Rome

Built, according to legend by Romulus on seven hills, Rome is a fascinating place that is impossible to do justice to on a brief visit. There are a staggering number of things to see and all of them seem to rate as 'must see'. Rome is also the capital of modern Italy with all the trappings attendant to this. It is crowded, the traffic is insane and the pickpockets work the tourist crowds. All this against the backdrop of Rome's historical legacy makes it a truly unique place.

So, What did the Romans do for Us?

Ancient Rome

Relics of the once great ancient city are still in evidence. The two most impressive and complete are the Coliseum and the Pantheon.

The Coliseum was where the great and terrible 'games' were held. Even now, it is not difficult to imagine the sheer scale of the enterprise. It is essentially a stadium. It took only 8 years of building before it was first used, although several more to finally complete. When completed it is estimated to have held 70,000 people, most of whom were seated.

As an architectural feat, one of the wonders of the world is the Pantheon. Originally it was a Roman Temple; later used as a Christian site and even now it is the burial place of two Italian Kings placed there after unification. The reason it is still architecturally revered is because of its domed roof, which seems to be unsupported across its vast arc.

The old Roman Forum has been so mistreated over the years it is a little disappointing as a monument. However, go there and bear in mind that this was once the centre of the greatest Empire the world had seen. Also bear in mind that this ancient world still has importance and meaning for us today and it is hard not to come away at least a little impressed. Ancient Rome can be observed in varying states of disrepair all across the city to list them all would take ages but other highlights include Capitoline Hill, Castel Sant Angelo and the Temple of Castor and Pollux.

Rome is still the centre of the Roman Catholic world and nowhere is this more apparent than in the Vatican City. Whilst there visit the vast St Peters Square (where the crowds gather to be addressed by the Pope) and St Peters Basilica. The Basilica is also huge and vividly decorated. Examples of the work of many great Italian artists, notably Michelangelo, can be seen inside this famed church.

On the same site are also the Vatican Museums and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. This you must see. The fact that Michelangelo gave so much of himself to paint the chapel is awe inspiring enough but the splendour of what he produced is undiminished by the passage of time.

For a change of tone visit the Keats-Shelley Memorial House which is a repository of the work of Keats and his fellow 'Romantic' cohorts namely the Shelleys and Byron. Whilst visiting here its impossible to miss the Spanish Steps which sweep majestically down by the house. The Spanish Steps are very much a place to see and be seen for trendy young Romans.

The Capitoline Museums are worth a visit. One museum - Palazzo Nuovo - contains works from the ancient world, both Greek and Roman. The other museum - Palazzo dei Conservatori - which contains work of a more varied nature, some ancient statuary but also, works by Caravaggio, VanDyck, Tintoretto and Bernini.

Other notable museums include the Palazzo Altemps and the Palazzo Massimo. The Palazzo Barberini is a classical Baroque building that houses a collection of mostly Italian art from the early renaissance to the late Baroque period.

Rome is richly strewn with churches, museums and galleries all of whom give their own rewards to the inquisitive traveller. There are so many it is impossible to do justice to them all so don't try. Do what you can according to the time available but do it well.