Europe Travel Guide | Comprehensive Information Blog

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.






One of the most popular attractions of Rome are its great squares. They are known to the Romans as Piazzas, and they are a place for people to meet and chat with each other. They are also the locations for much entertainment, and a location for local festivals. Some of the more famous include: Piazza del Campidoglio (which is the center of the Italian Government), Piazza Navona , Piazza Venezia (often called the “heart of the city”), Piazza di Spagna (with its famous Spanish Steps) and the mighty Saint Peter’s Square.
The famous ruins from the Roman Empire include the Coliseum which was the ancient enter of Roman entertainment and spectacle. Other popular sites are the Forum, which was the center of Roman Government and the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to all the gods. These ruins have survived the passage of two thousand years and offer a glimpse of the glory that was Rome. However, the sense of the past that can overwhelm a traveler goes far beyond these well known sites. Rome is layers of history piled one on top of the other, from the depths of the Catacombs to the heights of its magnificent Cathedrals.
Rome offers the visitor just about everything that he could hope for in a vacation choice. The historical sites, museums, galleries, and important architectural features alone are almost limitless. However, Rome is also the center of modern Italy, and bows its head to none in the luxury of its hotels, or the excellence of its Italian cuisine, nor the excitement of its night life. Rome is not all there is to see in Italy, but in many ways it is its heart and its soul.