A Traveler's Guide to Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the fourth largest city in Europe behind London, Berlin, and Madrid. It is one of the oldest and most historical cities in all of Europe. As such, millions of visitors have made the trip to Rome to experience it for themselves. Rome is one of the most heavily visited cities in the whole world.

Rome's history goes back millennia. It's rumored that two brothers named Romulus and Remus founded the city in its current location. Whether or not that legend is true, the city does have a rich past. For centuries Rome was the heart of the Mediterranean. The Roman Empire spread from Spain in the West, to England in the North, to Africa in the South, and to Palestine in the East. Few empires have ruled the world in the way that the Roman Empire did, and few empires have contributed as much to western thought and culture as Rome has.

Rome is situated not far from the Mediterranean Sea, which acts as a moderating influence on the weather of the city. Winters in Rome are usually mild with temperatures rarely dropping below freezing, and summer temperatures are enjoyable, rarely exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are probably more historical sites to see in Rome than in any other European city. By far the most popular tourist destination is the mighty Coliseum. The Roman gladiators fought for the entertainment of the crowd in this centuries old structure. In the middle ages the stones of the Coliseum were scavenged to build churches, but most of the structure still stands.

The Roman Forum, seat of Roman government, is another popular tourist spot. Although many structures are gone, the skeleton of Rome's seat of imperial power is still visible in spots and can be toured. Rome is also famous for its fountains, the most famous of which is Trevi Fountain. According to a Roman legend, if you toss a coin into Trevi Fountain you will return to Rome one day. Millions of tourists have put the legend to the test.

As with most Europeans, Romans love their football. The city's two clubs A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio are bitter rivals and compete in Serie A football in Italy. The city of Rome is serviced by Leonardo DaVinci International Airport.