Rome
Introduction to Rome
With a history of over two thousand years, Rome attracts its tourists with many historical sites and cultural attractions. The capital of Italy is an interesting blend of old and new traditions, many hotels and shopping sites, delicious dishes and interesting culture.
Presently, Rome combines many layers of different periods, among which the Ancient period, the Medieval one or Renaissance Rome. Still, there are some things which every tourist must see.
To name only a few, St Peters and the other main Basilicas, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Spanish Steps, the Pantheon and many more besides.
Places to Stay
Sandra and Kevin Brady have two adjoining apartments to rent in the area of Testaccio. A 10% discount applies to all parishioners of St Theodore's Church in Hampton, - for a minimum of 4 nights stay. A further 10% applies for a weekly stay.
Important Sites for Visitors
Churches and Basilicas
The five great patriarchal Basilicas are St John Lateran, St Peters, St Paul Outside the Walls, St Mary Major and St Lorence Outside the Walls.
Other notable churches include Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, S.Sebastiano, Santi Apostoli, Santa Cecilia, San Clemente and Santa Maria in Trastevere.
Some churches are open only for a short time in the morning and evening. Most churches ask that sightseers do not visit the churches during a service. Be sure to wear adequate cloths to enter churches and basilicas: if you are wearing shorts or if you have bare shoulders you could be stopped from entering some churches.
St John Lateran
The Basilica of St. John Lateran - in Italian, the Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano - is the cathedral church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope. It is the oldest and ranks first among the five major basilicas.
As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne (Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
St Peter’s
The huge basilica of St. Peter's is the most important Roman Catholic church in the world and is one of the most visited places in Rome. It is the composite work of some of the greatest artists of the 16th Century and a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance. Orientated towards the west and approached through its monumental piazza, the church has its fitting culmination in Michelangelo's dome.
St Paul Outside the Walls
This is the largest church in Rome after St. Peter's. The church commemorates the martyrdom of St. Paul and is believed to contain he Apostole's tomb. It is the centre of celebrations for the Pauline year, more information on which can be found at www.annopaolino.org
St Mary Major
Santa Maria Maggiore is the only Roman basilica that retained the core of its original structure, which has been left intact despite several additional construction projects and damage from the earthquake of 1348. It contains important mosaics and elaborate tombs and sumptuous chapels erected by the Popes in the 16 century and 17 century.
The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest and most important place of prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St Lorence Outside the Walls
The basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura is one of the seven pilgrimage Churches of Rome. It has remarkable architectural features, including two storeys of ancient columns in the presbytery, and extensive catacombs off the lovely cloister. It is a much more peaceful and friendly church to visit than some of the other major basilicas.
For additional information on the above churches please visit the official Vatican website at www.vatican.va
The Colosseum
Known as the greatest amphitheatre in the Antiquity, the Roman Colosseum was built about 1900 years ago by Vespasian. It is considered one of the greatest architectural achievements of the Antiquity and is proof of the grandeur of the Roman Empire.
Originally capable of seating 45,000-50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for holding gladiator contests and shows for the Roman people. The crowd watched shows involving exotic animals, naval battle simulations and fights with lions.
Today, the Colosseum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Modern Rome, being visited by millions of visitors every year. Even today, in a world full of skyscrapers or other impressive buildings, the Colosseum stands as a glorious monument of the world.
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish steps is one most popular meeting places in Rome both for tourists and the citizens of Rome.
The Pantheon
The Pantheon's construction began in 27 BC following the orders of statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and it was originally built as a temple to the seven deities worshiped in Ancient Rome.
The building is regarded as one of the wonders of the Ancient period because of its dome and its construction, being considered one of the greatest spiritual buildings of the world.
St. Angel's Castle
The name of the castle comes from an apparition during the plague of 590. The tradition says that Pope Gregorio Magno, while praying, was visited by an angel who was cased the sword, gesture seen as the end for disease in the area. This came to be known as the savior of the people and his name was given to the magnificent castle. During the Middle Ages, the castle gradually turned into a fortress and a fortified passage was built in order to connect the castle to the Vatican palaces.
The Mouth of Truth
The Mouth of Truth or La Bocca della Verita, located in the Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, is a remarkable marble mask and a popular attraction for many tourists. Thought to be part of an ancient fountain, the cracked statues represents an image of the river god and is well-known for its legend. According to popular belief, any liar that put its hand inside the mouth of the statue can not withdraw it, the statue eating the mouth of the liar.
The Trevi Fountain
Located in the rione of Trevi, the Trevi Fountain is one of the most famous and most appreciated fountains of Rome. The fountain depicts in the center Neptune, the god of the sea riding a chariot pulled by two horses, symbolizing the moods of the sea. On Neptune's left side, a statue representing Abundance is found, while on the right side is one representing Salubrity. Above the statues, there is a bas-reliefs, one of them showing Agrippa, the girl after whom the aqueduct was named.
There is also a legend linked to the famous fountain. If a visitor tosses a coin into the fountain, they are bound to return to Rome.