Phila Airport Parking Vacations

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.

There is a very unique part of Roman history that you will want to visit between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill near Rome. The Forum Romanum or the Roman Forum, may be one of the most ambitious archaeological projects of all time. By way of background, long before the first century AD, this area known as the Roman Forum was the premier political and cultural hot bed for the Roman Empire.

This amazing Forum took hundreds of years to build but by the seventh century BC it was already in place as a major part of Roman culture. It was Octavian, Julius Caesar’s son, who saw the Forum reach its final form early in the first century AD.

Called the Forum Magnum (or Great Forum) by many, the Roman Forum had a dozen temples, plenty of arches and a multitude of other structures. It was built on marsh land (drained, of course!) and provided a central location for Romans to conduct business, administration and socialise with each other.

After the Roman Empire fell in the early fifth century, the Roman Forum fell into such decay that, by the Middle Ages, the grounds had become pastures for grazing cattle. It took the Renaissance to discover the area again and to set in motion one of the longest restoration projects in history, which began early in the eighteenth century and is still ongoing right now.

Because of that restoration work, much of the glory of this ancient public venue has returned to what it was when it was in full use during the days of the Roman Empire.

The archaeologists that have headed up the restoration have done a good job of repairing the paved streets and taking away the debris of hundreds of years of neglect so that the Forum can once again be enjoyed by everyone. If you plan a visit, be aware that there is no way to see the entire Roman Forum in one day. But even if you can only spend a few hours here, that visit will be enough to allow you a glimpse into how life was lived at the height of the glory of the Roman Empire.

To get an idea of the ambitious scale that the Romans always brought to projects of this size, one just has to look at the “Temple of Venus and Roma”. This massive temple in the Forum was designed and built by Emperor Hadrian himself, and from a vantage point on a tall plateau, it has a perfect view of the majestic Colosseum.

Just as impressive as the Temple of Venus and Roma is the Temple of Concord. The temple that is dedicated to the principles of peace was built in the western quadrant of the Forum around 367 BC. This temple at one time held magnificent statues that were made with silver and gold. While those things are gone, the restored temple is still an inspiring reminder of the amazing abilities of the Roman builders.

There are literally dozens of fascinating buildings to see, including the Temples to Saturn, Pollux and Castor on the grounds of the Forum. These beautiful temples, along with many other useful buildings of the Forum, are a testimony not only to the vision of Rome but to the ability of the Roman people to carry out large projects such as this one.

Many of the walkways are lined with arches, including the Arch of Septimus Severus and Titus. The Romans invented and perfected the arch, and no one has improved on that design for at least 1000 years.

The political hopefuls of Roman times loved to use The Rostra to make speeches to state their qualifications and positions. In a lot of ways life back then is like today, which you can almost feel when you spend time in the Forum. One stunning shrine that shows off how creative Roman builders were is the Lapis Niger, otherwise known as the Black Stone. When you are at this shrine admiring its beauty, you can also visit the Via Sacra shrine which is connected to it.

To say you have really experienced Rome means that you have set aside some time to visit this amazing area of cultural life and inspect the amazing structures at the Roman Forum. As you stroll the walkways and take it all in, it may give you pause to reflect on all that man can achieve and all that can be lost just as easily.