Vacation in Rome – See the Vatican City!

A vacation in Rome is something every traveler should experience at least once in their lifetimes. Rome, also known as the ‘eternal city’ is a city of luxury, ancient beauty, history and romance that is difficult to quantify. From a trip to the cat-ridden Colosseum to dodging fast moving Fiats on the roads, Rome makes a magnificent impression.

Rome is a city of pleasure and no visitor can fail to become entranced by the many opportunities that are available to feed the senses. This city is old and you can feel it. Rome encapsulates centuries of passionate history and it almost seems to ooze from its cobbled streets and impressive architecture. A vacation in Rome is the perfect choice for weary travelers wishing to be inspired.

For lovers of ancient culture and history there are the Etruscan tombs to wander through, Republican meeting rooms, imperial temples, old churches, bell towers from medieval times, palaces dating back to the Renaissance and basilicas from the baroque era. Locals go about their everyday business amongst these ancient treasures making a vacation in Rome seem like being caught between two worlds.

Rome is the capital city of Italy and it’s big. Many interesting sights can be seen close to the city center, though, enabling visitors to see much of it on foot. It is possible to walk from the Colosseum via the Forum to Piazza di Spagna and the Vatican – all in a day. Most famous monuments can be found west of the train station – Stazione Termini. However, a vacation in Rome will benefit greatly from a good map!

Most people choose to vacation in Rome from the Easter period to October with a peak in spring and autumn. Rome gets pretty overcrowded with so many tour busses arriving several times a day. In summer most locals try to avoid the heat by heading for the mountains making this a better time to vacation in Rome (if you can stand the heat). Winters are probably the quietest time of all in Rome.

Capitoline Hill used to be ancient Rome’s political center. It is best visited at night when few people are around. The piazza is Michelangelo’s work commissioned in 1538 and three buildings flank it: Palazzo Nuovo and the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the Palazzo Senatorio. A vacation in Rome should most definitely include a visit to the statue of Marcus Aurelius in the centre of the piazza.

Castel Sant’ Angelo can be reached by crossing the Pont Sant’ Angelo bridge. Joined to the Vatican by underground passages it was built as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. The Forum was built 900 years ago and was the commercial, political, and religious centre of ancient Rome. A vacation in Rome typically includes at least one visit to The Forum.

If you do nothing else while on vacation in Rome, you should pay a visit to the Vatican City. The city is said to be the richest independent nation on earth. A wealth of treasures make this a lavish, almost over-the-top display of wealth but it simply must be seen to be believed. A vacation to Rome really isn’t complete without it.

Over the Easter period Rome is visited by Catholics around the world who come to hear the Pope address the crowds and visit the basilicas. On Good Friday you can watch the procession of the Cross wind its way from the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill. Any vacation in Rome will include at least an acknowledgement of the country’s long Roman Catholic history.

But a vacation in Rome isn’t all about old buildings and ceremony. In summer the Testaccio is a playground for young and fashionable. Nightclubs are packed from 10 p.m. till the wee hours. Jazz festivals are held at the Villa Celimontana and tropical music at the Foro Italico.

In July the north bank of the Tiber river is home to beach volleyball, in-line skating and art shows. Trastevere is the place to be for street theatre, craft stalls, and sumptuous food. So a vacation in Rome offers something for younger travelers too.

Rome’s main airport is Leonardo da Vinci and Eurolines is the main bus company in the area. Rome is easily accessible from the rest of the world and definitely recommended as a winning travel destination – see it at least once but preferably many more times in your life! A vacation in Rome should be on everybody’s ‘to do’ list!