Travel Article: Best of Rome

Rooftops of Rome's Historic Centre¹

�All roads lead to Rome.� The famous quote by Jean de la Fontaine has some truth in it.

Antiquity and modernity, barbarity and artistry, faith and food all converge in Rome, Italy. Where else can one witness a modern-day Ferrari zooming by the 2,000 year-old Colosseum? Or observe as many visitors making religious pilgrimages as those committing sins like gluttony over mouth-watering cuisine and wine? Where else can one sense the embodiments of Michelangelo and Caravaggio whilst being surrounded by a vibrant, contemporary, 21st-century energy?

Rome and its many faces draw millions of tourists to its streets every year and a mind-boggling number of sites�each as impressive as the next�bear witness to its position as the Eternal City. Following are some of Rome's best historical and cultural attractions.

BEST OF HISTORIC ROME

Rome wasn�t built in a day. Nor a year, nor a century. From the Roman Empire to the Renaissance period, history defines Rome. The city is the very essence of the word and, for many, the central reason to visit. Its past isn�t tucked away in museums or galleries or libraries; Rome�s history is front and centre.

Best Architecture


	Roman Colosseum at Night²

The Pantheon is without equal. Its age is compelling, its architecture spellbinding. The structure is nearly 2,000 years old and has been in continuous use since its inception, making it one of the best preserved buildings of its kind. And few buildings have been as influential in Western architecture as the Pantheon�the great dome with its open-air oculus and precise measurements, 43 m (142 ft) high by 43 m (142 ft) in diameter, is considered an architectural marvel.

While visitors must step inside the Pantheon to witness its greatness, one only needs to look up from any number of streets in Rome�s centro historico to be awe-struck by the Roman Colosseum. An iconic symbol of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum was built in the first century and continues to be an engineering wonder two millennia later. It was here, in front of 50,000 spectators, that gladiators fought for their lives as entertainment and today the ruin remains as standing proof of both Roman grandeur and brutality.

Best Art
Art is everywhere in Rome, as are fountains. In the Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain) the two come together. Designed by Bernini in the 1600s and completed by Salvi over 100 years later, the esteemed fountain is more than an elaborate sculpture, more than the water that pours forth from Rome�s ancient aqueduct. Dominating the tiny Trevi Square, Neptune and his chariot of sea horses come to life in an evocative masterpiece of raw rock, commanding statues and mesmerizing movement.


Ruins of the Roman Forum³

Raphael, Botticelli and Michelangelo also left their fingerprints across the city, but nowhere more famously than the Sistine Chapel. Part of the Vatican, the papal conclave�in which cardinals are locked to elect a pope�is adorned with Renaissance frescos, the most famous of which is the enchanting ceiling where Michelangelo laboured for four years on high scaffolding to paint over 300 figures.

Best Historic Site
A short walk from the Colosseum lie the ruins of what was the heart of ancient Rome. The Roman Forum dates to the seventh century BC and today appears a dusty, sprawling outdoor archaeological dig of fallen monuments, palace remains, intact temple columns and orange trees. But it was here that Roman civilization began: where the senate convened; where the people of Rome gathered for justice, faith and commerce; and from where the city governed lands as far away as Great Britain, Iran and Egypt. The captivating landscape speaks quietly of the ancient apex of Western civilization.

Best Religious Site
Rome�s visitors number in the millions but many come solely to see the city within the city: the Vatican. Home of the Pope and head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City draws pilgrims from around the world. The walled enclave is a sovereign city-state and is as imposing as it is unique.

Pilgrims cannot help but stand in awe inside St. Peter�s Basilica, which was built in the 16th century on the burial site of the famous disciple and involved all the great Renaissance artists and architects in its design. Visitors cannot help but marvel at the four colonnades of St. Peter�s Square�which appear as a single row when standing on one of two marble disks in the piazza�or be enthralled by the immense display of art in the Vatican Museums, of which the aforementioned Sistine Chapel is just a part.

BEST OF CULTURAL ROME


	Gelato Stand outside a Roman Pasticceria⁴

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. For visitors wishing to follow the old maxim, doing as Romans do is an effortless challenge. Strolling, socializing, eating and shopping, 21st-century Romans have inherited a leisurely way of life from their city�s ancient inhabitants and the city is adorned with innumerable squares, sidewalk cafes, markets and shops.

Best Public Space
Romans love their plazas. When the workday ends, the city�s residents spill out of shops and businesses to socialize in the many public squares, one of which is the popular Piazza Navona. Alive with outdoor cafes, nightclubs and street artists�above them character houses with wrought-iron balconies�Navona is the epitome of a bustling Roman street scene. Adding to the perfection is Bernini�s impressive Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers) and Borromini�s dramatic Sant'Agnese Church.

Best Food
In much the same way as history is inextricably linked with Rome, so is its food�and gelato is a national institution. Visitors can feast on mouth-watering pastas and pizzas at trattorias and ristorantes across the city or savour Italy�s excellent wines over lunch and dinner but doing as Romans do demands a stop�or two, or ten�at Rome�s gelaterias. The delicious dessert has become trendy throughout Western cities but where better to enjoy it than where the sweet stuff originated.

Coffee plays an even bigger part in Roman lives than gelato and practically every street corner is graced with a caf�-bar . And it is with coffee that most foreigners already use Italian in their daily lives: espresso, cappuccino, macchiato and latte. However, when in Rome, it is common to enjoy caff� standing at the bar (as it is customary to pay more when seated) and cappuccinos�considered breakfast drinks�are rarely ordered after midday.


Via Condotti from the Spanish Steps⁵

Best Shopping
Markets are a fundamental structure of local life and the Campo de� Fiori is reputedly the city�s oldest. Held every morning (excluding Sundays) in the piazza by the same name, the bustling open-air market boasts a splendid display of flowers, fruits, vegetables and fish. Surrounded by superb bakeries, delicatessens and wine cellars, the colourful market is a snapshot of quintessential Rome and the perfect place to shop, people-watch or even photograph.

Where the Campo de� Fiori�s pride is food, Via Condotti�s is high fashion. Home to top designers such as Armani, Cartier and Hermes, the street is arguably one of the richest in Italy. It begins at the famous Spanish Steps and runs parallel to Via Frattina and Via Borgognona, both of which also star upscale fashion houses and boutiques. All three end at Via del Corso, a large, partly-pedestrian street that is lined with chain store names and runs directly through Rome's historical centre. The Corso�as it�s locally known�buzzes with young, hip Romans and has been an important thoroughfare since Classical times, giving genuine meaning to Rome�s epithet�the Eternal City.

If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these great WorldWeb.com articles:
� Rome�History's Greatest Witness
� Rome's Top 10 Fountains

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Rooftops of Rome's Historic Centre; Rome, Lazio, Italy

Roman Colosseum at Night; Rome, Lazio, Italy

Ruins of the Roman Forum; Rome, Lazio, Italy

Gelato Stand outside a Roman Pasticceria; Rome, Lazio, Italy

Via Condotti from the Spanish Steps; Rome, Lazio, Italy

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Best of Rome