`The Eternal City', the `Capitol of the World', Roma, Rome is truly one of the great cities in the world. It's designated a world heritage site by UNESCO. But, no one visiting one of the oldest cities in civilization needs to be told that they are standing in a great city. After all, you are in the place that is the cradle of Western Civilization and Christianity. You are walking on the same streets that once saw the sandaled feet of the great Roman Empire. You are in a city that has been vibrant and cosmopolitan forever. That poets, writers and filmmakers have used as a metaphor for romance. Think about Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" and the famous scene at Fontana di Trevi, The Fountain of Trevi. Rome!
So you don't have to break out your atlas, Rome is in Lazio, in the central western part of Italy. It's where the river Aniene meets up with the great Tiber River. Rome is the capitol of Italy, but has only been so for a relatively short time-since 1870. It's also Italy's largest city with a population of just under 3 million. And most of them drive and drive fast. Rome's traffic is a whole story unto itself!
Alright, you've arrived and been through the airport rigamorole. You've checked into your hotel. Now, where to start? I know there you'll probably want to see some of the great remnants of the Roman Empire, like the Anfiteatro Flavio better known as the Colisseum, or some of the great art maybe at the Pinacoteca Capitolina with its masterpieces by Tintoretto, Caravaggio and Titian. And then, there's the Vatican, and the restored Sistine Chapel! But I say those things have been there for awhile, and they'll be there tomorrow. I say to start your Roman vacation, put on some good walking shoes and take a day and just walk and take in the city. Get into the rhythm of life in one of the city's meeting places like Piazza Farnese and Piazza Navona. And then, you know me!! I'm going straight for the market. You really see the heart of the city, when you're at an Italian market! Rome has several fantastic ones, but my favorite, Campo Dei Fiori, isn't far from Piazza Navona. Or stop at one of the many outdoor trattorias for one of the local specialties: Carciofi alla Giudia and Bucatini alla Matriciana.
Where to shop? What to See? What to eat? There's so much to say about Rome. I'm going to be updating this page with some of my favorites in the days ahead.
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