Rome began as an Iron Age hut village, founded in the mid-8th century BC. In 616, the Romans’ sophisticated Etruscan neighbors seized power, but were ousted in 509, the inception of the Roman Republic. It conquered most of the rest of Italy, then turned its attentions overseas, and by the 1st …
The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world, with an area of less than half a square kilometer, most of it enclosed by the Vatican walls. Inside are the Vatican palace and gardens, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square, an area ruled by the Pope, supreme head of the …
The present basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City, begun by Pope Julius II in 1506 and completed in 1615 under Paul V. It is designed as a three-aisled Latin cross with Dome at the crossing, directly above the high Altar which covers the shrine of St Peter the Apostle, and the church of the …
Rome from the beginning till its fall almost one thousand years, the Capitoline Hillsymbolized the epicenter of Rome’s might and many of the city’s most important buildings stood on this hill. Later, during the Middle Ages, the site continued to play an important part in Rome’s history. The senate of Rome …
The Roman Forum, is a site located at the center of the ancient city of Rome and the location of important religious, political and social activities. Roman people first began meeting in the open-air Forum around 500 B.C., when the Roman Republic was founded. The rectangular-shaped area, sited on low-lying …
A giant Amphitheater was built sometime between 70 -72AD, in Rome under the Flavian Emperors, with a capacity of 50,000-seats. It was originally clad in travertine and covered by a huge canvas awning. Inside, tiered seating encircled the arena, itself built over an underground complex where animals were caged and stage sets …
Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful and largest fountain in Rome. Measuring some 20 meters in width by 26 meters in height.The fountain is located at the junction of three roads and more specifically it is built upon the ‘terminal point’ of the Acqua Vergine, one of Rome’s most important …
The Pantheon – the best preserved monument of Roman antiquity – is remarkably intact for its 2000 years. This is despite the fact that Pope Gregory III removed the gilded bronze roof tiles, and Pope Urban VIII ordered its bronze roof stripped and melted down to cast the canopy over …
A truly monumental stairway of 135 steps, the Spanish Steps were built with French funds between 1721‑1725 in order to link the Bourbon Spanish embassy to the Holy See with the French church, Trinità dei Monti. The steps are usually very crowded attracting tourists as well as locals who use …
One of Rome’s most characteristic Baroque squares, Piazza Navona still has the outline of the Roman stadium built here by Emperor Domitian. It was still used for festivals and horse races during the Middle Ages, and was rebuilt in the Baroque style by Borromini, who also designed the magnificent series …