Europe Travel Guide | Comprehensive Information Blog

The Roman Empire was born in the mist of legend and myth almost three thousand years ago. From a small village on the banks of the Tiber River, Rome grew to control one of the greatest and longest lasting empires in the history of the World. Roman law, art, language, and engineering became the standard for much of the culture of the Western World.
Although the Roman Empire has long been gone, it has left behind a fascinating legacy for the traveler to Italy. No site quite measures up to the ruins of the city of Pompeii. Here an entire city lies much as it did on a fateful day in 79 AD when a violent eruption of Mt. Vesuvious sent a large cloud of volcanic ash raining down on the city. The ash buried the town, killing over twenty thousand people instantly, and freezing a moment of time. As the years went by, the town as well as a nearby town called Herculaneum, were forgotten. Not only their names but even their locations disappeared from the memory of man.
Finally, in the year 1738, Herculaneum was rediscovered, and ten years later Pompeii was found. It was many years after that, however, that extensive excavations began, and the extent of the archeological treasure was realized. One of the first men placed in charge of the excavation project, Giuseppe Fiorelli, noticed a large number of voids in the ash as it was being cleared away from the ruins of the city. He developed a theory that the voids represented people trapped in the ash whose bodies had long since disappeared. He devised a method of pouring plaster into the voids, and the result was almost perfect plaster casts of the former inhabitants caught in the agony of their last moments.



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Rome. The very name evokes the grandeur of this ancient city of Europe. Founded almost two thousand and seven years ago, and occupied continuously ever since, the city has played as important a role in the history of the World as any other city. From Rome, carried on the shoulders and swords of the famous legions, spread much of the law, language, culture, and organization that would shape the Western World.
The birth of the city is shrouded in legend. From a simple town on the banks of the Tiber river, Rome grew under the rule of its early Kings. The local tribes were subdued and Rome grew to dominate, first, the Italian Peninsula, and then eventually the entire Mediterranean basin. When the Roman Republic was founded, the unique Roman culture that would one day influence one of the largest empires of all time was first developed.
This was followed by the period known as the Roman Empire when Rome rose to its greatest influence and glory.
Today, Rome is a modern city with a population approaching three million people. It is the home to the Vatican, the center of the world-wide Catholic Church. It is a city that exists both in the past and the present. The mighty ruins of landmarks such as the Coliseum and the Roman Forum exist side by side with the blazing lights of a modern and vibrant city.




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In order to travel to Italy from most Western countries, a passport is required, however a visa is not required for stays of up to ninety days. From the Schengen (borderless regions), no passport is needed, but the Schengen visa and an adequate amount of funds for the stay is needed. Italy is in many ways one of the world’s safer travel destinations. No specific health risks are associated with travel there, and danger from crime and violence is minimal.
Italy has several International Airports that serve as entry ports. The traveler has a choice of flying into Naples, Bologna, Milan, Pisa, Florence, and of course, Rome. Although most travelers visit Italy during the summer months of June to August, the Spring (April and May) and the Autumn (September and October) might be better choices due to the excellent and mild weather, and the smaller number of tourists. The oceans are warm enough for swimming during the summer months of June all the way to September. For travelers interested in winter sports, the ski season runs from December to April in the Northern area.
The official currency of Italy is the Euro, divided into 100 cents. Banks and exchange points, as well as a large number of ATM’s are easily located. The official language is, of course, Italian, but English is spoken and understood very widely in the major cities, although much less so in the more remote countryside.




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