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Rome’s largest public landscaped park, the Villa Doria Pamphili, takes up an area of around 2 square kilometers. It was originally owned by the family that gave the park it’s name, then bought by the City of Rome at the end of the twentieth century.

This amazing are is one of the best places in all of Rome for bird watching, and it’s also a wonderful choice for a jog or a pleasant stroll.

It’s been around for a long time as a villa – before the 1630s, it was known as the Villa Veccia. Then it was purchased by Panfilo Panfili, who also purchased the neighboring vineyards.

This created an enormous holding that stood on high ground above the rest of Rome. It was known for its amazing views, and acted as a suburban resort for its owner and his family.

A new villa was begun later, in the 1640s, by the nephew of the then-Pope, Giovanni Battista Pamphili. It took until 1652 to be finished, with the villa itself designed to complement its ancient and contemporary artworks.

You’ll find most of the artifacts in the Capitoline Museum today, though there are still some at the site. Visitors to the Villa Doria Pamphili will see an exterior in the busy Baroque style, with alternating niches and windows, as well as Mannerist-type bas relief panels.

Inside, there are even more bas reliefs, as well as frescoes of Roman history. Around 1650, gardens were laid out in a sequence of connected areas around the villa, and extending to lower levels. At one point there were statues placed here, but much of the area is now grassy instead.

In the other garden areas, later fountains and gateways make this a beautiful but complex park. You can still hear sixteenth and seventeenth century music at the concerts that are still held in the Villa Doria Pamphili’s Giardino del Teatro.

Currently, the majority of the gardens of the Villa Doria Pamphili are planted in a sixteenth century style, with close cut greenery and wide gravel walks. At one point there were a number of Roman tombs on the site, but they have all been excavated through the centuries.

This lush, beautiful park was once surprisingly the site of a lot of violence. Hand to hand fighting during the short Roman Republic period of the 19th century reached up to the outskirts of the city and the fortified villas located there. The Villa Doria Pamphili was close to some of the worst combat, but it survived, where neighboring properties did not.

The then-owner of the villa took advantage of his neighbors’ misfortune, buying up neighboring lands and making the Villa Doria Pamphili’s size even bigger. In these neighboring structures, art exhibitions are held. The villa itself remains open to the public housing antiquities and sculptures from its long history.

Anyone on a trip to Rome needs to take the time to check out the Villa Doria Pamphili. This amazing Roman park is something anyone in the area should see.

Rome may not have been built in a day, but you can spend several days sightseeing around Rome. There is no other city like this history-filled, beautiful city. There is no wonder why Rome was ranked #2 in the 2004 Conde Nast Traveler’s Choice Awards. It was only ranked higher by Florence, which is in the northern part of Italy.

The population of Rome numbers almost 3 million people. The summertime climate is hot and dry, while the wintertime climate is mild and rainy. Except for a few specific countries in Europe, passports are a necessity to enter this country. If you are not staying for more than 90 days, then you do not need a Visa, either. October to March are the off-peak months and if you want to have a relaxing time without having to fight the crowds, then these months are the ones that you want to travel.

If you are more into the artistic side of Rome, then you will want to venture out on foot. This will allow you to take side trips into shops. Taking a private guided tour is another great way to see all of the local artistic hangouts. Ask around to see how you can make the best of this artistic side of this gem in Italy.

There are a few places that you do not want to miss in Rome. The Coliseum is one of these places and you can walk across the street and visit The Roman Forum, too. Touring these places on your own or with a guide can make a memory that you will never forget in this history filled locations.

The Pantheon is over 1800 years old and it has not changed in all of this time. It was built as the “temple to all gods” in 125 A.D. This concrete dome is the final resting place of many different people, including the painter, Raphael, and two different Kings of Italy. The building has retained much of the same feel and form as it had during the time of the Romans.

If you have visited all of the places in this article, then you will want to make at least one more stop. The Vatican is not to be missed, with its collections of books, artifacts, sculptures, and more that tell of the history of the Catholic Church. Don’t miss St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo’s Pieta. The Sistine Chapel is not to be missed as well. We all know that this is one of the most visible pieces of art in Europe and possibly in the world. The Vatican is a part of Rome that you definitely do not want to miss.

Many different cafes and restaurants are around these locations, so you should not have an issue with finding somewhere to eat. You will want to wear shoes that are comfortable and try not to carry very much, so that you will be as comfortable as possible. Before you begin your jaunt, check with your hotel concierge to see if there are any discounts that you can use, too.

Most of us have heard about Rome’s catacombs at some point in our lives. These are ancient underground burials, dug into the rock under the city of Rome itself. There are more than forty of these catacombs, some of which have only come to light in recent years.

These catacombs are known best as burial places for Christians, but they have also hosted pagan burials as well as Jewish tombs. The catacombs came about around the second century, since there was a minimum of available land for burial and cemeteries were growing overcrowded.

There’s not really enough land around Rome for standard burials, but the soft volcanic rock under the city is remarkably well suited for tunneling. Before it comes into contact with the air, it’s quite soft, hardening later on exposure to air. Many kilometers of tunnels wind their way through the area under the city, and in some places are up to four layers deep.

If you’re interested in early Christian or Jewish art, the catacombs are a must-see, containing the majority of artistic examples of these cultures in Rome before the fourth century or so. There are amazing sculptures and frescoes here.

Originally, Romans cremated the majority of their dead. However, starting around the second century CE, it became popular to bury remains instead, either burnt or unburnt. Christians preferred burial, considering it important for bodily resurrection.

The first big catacombs were carved through the rock outside the city, since laws at the time forbade burials inside the city limits. These were originally used not just for burial, but for memorials and religious celebrations of Christian martyrs, although they were never used for other regular worship.

The forty known catacombs in and around Rome are all build along roads like the Via Appia and Via Ostiense. Named after saints like Calixtus and Sebastian, the catacombs are rumored to contain the bodies of those martyrs.

These Christian excavators built enormous systems of passages, from seven to nineteen meters below the surface of the earth in an area of around two and a half square kilometers. Levels are jointed by narrow steps, and passages are usually about three feet wide and eight feet tall, with burial niches located in the walls.

These relatively small niches contained bodies. Special burial chambers were also built for wealthier Christians. Frescoes and carvings in these tombs made them look much like mainstream Roman ones.

As Christianity rose to a new status as a state religion, burials in the catacombs began to decline and the dead were more often buried in churchyards. The catacombs became used only for the celebration of the deaths of martyrs.

When Rome was sacked by northern invaders, these catacombs were ransacked, and by the tenth century, they were scarcely used, and all holy relics had been moved above ground. After this point, the catacombs were forgotten until the late sixteenth century, when they were rediscovered.

Over the centuries the catacombs have been intermittently explored, though professional studies weren’t published until the nineteenth century. These burial locations now act as an important monument to the early church, and are under the maintenance of the Vatican.

Renting apartments for your visit to Rome is an excellent alternative to hotel stays. You might find choosing one of these great units a little difficult, however.

If you’re not certain what apartment you want or what area you’re most interested in staying near, here’s some information to help you choose. It can be a real help to learn about all your options and the areas you can pick from.

Spanish Steps This area is filled with elegance, and is host to many high end restaurants, designer stores, and well known bars and clubs. That doesn’t mean it’s a tourist trap, though – there are plenty of upscale Roman households in this neighborhood.

Piazza Navona While this area can be very touristy by day, it quiets down a little at night. There are still some great restaurants and bars available, and the streets in this neighborhood offer a number of unique boutiques.

Campo de Fiori Known for its fantastic outdoor market, this area is a wonderful people-watching spot. In the summer, you’ll find the piazza has a party-like atmosphere, and is filled to the brim with people enjoying the great weather.

Trastavere Known for its excellent restaurants and bars, this is a peaceful area in morning, and livelier after nightfall. Great for strolls in the daytime, Trastavere offers old fashioned cobbled streets and beautiful scenery.

Colosseum The Monti neighborhood near the Colosseum is one of the oldest in Rome, and offers apartments in a homelike setting. Enjoy a trip to the forum or the old trattorias, or take a walk down the old fashioned cobblestone streets.

Vatican This is a middle class area near the Vatican itself, and while it’s busy during the day, it’s quite peaceful at night. Inexpensive and pleasant, this area is a great choice for apartment rental if you’re in Rome primarily to see the Vatican.

Via Veneto Opened in the late nineteenth century, this road was intended to offer high class accommodations, trendy cafes and elegant shopping. It’s one of the most attractive areas in Rome, is close to all the biggest attractions, and is a great place for luxury apartment rental.

Aventino A peaceful suburb lined with trees, Aventino offers many older buildings and beautiful villas. It’s inexpensive, near Trastavere and Testaccio, and makes a great spot if you want a peaceful stay.

Borghese Gardens Offering inexpensive rentals for vacation apartments, this area has attractive scenery and good connections to the public transportation system.

Termini An exciting area that offers many newly renovated structures (including elevators, which are rare in Rome), Termini gives you plenty to see and do. It’s also close to public transport.

While these aren’t all the places for a great apartment rental in Rome, they’re some of your best options. Whether you’re looking for a bustling area that has plenty of attractions or a quieter neighborhood for a peaceful vacation, you’ll have no trouble finding what you’re after.

Rome is a city where you can walk anywhere in the city center and this is the best way to visit the city. Wondering through Rome’s old historical center is one of the most exciting experiences when in Rome.

Explore the magnificent buildings and their architecture, take in the street life, visit hundreds of churches as you stroll down the narrow cobblestone streets, go window shopping, and walk into any caf?-bar for that taste of capuccino flavor. Our advise is to start early in the moring and get ready for a long walk with a pair of comfortable shoes.

You can easily see several of the main most visited sites in a few hours.
If you are planning on bringing your children to Rome, the best times are early spring or late fall, when the weather is just perfect.

Italians love to have children around and be sure that your children will be made very welcome everywhere you go. Children are warmly welcome in Pizzerias and trattorias where high chairs are often available for toddles and babies.

Most of these places don’t rule out the fact that children eat only half-portions or share meals. The most amusing pizzerias for kids are the old fashioned ones. Here they can watch the chefs pound, stretch, and flip the though in the air which is something different they will always remember!

Nightlife in Rome is exciting and in latest years the number places to hangout and clubs have increased and are focusing on a more demanding clientele.

In Testaccio area you will easily find all the best tastes for all budgets and a wide variety of places. Another equally popular activity is to simply relax with friends and enjoy a good bottle of wine in the so-called “enoteche” (wine bars)located in any of the historic center’s beautiful squares.

Jazz, Rock, Folk, South American and world music are popular cultural events which you will easily find in the many venues scattered around in the city center

Lately, many new Italian bands are having international success and are out into the spotlight, be sure to give them a try.

In Summer there are excellent open-air rock, jazz and world music festivals. Especially the “Ippodromo delle Capannelle” is becoming the most popular highlight of many Roman Summer Events, and it’s selling million tickets in sales. In June and July in Villa Ada you can find a special selection adn music festival taking place about ethnic and african music. Angelique Kidjo and pianist Abdullah Ibrahim performed here.

Rome is scattered with popular, small local food markets and several intriguing markets near the centre. The famous flea market in Trastevere and the famous vegetable/flower market in Campo dei Fiori.

In Rome’s local markets you will experience a lively feel of entertainment. Expecially during Christmas and Epiphany you will see many stand owners presenting their handicrafts, games, toys, clothes and vintage and many Italian specialties.

No doubt that Rome is an excellent choice for group and family vacation!