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When in Rome
Walking around Rome is like walking around a living museum. Every corner you turn there is another breathtaking piece of ancient architecture, beautiful church or peaceful piazza to lose yourself in.
With an undeniably justified reputation for being a vibrant and chaotic city, Rome is truly an awesome place to visit. Founded in 753BC, the city has over 2,000 years worth of history strewn across its streets. From remnants of the Roman era to more recent architecture, its history is literally before the visitor's eyes.
One cannot think of Rome without picturing the Colosseum. Perhaps Rome's most awe-inspiring monument, the Colosseum hosted gladiatorial contests and spectacular shows for the highest members of Roman society. Just a stone's throw away is the Forum, a testament to the power that the Roman Empire once had over the world. Government buildings and temples lie in ruins next to the palaces of Roman emperors on the leafy slopes of the Palatine Hill.
But history and remnants of power are not all that permeate the city. Religious buildings feature in almost every piazza, with St Peter's Church well worth a visit from spiritual tourists as well as those who will simply appreciate the awesome size and beauty of the architecture. A tiring but rewarding climb to the dome will afford visitors with a spectacular view of the city. Although a separate state, the Vatican City with its museums and Sistine Chapel, is a must for all visitors to Rome.
Laid out in distinct blocks, the city centre is easy to navigate on foot. Tourists can easily wander from the historical streets of the centro storico to the elegant shopping district on and around Via del Corso. Those with a taste for fine clothes and a pay-packet to match will love the designer shops and elegant tea shops that lie down the side streets.
For romantics the city is a treasure-trove. Horse-driven carriages will take couples around what is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. For those whose wallets may not stretch to a carriage ride, simply wandering around on foot along the banks of the Tiber is a fantastic way to relax and soak up the city's ambience.
The Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain are some of Italy's most famous and well-known landmarks and are just a few minutes walk from each other. Sitting on the Spanish Steps as the sun sets over Rome alongside Roman residents and fellow tourists provides a lively and beautiful view of the city.
Although there are numerous museums, churches and galleries to visit, finding a cafe in one of the numerous piazzas and watching the world go by is a definite must. Piazza Navona, Rome's most famous square, is lined with cafes and restaurants and is almost always full of tourists and street performers. After a hard day's walk around the city's sites, an evening relaxing to the music of street performers while the majestic churches are lit up around you is a fantastic and memorable way to end the day.
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Introduction
