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Rome city guide

According to a legend, Rome was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus on 21 April, 753 BC. When capital of the Roman Empire from 27BC onwards, the city was one of the richest and largest in the world, with a population of over one million.

Cosmopolitan
During the reign of Emperor Constantine (306-324BC), the Bishop of Rome gained political as well as religious importance, eventually becoming known as the Pope and establishing Rome as the centre of the Catholic Church, a seat it still holds to this day in controlling the Vatican City as its sovereign territory. Today, Rome is a cosmopolitan city and one of most visited tourist destinations in Europe due to its ancient history and mix of Roman, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. The historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Getting there
Rome is served by two airports: Leonardo da Vinci, better known as Fiumicino, and Ciampino. Fiumicino is Italy's largest airport and has its own train station where passengers can be transported to the city's main station, Termini, in around 30 minutes. The airport is around 22 miles from central Rome. Ciampino has no direct train service although shuttle buses do run to Termini on a regular basis. Regular services run from Termini to all major Italian cities as well as to Paris, Munich, Geneva and Basel. The city's two metro lines (A&B) also intersect here and outside the front of the station, in the Piazza Cinquecento, is a major bus station.

What to see
Rome offers a wealth of different attractions. The Forum, the central area around which ancient Roman civilisation developed, houses some of the oldest structures of the ancient city, while the Colosseum – the largest amphitheatre built in the Roman Empire – is one of the city's defining symbols. Staying with Roman architecture, the Pantheon was built as a temple to the gods of ancient Rome. Across the River Tiber is St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City, the home of the Catholic Church and the Vatican museums, including the Raphael Stanze and the Sistine Chapel. Alternatively, the Spanish steps and the Trevi Fountain are also worth a visit.

Where to relax
Visitors to Rome are simply spoiled for choice for places to while away the hours. The city's Villa Borghese park houses several museums and is a great place for a walk, while the Giardino degli Aranci (Garden of Oranges) offers a sensational view of the city. The Testaccio, Trastevere and Campo de' Fiori districts are great hang-outs for those wishing to wine, dine and possibly take in a club while bargain hunters would be wise to do as the Romans do and head to the flea market at the Porta Portese on a Sunday morning.

When in Rome...
One must visit the Colosseum as well as going to the Trevi Fountain to toss a coin into the water and buy an authentic Italian ice cream from one of the many sellers dotted near by.