Rome is the capital of Italy and has a population of 2.8 million people.
According to legend, Rome city was founded in 753 BCE. The city is located on the banks of the river Tiber and was founded on top of seven hills; Palatine Hill, Aventine Hill, Capitoline Hill, Caelian Hill, Esquiline Hill, Quirinal Hill and Viminal Hill. Particularly the area around Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill would later become the centre of power of the enormous Roman Empire. You can find many ruins and excavations here of the Forum Romanum and the Colosseum gives you an impression of how gladiators had to do battle in this enormous Roman amphitheatre. The Pantheon, which is now a church, has its characteristic round, open roof and is one of the best kept buildings from Roman times. And the Via Appia takes you back in time along one of the oldest roads of Rome Italy. Basically, the city of Rome is one giant museum. It is therefore no surprise that the complete historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Unique is the ministate of Vatican City, of which the pope is the head of state. This tiny state has an area of just 44 hectares, taken up mostly by St. Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s square, known for the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ speeches by the pope. For many visitors to Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, part of the Vatican Museums will be the highlight of their travel. The space, where cardinals hold the conclaves to elect a new pope, is adorned with beautiful frescos by Michelangelo.
With over 900 churches, no other city in the world is so representative for the Catholic faith. Rome has four papal basilicas and seven pilgrimage churches. Each church is more beautifully decorated than the last, with works by the great masters such as Bernini, Raphael, Caravaggio and Michelangelo. As an art lover, you will feel right at home in the Galleria Borghese. All these Roman sights and excavations, the beautiful churches, the Vatican, the fun neighbourhoods like Trastevere, beautiful fountains – including the famous Trevi Fountain) – tasty trattorias, a picture on the romantic Spanish Steps and trendy fashion shops make Rome a chaotic and bustling metropolis where you can easily keep yourself entertained for at least a week.
CLIMATE
Rome enjoys a typically Mediterranean climate. September brings the mild autumn season to Rome as the average temperatures drop to the comfortable range of 15°C (59°F) to 26.7°C (80.1°F). It is one of the best months to stay in Rome and attracts crowds to the city as the summer heat tapers down.
ELECTRICITY
Italy, like most other European countries, uses 220Volt/50HZ. Plugs are European standard. Plan to bring an adapter plug and even a transformer for your personal appliances.
PHONES
For calls to Italy, use the international code +39. The regional code for Rome is 06. Calls from Italy follow international standard dialling rules.
SHOPPING
Most stores in Rome are open Monday through Saturday, from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm except on Sundays and Monday mornings.
TIME
Time Italy follows Central European Time (CET)
TIPPING
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant service charges but you can leave a little extra if you feel service warrants it. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice, but you are expected to tip the porter at top-end hotels.
If you are looking for further useful information you may start from Turismoroma website (https://www.turismoroma.it/en ), the city’s official tourist portal run by Rome’s town hall.