General Information about Rome

Rome stands 20 metres above sea level, about twenty kilometres from the Tyrrhenian coast, in the middle of the Roman countryside where the river Tiber winds itself among the sloping hills. It is the capital of the ancient world, of Christianity and of the Italian State, a large open-air museum with its wonderful open spaces and wide-reaching views, a true metropolis with 18 "quartieri" and 22 "rioni", in continuous evolution. 6 itineraries (the Capitoline Hill, The Roman Forums, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna, the Quirinale, the Vatican) are enough to reveal the huge appeal of this city where the sites of political power, the religious architecture, the aristocratic buildings, the art galleries and local meeting places all live side by side.

The old walled centre of Rome was built in the 8th century B.C. on the Palatine Hill and from here, in the 5th century B.C., the city expanded, spreading over the Capitoline, the Quirinale, the Viminale, the Celio, the Esquilino and the Aventino hills, all within the walls built during the reign of Servio Tullius. During the reign of Emperor Augustus, the city grew as far as the banks of the Tiber and after the fire in 64 A.D., under the reign of Emperor Nero, the city’s architecture became increasingly significant (Domus Aurea, Coliseum, Terme di Tito) with wider roads, more solid buildings made in stone and more fountains. The Mediaeval period saw the building of several churches (S. Maria Maggiore, S. Maria d’Aracoeli, S. Giovanni in Laterano). During the Renaissance, the city was embellished with works by Michelangelo: the churches of St. Peter’s in the Vatican, S. Maria del Popolo, Palazzo Venezia, and the Quirinale Palace. The Baroque period was mostly characterized by the works by Borromini and Bernini and Rome began to look much like it still does today, with the church at Trinità dei Monti, Palazzo Barberini, Montecitorio, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and Piazza di Spagna.

The Capitoline Hill is a must for visitors, the citadel of ancient Rome: the Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori, now the site of the Capitoline Museum, the Renaissance-period Palazzo Venezia with the adjoined Museum in Via del Plebiscito and the Basilica of San Marco, which is full of mosaics (827-844), all look down onto the square designed by Michelangelo. A visit to the Forum takes the visitor to the remains from various periods of Roman history. In the western part of the Forum, the Settiminus Severus Arch and the eight columns from Saturn’s Temple next to the Vespasiano Temple are a must-see. The eastern part is dominated by the ruins, the ceiling and the arches from the Basilica di Costantino and the House of the Vestal Virgins. The visit continues towards the Trajan Markets from where one can look out onto Via IV Novembre from a large hall that then leads up to the upper floors, to Via Biberatica and the surrounding market places that provide a charming sight. Next to the markets, we find the Coliseum, the largest monument from ancient times, which is even more breathtaking in the evening, when it is artistically illuminated to show off the beauty of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns. From the top floor it is possible to view the Arch of Constantine, the columns and apse of the Temple Arch of Tito and the Romanesque bell tower of the Church Santa Francesca Romana. The building of this magnificent construction was begun in 72 A.D. by Vespasiano, in the same place where an artificial lake connected to the Domus Aurea was opened and inaugurated by Tito in the year 80, with games that went on for 100 days. Proceeding to the right, the visitor can view the amazing size of the Arch of Constantine which dates from 315, in memory of his victory over Massenzio. One of the main points in Roman social life is Piazza della Rotonda, full of open air cafés and restaurants, directly opposite the square’s most famous sight: the Pantheon, an example of Roman architecture from the time of the Emperor Hadrian. Inside, its treasures include the tomb of Raffaello and the beautiful dome, which is bigger than that of Saint Peter’s. One of the prettiest squares in Rome is Piazza Navona, with its elongated shape, a work of art from the Baroque period. The square plays host to the Fontana dei Fiumi that holds up the Agonal obelisk by Bernini and the Church of S’Agnese in Agone, with its concave façade by Borromoni. Palazzo Braschi, now home to the Museum of Rome also looks out onto the square. Until the 19th century, the square was filled with water for competitions, games and tournaments. The church of San Luigi dei Francesi, filled with paintings by Caravaggio and the Baroque church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, famous for its attractive dome that is the largest in Rome after St Peter’s, and that was the scene for the first act of Puccini’s opera Tosca are also well worth a visit. In Piazza Navona, which is a pedestrian area, there is always a lot going on day and night, and is full of cafés and antique shops. Another area that attracts both tourists and Romans themselves is Piazza di Spagna and the adjacent streets running off Via del Corso. This square, with its Fontana della Barcaccia, (a work of art by Bernini from the 17th century) has been a meeting point for visitors for almost three centuries. On the south side we find the Spanish steps up to Trinità dei Monti, a truly beautiful sight when filled with azaleas right up to the Baroque church at the top of the steps. From the terrace at the top, the breathtaking views reach to the river Tiber and St Peter’s. In the square below, there is also Babington’s Tea Rooms and in Via dei Condotti, which also plays host to the most exclusive shops in the area, there is the famous Caffè Greco opened in 1760, once a meeting place for foreign artists and writers. The Renaissance and Baroque works of art in the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, and the relief work on the Ara Pacis in Via di Ripetta are also beautiful.

For a great view over the city, there is no better place than the Quirinale hill, full of churches, museums and galleries, historical buildings and fountains. Walking downhill along one of the many streets that lead to unforgettable corners of Rome, the visitor comes to the Trevi Fountain, in the square with the same name, which is attached to the side of Palazzo Poli. This is the largest, the most spectacular and the most famous of the Roman fountains, with its statue of Neptune surrounded by fairytale figures and four statues representing the four seasons. From the square we can see the ancient Papal Palace, Palazzo del Quirinale, which is now the official residence of the President of the Italian Republic. There are many churches hidden away in the side streets. The itinerary in the Vatican area includes a visit to St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums. St Peter’s is the beating heart of Catholicism, a site which attracts pilgrims from all over the world. The dome, designed by Michelangelo, from where one can see the perfect symmetry of Bernini’s columns, joins together the inside areas of the Cathedral, which was built by all the great architects from the Roman Renaissance (Michelangelo) and Baroque periods.