Things to do in Rome, Italy

There's no other city in the world that has such a vast collection of art and architecture like Rome does. From the ancient architecture legacy such as the Colosseum to the much-disputed Ara Pacis exhibition space builty by American star-chitect Richard Meir to protect the Altar of Peace, the city is filled with structures that demonstrate Rome's constant struggle with Ancient meets contemporary. Other fine examples of ancient architectural structures are the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and Baths of Caracalla. New kids on the block, contemporary structures such as the Auditorium Parco della Musica (where concerts are held) in Parioli and the MAXXI architecture and contemporary art museum in Flaminio have also drawn a lot of interest among tourists over the years.

One of the best parts about visiting Rome for art aficionados is that much of the world's finest art collection can be seen in the city's churches for free. St. Peter's Basilica, the mother of all churches is best known for Michelangelo's Pietà. Other favorites are San Pietro in Vincoli, famous for Michelangelo's statue of Moses. Santa Maria in Trastevere church is often praised for its beautiful Byzantine mosaics. One could literally...  

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There's no other city in the world that has such a vast collection of art and architecture like Rome does. From the ancient architecture legacy such as the Colosseum to the much-disputed Ara Pacis exhibition space builty by American star-chitect Richard Meir to protect the Altar of Peace, the city is filled with structures that demonstrate Rome's constant struggle with Ancient meets contemporary. Other fine examples of ancient architectural structures are the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and Baths of Caracalla. New kids on the block, contemporary structures such as the Auditorium Parco della Musica (where concerts are held) in Parioli and the MAXXI architecture and contemporary art museum in Flaminio have also drawn a lot of interest among tourists over the years.

One of the best parts about visiting Rome for art aficionados is that much of the world's finest art collection can be seen in the city's churches for free. St. Peter's Basilica, the mother of all churches is best known for Michelangelo's Pietà. Other favorites are San Pietro in Vincoli, famous for Michelangelo's statue of Moses. Santa Maria in Trastevere church is often praised for its beautiful Byzantine mosaics. One could literally spend days exploring the city's churches marveling at the best examples of art from the Renaissance and Baroque eras and never grow bored.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to Rome to visit the Eternal City to visit St. St. Peter's Basilica, explore the vatican Museums and attend a papal mass.  Whether you're a believer or not, the city is surrounded by religion. Churches dominate the city skyline, in particular, the cupola of St. Peter's Basilica. No building project in Rome is to ever surpass the height of St. Peter's dome. The world's most prized artwork is also in possession of the Catholic Church hosted by some of the most important churches such as Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, Santa Maria Maggiore, Sant' Ignazio, San Pietro in Vincoli, Santa Maria del Popolo and the list goes on. Rome is also home to the world's tiniest country, Vatican City where the pope lives and is guarded by Swiss Guards. 

If there's one thing to be said about the Italian capital, is that Romans sure do know how to eat. Ah, yes. Roman food is considered to be one of the tastiest in all of Italy, with many considering its dishes to be hearty, delicious comfort food. Some of the most traditional Roman fare consists of pasta amatriciana (pasta made with tomatoes, pancetta and a little bit of onion), pasta carbonara (pasta made with egg, black pepper, guanciale and pecorino cheese), cacio e pepe (pasta made simply with lots of black pepper and pecorino cheese). Romans are also known for their tantalizing antipasti (appetizers) such as carciofi alla romana (Roman-style artichokes), olive ascolane (fried olives stuffed with ham), arancini and suppli (fried rice balls made with mozzarella and tomato) and other delightful treats. Rome also specializes in its paper-thin style pizza which makes finishing a whole by yourself a cinch!

After coffee, there's just one thing that Romans can't live without, and that's calcio. Indeed, calcio or soccer is one of Italians' favorite past times whether you're a male or a female. It's the topic of discussion at the bar over morning coffee. TV shows and radio channels dedicated to the sport. Sports newspapers that talk solely about calcio from cover to cover have the highest readership in the country. In the Eternal City, there are two teams that Romans cheer for. One is the A.S. Roma team and the other is S.S. Lazio. Both teams play at Rome's Stadio Olimpico (olimpic stadium). The biggest match of the year is the 'derby game' when the two teams face off at the Stadio Olimpico.

Politics play an important role in Italians' lives, especially for those who live in Rome. As Rome is the capital of Italy, it also is where the most important governing bodies such as the Italian Parliament, the Senate and various councils and ministries are located. Visitors can visit the Parliament and Senate by special request. They can also witness protests (manifestazioni) or demonstrations camped out in front of piazzas where prominent government buildings are held such as Piazza Montecitorio (where the Italian Chamber of Deputies is held), Piazza Madama (where the Italian Senate is held), Piazza del Parlamento (where the Italian Parliament is held) and the Quirinale Palace (where the President of the Italian Republic lives). Italians are constantly at odds with the leaders they have in office. In late 2011, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stepped down from his position after constant market pressures and his inability to turn around the country's spiraling economy. Currently, the country is being overseen by a technical government made up of professors and experts in various fields until elections are held sometime in 2013.

With a mythic history that spans more than two thousand years, Rome offers as many historical and cultural attractions as any place on the planet. As the capital of Italy, it's also a dynamic modern hub blending old and new. Of course, it's not possible to soak up everything in one trip. Like an old oak tree, Rome has many layers: Ancient Rome, Medieval Rome, Christian Rome and Renaissance Rome to name only a few. It's best to concentrate on those areas you most want to see. At some point, however, everyone must visit the famous Colosseum, the ruins at the Roman Forum, the daunting Vatican Museums, Raphael's tomb at the Pantheon, the massive St. Peter's Basilica, and the little jewel that is the Galleria Borghese. A word to the wise: bring comfortable walking shoes. Rome is more sprawling than people realize.

With a mythic history that spans more than two thousand years, Rome offers as many historical and cultural attractions as any place on the planet. As the capital of Italy, it's also a dynamic modern hub blending old and new. Of course, it's not possible to soak up everything in one trip. Like an old oak tree, Rome has many layers: Ancient Rome, Medieval Rome, Christian Rome and Renaissance Rome to name only a few. It's best to concentrate on those areas you most want to see. At some point, however, everyone must visit the famous Colosseum, the ruins at the Roman Forum, the daunting Vatican Museums, Raphael's tomb at the Pantheon, the massive St. Peter's Basilica, and the little jewel that is the Galleria Borghese. A word to the wise: bring comfortable walking shoes. Rome is more sprawling than people realize.