Rome (Roma), on the river Tiber, between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea, was once Caput Mundi (capital of the world), the powerhouse of the mighty Roman Empire, governing a vast region that stretched from Britain to Mesopotamia.
Today, it can't claim global dominance, but as capital of Italy, the seat of the Italian government and home to the Pope and the Vatican, it's no backwater. Besides its capital credentials, Rome is a glorious architectural patchwork, a living masterpiece, sedate yet chaotic, full of charm and life.
History
The legendary beginnings of Rome are related in the tale of Romulus and Remus. Vestal virgin Rhea Silvia, ravished by Mars (the God of War), gave birth to the twins and abandoned them to fate. The River Tiber carried them to the Palatine Hill, where a she-wolf mothered the babes until their discovery by a shepherd. The brothers later argued over where to found a new city, and Romulus killed Remus. The rest... is history.
History's version of events is spectacular in a different way. The city developed from unimportant pastoral settlement (the earliest remains date back to the ninth century BC) to vast empire, ruled over by a string of emperors, before the fall of the Roman Empire around the 5th century.
Rome saw a second period of development during the 15th-century Renaissance, when the Papacy took up permanent residence in the city.
Sights
Remains from the imperial glory days include the monumental Colosseum, the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), and the awe-inspiring Pantheon - a complete Roman temple, preserved as a church.
Renaissance riches are concentrated within the centro storico (historic centre), where the stadium-sized Piazza Navona, sweepingly romantic Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain all lie within walking distance of each other. Across the river, to the west, lies the Vatican State - home to the Pope, the spiritual centre of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Sistine Chapel.
Climate
Its warm Mediterranean climate renders Rome particularly balmy in autumn and spring. In August, it is hot and sticky, locals head for the coast and many shops and bars close, but this is also prime time for the city's festivals.
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