Italy L'Italia

ROME

ROMA

Rome is the capital of Italy and with about 2.7 million inhabitants, the largest city in Italy. Through this city flows the river Tiber. It is the third river in Italy and flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea (in the west). Rome has four districts and 19 area subdivisions.

The history of this Mediterranean city began around 800 BC. The city is the capital since 1871 and is located in the Lazio region on the banks of the River Tiber. It was even during ancient times and during the Roman Empire the capital. Rome was in a valley within the Aurelian Wall. It was surrounded by seven hills: Capitol, Quirinal, Viminale Hill, Esquilin, Caelius, Aventine and Palatine. Today, Rome covers also the Janiculum hill and Vaticanus.

Within Rome is now the independent state of Vatican City. The Vatican is the seat of the pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The old city of Rome (St. Peter s) and the Vatican were approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Site (1980).

The city is, as all of Italy, a region full of history. Even today are always new discoveries to light. So it is in this city very difficult to create new buildings or renovate preserved. The best known ancient buildings and works of art in the world are here, which is always a lot of people are concerned. Some of these buildings are:

- The world famous landmark of the city of Rome, the Coliseum was 80 AD built. That was about the time of Emperor Vespasian (after Neron). The Coliseum is the largest in ancient Rome built amphitheatre. Moreover, it is the largest building of the Roman antiquity ever.

- The Castel Sant Angelo and the Sant Angelo Bridge on the River Tiber, for the Emperor Hadrian built in 134-138. Particularly striking are the beautiful ten angels in baroque style. They were built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and his students.

- Trajan s column (Columna Traiana) is a Doric column for the Roman Emperor Trajan. The Victory Column, in honour of the emperor 113 AD was built, is still in its original location. In the almost 30-metre-high column is a gilded statue of the emperor.

- Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls is one of the seven pilgrimage churches of Rome. Sights include: the tomb of the apostle Paul, monastery statue of the apostle Paul, 265 medallions with portraits of the popes, Basilica, Porta Sancta, Arch, and much more.

- And also there are many other valuable attractions, including Piazza Venezia, St. Peter, the Museo Nazionale delle Terme Romano of Michelangelo, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the church of San Pietro in Vincoli and numerous aqueducts, wells, churches, obelisks, Bridges, about 30 beautiful sites, cathedrals and many monuments and museums.