspired by the new ideals rose against Papal authority and a Roman Republic was declared; the
Pontiff was forced to flee and the following year troops from the Kingdom of Naples entered the city,
thus putting an end to the revolutionary movement.
Between 1805 and 1814, Rome was also occupied by Napoleonic troops.
In 1849, the population - with the aid of patriots such as Giuseppe Garibaldi and Giuseppe
Mazzini - rose against the Papal government and forced the Pontiff to flee the city and seek refuge
at Gaeta. A modern, democratic, Constitution was drafted and a new Roman Republic was
proclaimed. The Pope then requested the help of the French emperor, Napoleon III, who promptly
sent an expeditionary force: despite some initial setbacks the French troops overcame the
revolutionary forces which, after a month-long siege, attempted a desperate last stand on the
Janiculum hill. In the ensuing bloodbath, the Italian patriots - along with their foreign allies - were
crushed; Goffredo Mameli, composer of the current Italian anthem, was among the fallen. In 1860
Rome became again the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Sardinia-
Piedmont, which sought to unite the peninsula; after a series of battles, the Papal States were
stripped of all their Italian possessions except for Rome, which remained under French protection.
However, with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, the French abandoned Rome, leaving it
clear for the newly-formed Kingdom of Italy to capture on 20 September 1870. Rome became thus
the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since. The new Italian government started a huge
campaign of public works; new districts (such as Prati, or the Esquilino), monuments (the Vittoriano)
and public buildings were built, while countless Medieval and Renaissance buildings were torn down
to make way for the new street layout and the Tiber river was enclosed within its current
embankments.
Following World War I, with the rise of Fascism in 1922 Rome's face changed again: new districts
(the EUR), avenues (via della Conciliazione, via dei Fori Imperiali) and other public buildings were
built and ancient sites (such as the Fora or the Circus Maximus) were feverishly excavated; in doing
so, entire Medieval neighbourhoods were bulldozed. Population grew; this trend was halted by World
War II, which dealt (relatively minor) damage to Rome. After Italy had signed the Armistice, the city
was occupied by the Germans on 8 September 1943 despite heavy resistance from surviving units
of the Royal Italian Army aided by local partisan formations: these were crushed in a bloody battle
near Porta S. Paolo. Roman Jews were deported on 16 October and on 24 March 1944 - after 33
German soldiers were killed in a partisan attack - 335 civilians were rounded up and summarily
executed at the Fosse Ardeatine. Rome was finally liberated by Allied troops on 4 June.
With the fall of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic in 1946, Rome again began to
grow in population and became a modern city. Today's Rome is a modern, contemporary, bustling
metropolis with an ancient core that reflects the many periods of its long history - the ancient times,
the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Modern Era - standing today as the capital of Italy and as
one of the world's major tourist destinations.

Background reading[edit]
At last count there were close to 1,700 novels set in Rome in days gone by. [62] Most easily
available in bookshops are those by Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor. Both are good storytellers
and excellent at portraying life in Ancient Rome. Particularly interesting if you are visiting Rome may
be Saylor’s “Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome”, which traces the first thousand years or so of
Rome’s history by following the fictional fortunes of two families. Each chapter begins with a map
showing the state of Rome’s development at the time of the chapter.
The classic work on Ancient Rome remains Edward Gibbon’s “History of the Decline and Fall of the
Roman Empire”. This was written in 1782 but is still being reprinted. A marvellous book that covers
Rome’s fortunes from Romulus and Remus to the 1970s is “Rome: The Biography of a City” by
Christopher Hibbert (Penguin). An excellent guide book, too, although perhaps a bit too heavy to
carry around.
English-language bookshops in Rome are:

 Anglo-American Bookstore, via delle Vite, 102, also close to piazza di Spagna. A large store,
with specialist sections. Strong on non-fiction.
 The Almost Corner Bookshop, via del Moro 45, Trastevere. Small but very well-stocked store on
the other side of the river.
Some Italian bookstores also have English-language sections. Try the large selection of English
books (but also French, Spanish and more) at Feltrinelli International in via Vittorio Emanuele
Orlando - or the smaller ones in the branches at Largo Argentina or via del Corso.