Rome Vacations, Italy: For Next City Break, Rome, Italy

Anyone who wanders the streets of Rome cannot fail to be amazed or impressed by its stunning architecture. In fact, countless people have argued that Rome is 'the most beautiful city in the world' - a claim that's hard to refute. The Colosseum, for example, is one of the most impressive structures in the city. As the largest amphitheatre ever built by the Roman Empire, the Colosseum played host to Gladiatorial combat and was originally capable of seating 50,000 spectators. Today, visitors can step back into history and walk within its walls; just as spectators did from 80AD onwards. Another masterpiece of architecture to be found in the city is The Piazza del Campidoglio, which was designed by Michelangelo Buonaroti and is another example of the architecture that exemplifies Rome's role as a world centre of the Renaissance. However, there are also other grandiose squares in Rome, which includes the Piazza del Popolo, Piazza Navona and Piazza Venezia among others.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Trevi Fountain - another structural masterpiece - is a spectacular example of baroque art, as is the Palazzo Madama, which now seats the Italian Senate. This baroque style is also present in the Piazza di Spagna, which holds the Barcaccia Fountain and the Spanish Steps - made famous in the Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn film, Roman Holiday.

The city is also home to a number of neoclassic-style buildings; the most famous of which is the Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, which represents the 650,000 Italians who fell in conflict during World War I. Yet another spectacular architectural attraction is The Pantheon; the name is derived from the Greek word meaning 'Temple of all the Gods' and was originally built as a temple to the seven deities in the state religion of Ancient Rome. It has, however, been a Christian church since the 7th century.

No visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to the State of the Vatican City - the smallest nation in the world. Here, you can see the majestic Saint Peter's Square and Basilica, as well as the Sistine Chapel with its legendary ceiling painted by Michelangelo.

Although Rome is a bustling city, it has a number of serene parks and gardens - many of which are found within villas. The Villa Doria Pamphili, for example, is the largest landscaped park in Rome; while Villa Borghese houses a gorgeous garden alongside the famous Borghese Gallery. Also recommended to visit is the Villa Torlonia - a remarkable example of Art Nouveau in the city, which was also the former Roman residence of Benito Mussolini.

While a walk around the city provides an indication of the various artistic eras in which Rome played a part, its grandiose museums and galleries are also well worth visiting. Among the most famous of these are the National Museum of Rome, The Museum of Roman Civilization, the Borghese Gallery, the Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo and the Capitoline Museums.

There are various travel sites and travel agents that offer fantastic deals on hotels in Rome. So whether you're interested in taking an extended cultural tour or simply want get away for the weekend, Rome is the perfect place to go - and, besides, you'll see just what makes it 'the most beautiful city in the world'.

About the Author:

Martin Mcallister is a freelance online journalist.

He now lives in Edinburgh and enjoys travelling.

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