Rome

Rome, Italy

Rome, known as the Eternal City, has attracted visitors for over 2,000 years. It is one of the most magnificent and romantic cities in the world, boasting an attractive mix of grandiose sights — the likes of the Colosseum, Roman Pantheon and Forum — and bustling city life. Life is sweet: the cake is there for eating. Italian designer shopping, smooth ice cream, frothy cappuccino, and exquisite wines to name but a few things that draw in over 4.2 million tourists in search of a taste of Italian "dolce vita" every year.

Population:

2.879 million

Currency:

Euro, €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency: 112
Fire brigade: 115
Medical: 118
Police: 113

Opening Hours:

Shops in Rome are normally open 9.00-13.00 and 15.00-20.00. Department stores are usually open 24/7.

Newspapers:

Il Messaggero
La Repubblica
Il Tempo
La Città Metropolitana

The City

Where should one begin to summarise the history of the Eternal City? A good date might be 21 April 753 B.C., when Romulus founded the city after murdering his twin brother Remus. During the following centuries, Rome grew into a powerful empire, peaking during the rule of Marcus Aurelius in 161-180 A.D.

Like the ancient city, today's Rome is built on seven hills: Capitolino, Palatino, Quirinale, Viminale, Esquilino, Celio, and Aventino. The central area is called Campo Marzio, named after the Roman god of war, and was the ancient army’s training grounds. This is where many of the famous sights are located. Other well-known areas are Trastevere, on the other side of the Tiber river, and Monti. Little Pigneto is considered to be the most typically Roman neighbourhood.

5 Secret Spots in Rome

The vibrant capital of Italy is a unique fusion of rich history, culture, natural beauty, and monuments. It goes much further than the usual tourist sites: delve into Rome's hidden gems that are just a few steps away from the well-trodden paths and monuments.
Here's a shortlist of Rome's tucked-away treasures that will leave you taken with the city's seemingly endless offerings.

Do & See

Rome is one of a kind. No other city – not even Athens, Istanbul, London or New York – has as many world-class sites as Rome. Walking down Via del Fori Imperiali towards the Colosseum will impress even the most spoiled and shopping-crazed teenager. The city has so much to offer: besides the Roman heritage, there are also medieval neighbourhoods, well-designed squares, colourful markets and Vatican City with St. Peter’s Basilica. Read on for more on the best of Rome.

Dining

Rome's restaurants cater to all tastes. There are American steakhouses, Lebanese meze restaurants, Vietnamese eateries, and several haute cuisine establishments celebrated in the Guide Michelin, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do and choose the less extravagant restaurants and trattorias for a memorable dining experience.

The Italian word for dinner, "cena", comes from the Latin convivium which means "live together". Eating is a social get-together which consists of at least three courses—often even at lunchtime. The Romans do not eat dinner until nine in the evening.

Rome is known for its Carbonara (made with egg, guanciale, and hard cheese, and black pepper) and Amatriciana (made with guanciale, pecorino Romano and tomatoes).