Rome
Rome or the 'Eternal City' as it is known, is the capital of Italy and is one of the oldest cities in Europe. The grandeur and majesty of this city that ruled over almost all of Europe for centuries is reflected in the classical architecture dotting its landscape, the treasure trove of sculptures and paintings that grace its museums and the tangible sense of history that is such an integral part of Rome. |
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Top Attractions in Rome
The Colosseum: The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheatre is located in the heart of Rome and is one of the most enduring symbols of the city. It is a gigantic arena that seats 50,000 people and was built as the arena for conducting games in ancient Rome. These extremely popular 'games' were watched with great enthusiasm by the ruling class and the commoners, alike and consisted largely of gladiatorial combats and hunts.
The Roman Forum: The Roman Forum was the centre of the ancient city of Rome, with large triumphal arches, temples and basilicas built there. It was here that the Roman Senate held their meetings (in Curia Julia), elections were held and grand victory marches were made. The Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Rostra, or the Speaker's Platform are some of the buildings of note in the Roman Forum.
Pantheon: One of the largest domes in the world is found atop the Pantheon, which started out as a temple for Pagan gods built by Emperor Hadrian. It was later converted into a church with the growth of Christianity in Rome. It stands tall among the ruins of ancient Rome as the most intact ancient monument in the city, with massive 60 ton columns adorning its entrance.
Piazza di Spagna: The Piazza di Spagna literally meaning the Spanish Square, is one of the most popular meeting places in Rome. It is made up of a flight of 137 stairs called the Spanish Steps, which lead up to a French church built in the Gothic style, called the Trinita Dei Monti. The Piazza also houses a column called the Colonna dell'Immacolata that commemorates the Catholic belief in immaculate conception. This column is aptly crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary.
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Trevi Fountain: The imposing Trevi fountain dominates the small square of Trevi and stands at the end of one of the many aqueducts crisscrossing Italy – the Aqua Virgo. Legend has it that tossing a coin into the waters of the fountain of Trevi ensures that the person will definitely return to Rome. One of the largest Baroque fountains in Rome, the Fountain of Trevi owes its place among the most visited monuments in Rome to its stunning representation of Neptune, the God of the Sea riding a clam shaped chariot drawn by sea horses. The waters of the fountain at the base of the sculpture are representative of the oceans that Neptune lords over.
Palatine Hill: One among the famed 'Seven Hills' of Rome, the Palatine Hill is where Romulus founded the Roman Empire, as per legend. The hill is littered with ruins of palaces and stadia, which bear testimony to the fact that the Palatine Hill was a fashionable residential complex by the Republican period in Rome.
Campidoglio: The Campidoglio, also called the Capitoline Hill houses several important ancient temples, the most prominent of those being the Temple of Jupiter, which together with the hill was a symbol of Rome as the 'capital of the world' or 'Caput Mundi'. Michelangelo designed the square on the Capitoline Hill called the Piazza di Campidoglio. The piazza consisted of several political buildings like the Palazzo dei Conservatori, the Palazzo Senatorio, and the Palazzo Nuovo. A majestic flight of stairs called the Cordonata leads up to the Piazza di Campidoglio.
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