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Rome is the biggest open-air museum of the world. It’s been named ’la città eterna’ (the eternal city) due to the fact that it’s been one of the focal points of European civilization for more than two millennia. Being the centre of a global empire under the Ancient Romans and then the capital of the Catholic Church State has turned it into a multi-layered deposit of all kinds of works of art, monuments and ancient buildings.

The complete guide to the city and the surrounding areas has the size of a phone book, and you could live in Rome for years and still keep finding new, interesting things to see. In the Vatican State only (which is the smallest independent State of the world, enclosed in Rome and ruled by the Pope), the Vatican Museums have a collection of ancient sculptures that is second to none (although they are often crammed in a small space), the Sistine Chapel is one of the most beautiful frescoed ceilings of the world (by Michelangelo), and is preceded by rooms frescoed by none less than Raffaello.

It can be difficult to see a lot in a little time, though. Given the fact that the city is often flooded by tourists, is Italy’s capital and the centre of all activities in the surrounding region of Lazio, that the city plan is rather medieval and that there are few underground lines (it is very difficult to dig underground in Rome without finding remains of the Ancient Roman past), and also that the city is full of ’Romani’, who are not the most disciplined people on earth, going around can be a bit difficult. But arm yourself with patience, and you can discover a city where every street has its charm, hundreds of churches are filled with beautiful frescos, and the sight from the top of the seven hills is breathtaking.