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The Metropolitan City of Rome is the largest by area in Italy. At 5,352 km 2 (2,066 sq mi), its dimensions are comparable to the region of Liguria. Moreover, the city is also the capital of the Lazio region. Rome is the national capital of Italy and is the seat of the Italian Government.
Plan your trip to Rome with this comprehensive guide that covers the city's history, attractions, transportation, and more. Find the best deals on hotels, tours, activities, and day trips to explore the Eternal City and its surroundings.
Rome, Italy. It’s easy to see why Rome’s one of the most-visited places on the planet: There’s history everywhere (the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the list goes on), sculptural masterpieces in almost every piazza, and—of course—ridiculously good food. Every trip could feel like a whirlwind, but slow down and you’ll discover lots of surprises.
- Overview
- Character of the city
Rome, historic city and capital of Roma provincia (province), of Lazio regione (region), and of the country of Italy. Rome is located in the central portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber River about 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Once the capital of an ancient republic and empire whose armies and polity defined the Wester...
For well over a millennium, Rome controlled the destiny of all civilization known to Europe, but then it fell into dissolution and disrepair. Physically mutilated, economically paralyzed, politically senile, and militarily impotent by the late Middle Ages, Rome nevertheless remained a world power—as an idea. The force of Rome the lawgiver, teacher, and builder continued to radiate throughout Europe. Although the situation of the popes from the 6th to the 15th century was often precarious, Rome knew glory as the fountainhead of Christianity and eventually won back its power and wealth and reestablished itself as a place of beauty, a source of learning, and a capital of the arts.
Rome’s contemporary history reflects the long-standing tension between the spiritual power of the papacy and the political power of the Italian state capital. Rome was the last city-state to become part of a unified Italy, and it did so only under duress, after the invasion of Italian troops in 1870. The pope took refuge in the Vatican thereafter. Rome was made the capital of Italy (not without protests from Florence, which had been the capital since 1865), and the new state filled the city with ministries and barracks. Yet the Catholic church continued to reject Italian authority until a compromise was reached with Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in 1929, when both Italy and Vatican City recognized the sovereignty of the other. Mussolini, meanwhile, created a cult of personality that challenged that of the pope himself, and his Fascist Party tried to re-create the glories of Rome’s imperial past through a massive public works program.
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- Lose yourself in Ancient Rome (but not all in one day) Any Italian will tell you how downright anarchic Rome is and immediately after, every one of them will say, “but Rome is Rome.”
- Learn the subtle art of the aperitivo. Don’t call it happy hour, because the aperitivo is so much more than a discount drink after a day at the office.
- Spend a day in the Vatican City. Whether you go as a tourist or a pilgrim, the impact of seeing the Vatican for the first time is hard to overstate. From the outside, this half-kilometer-square city-state is dwarfed by the imposing dome of St Peter’s Basilica and framed by the long embrace of Bernini’s square: this alone is enough to make it worth the trip, but once you step inside the Vatican buildings you cannot help but be taken aback.
- Work your way through Rome’s museums. Although the Vatican Museums are amongst the largest in the world, they are far from the only ones to visit in Rome.
Jun 18, 2024 · Rome is the most popular tourist destination in Italy. People from around the world travel here to see the Colosseum, stroll through the historic heart of Rome, and tour the Vatican, all which top the best things to do in Rome list. Located within Rome is Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.
Piazza Navona. Centro Storico. With its showy fountains, baroque palazzi and colorful cast of street artists, hawkers and tourists, Piazza Navona is central Rome’s elegant showcase…. View more attractions.
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The most venerable and polished of the tour-and-activity sites. - BBC
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