Heart of the world

For a thousand years, Rome was capital of an empire that spanned the known world. The Roman legions carried their eagle standards from the lowlands of Scotland to the fringes of the Sahara, and from the coast of the Atlantic to the shores of the Persian Gulf. Its ancient stones are inscribed with the names of the men who made it possible: Scipio, Augustus, Trajan. The breathtaking splendour of the Colosseum and the Pantheon, the stark pillars of the ancient Forum, the triumphal arches of Vespasian and Constantine are an unforgettable reminder of the glory days of Rome.

Leader of the faithful

Uniquely in European history, Rome’s mediaeval history is as splendid as its classical beginnings. The seat of the Popes almost without a break from the time of the Apostles to the present, Rome is unrivalled in the wealth, beauty and magnificence of its churches. St Peter’s basilica – until recently the largest church in the world – is a masterpiece of art and architecture, and the view over the city from its colossal dome is only matched by the beautiful design of the dome itself. Every road and every piazza seems to shelter another masterpiece of religious art, crafted by the greatest names in the Italian Renaissance: Leonardo, Michelangelo, Bernini. Rome is, quite simply, the greatest art collection in the world.

A passion for fashion

But modern Rome is not obsessed with the beauty of its past. Between the Renaissance masterpieces and ancient monuments, the city boasts a thriving modern culture and a sense of fashion which leaves most other cities gasping. Gucci and Dior are only two of the names which throng the narrow streets, and the city’s central shopping street – the Via del Corso – is itself a parade of the biggest names in fashion. If you want to say it with style, Rome is the place to do it.

La dolce vita

And what better place to do so than in one of the city’s countless cafes, trattorie and restaurants? Only a few miles from the Mediterranean, Rome has a full share in the Sunny Sea’s culture of relaxation.

A caffe latte by the Colosseum, or a panna cotta by the Pantheon, is the perfect way to end off a day in the Eternal City. Romans are famous for their  appetite for life: when in Rome, make sure you enjoy it as they do.