Capital of faith and civilization, Rome is the hometown of western culture, where past and present join together in perfect twins. This so called “Eternal City” provides the most spectacular background for history and passion in the whole world. This so called “city of the seven hills” has been attracting visitors for two millennia and it is still one of the most exciting and romantic destinations worldwide.
From village to Empire – a city fated to sparkle
The city of Rome grew from a small Italian village in the 9th century BC into the center of a vast civilization that dominated the Mediterranean region for centuries and eventually became the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. As the pre-eminent republic of the Italian peninsula in the 3rd century BC, the city began to expand in all directions, making place to the Roman Empire; but it soon was a matter of keeping this Empire together as barbarians began to migrate westward its frontiers in a context of internal power struggles. The next 300 years were chaotic and traumatic, as men fought to gain the throne and barbarian tribes were swarming into the Empire. Slowly the Empire began to break up as barbarians fixed kingdoms for themselves from parts of Roman provinces; that’s why the Emperor Diocletian split the Empire in half; the two halves were theoretically equals, but more and more they drifted apart. Finally, in 476 AD the German leader Odoacer took control of Rome, ending the western Empire. In the east, the Empire lived on, morphing into the Byzantine Empire, which continued until the 15th century when it became a centre of the Italian Renaissance.
Discover Rome in a warm touch
Rome is a city you can visit at any time of the year, some times of the year though are better than others. The Italian capital is at its most attractive in spring, when the weather is much better and far more comfortable for sightseeing. In May, June, September the days are usually warm and much less humid. Probably the best time to visit is during April, outside of the Easter period, and October when the city is quieter, less busy with tourists, and the weather can still be mild and warm.
City’s call
As for the main cultural event not to miss if you get this summer in Rome, “The Musical Festival of the Nation” (Festival Musicale delle Nazioni) is one of the main attractions for tourist all around the world; it presents international performers and offers a varied repertoire, from solo recitals and chamber music to polyphonic choirs. The festival takes place in the Archeological Park, starting with the 4th of June till September 30th beeing hosted by The Teatro di Marcelo. The Musical Festival “Notti Romane al Teatro di Marcello” has been very successful in the past years: it got together more shows, music and ancient latin and greek poetry in an area where, 20 centuries ago, games and plays were performed. The festival is part of the international organization of the Estate Romana (roman summer) and is sponsored not only by the City of Rome, but also by the most important embassies in Rome, various prestigious cultural centres, academies, music schools and conservatoires.
If you choose to keep in line with theatre, the “International Urban Theatre Festival” should be your next stop beginning with the 1st and till the 3rd of September. The acting representations invade streets in Rome, looking to transform town streets into theatre spaces. The agenda of the festival organizers is to salvage the theatre and combat indifference with surprise "guerilla tactics". The various events take place in set locations all over the city, on street corners and in other casual urban sites.
Many of the city’s fascinating attractions are a part of its every day life, and you might stumble across them while looking for something else. City’s first must see is the great amphitheatre of the Colosseum, Rome’s most famous monument. Gladiator combats, between men, between animals, between men and animals, and even between ships, were staged in front of up to 50,000 spectators. No other monument suggests the majesty of ancient Rome as well as this ancient temple. The Pantheon, built in 27 B.C by Marcus Agrippa is the city’s, possibly even the world’s, best conserved ancient building because it looks more like 200 years old, than 2,000. The secret of its successful maintenance may be that it was used as a Christian church from 608 A.D. An architectural marvel, its dome is exactly as wide as it is high, supported by pillars veiled in the walls.
The tiny city of Vatican, Saint Peters Basilica and Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are also highlights that will charm you when going to Rome. Rome has a great diversity of shopping streets and vivid markets, most of which are in the city centre. Many of the shopping areas have been pedestrianized and, as yet, the city hasn’t been infested with department stalls or the international chain stores that characterize most European city centers.
Effectively mesmerizing, Rome is still the “dolce vita” capital of Italy. From the marvels of antiquity to avant-garde culture via creative Mediterranean cuisine, Rome will enjoy all your 5 senses.
<b>Laurent Fabier</b> is well known as a partner editor for <a href="http://www.planigo.com">online reservation services</a>, a true expert of travel anyware in Europe (this time it's about <a href="http://rome-hotels-italy.planigo.com/">Rome Hotels</a>). His experience ranges from important contributions in written media to news or <a href="http://www.magvoyage.com">online travel magazines</a>.
Disclaimer: The information presented and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of ArticlePros.com and/or its partners.
