Discover Rome
The city of Rome is a living, breathing and chaotic museum. At every turn your eyes will feast upon centuries old churches, Roman remains – many of which aren’t really remains but fully qualified buildings – approaching their 2000th birthday and grand chapels, villas and piazzas. In fact, there is so much to see you rapidly become blasé to it all. But then some modern fusion food, loud pumping dance music or a choking, smoking moped will bring you back down to earth and make you realise you haven’t stepped back in time, you are still in the 21st century.
Rome is sleek and stylish in so many ways, from the female traffic office wearing Prada heels to conduct the orchestra of vehicles on the overcrowded city streets, to the luxury and opulence of the Vatican, particularly the Sistine Chapel. Shopping here is simply divine from luxury boutiques from all the major fashion labels, high-street stores that are wonderfully affordable and department stores that give Selfridges a run for its money.
Hotels are just as spectacular. From old, boutique townhouses, giving away nothing by their exterior of the wonders they hold within, to the grand mansions occupying as much ground space as the Colosseum with far more pomp and extravagance. But you can also find modern, affordable hotels around the outskirts, in the newer areas of the city, making hotels in Rome wonderfully diverse. For a full range of Rome hotels, check out the deals on offer from Octopus Travel.
When it comes to sightseeing, you could spend days walking through the Eternal City and still not see it all, even the residents still find something new every day. So, plan your routes and must-see locations carefully.
Top of the list has to be the Colosseum and the Roman Forum next door. The Colosseum was built in AD72 and was able to seat a whopping 50,000 people; this is large even by today’s standards. It had retractable awnings, it was water tight allowing for water battles and it was highly decorated with banners, like a Roman version of advertising.
Right on the doorstep is the Roman Forum. This was ancient Rome’s political and economic centre. Even though today it is just ruins you can still feel the power that would have been exerted from the Roman Empire.
Even if you aren’t religious you must visit the Vatican, if not for the museum for the beautiful architecture. From Michelangelo’s frescoes of the Sistine Chapel to the hundreds of classical statues and paintings, the Vatican museum is world class.
We could go on and on, but Rome is a place you should explore by accident. You never know what you will come across when you turn the next corner. |
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