ROME INTRODUCTION, Introduction

Hi, my name’s James, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the wonders of the world; Rome, the Eternal City.

The world’s first metropolis, the capital of an empire that lasted over a thousand years and stretched from the North of Africa to the North of Europe: no other city has influenced the society, life and destiny of humankind as much as Rome.

Founded in 753 BC, history tells us that Rome was built on seven hills named Aventine, Capitoline, Caelian, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal and Viminal.

Rome offers breath-taking views over magnificent, ancient Roman ruins and world-renowned monuments such as the Colosseum or the Circus Maximus, as well as dozens of basilicas and buildings from the Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo periods.

As I’m sure you know, Rome is the residence of the Pope, and it was governed by the papacy from 756 to 1871, when it became the capital of Italy; since then, the Pope’s residence has been in the Vatican State. Rome’s twin roles as the secular and religious capital have thus overlapped over the years in the city’s architecture, giving it a truly unique image.

No other city in the world boasts a similar number of masterpieces from every age, and the greatest artists of all time have left an indelible mark on Rome: from the nameless architect of the Colosseum to Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio or Bernini, to mention but a few. Here, you’ll have the chance to admire sublime works such as the Sistine Chapel, or the splendid Vatican Museums, home to the largest collection of ancient art in the world.

As you wander through Rome’s romantic little side streets, you’ll realize there’s barely an inch of the city that is not steeped in art and history, and you’ll be astounded by the views of rare beauty to be found in every square, from the smallest to the most famous, such as Piazza di Spagna or Piazza Navona.

Rome is bustling with life well into the night, with thousands of lively restaurants, bars, nightspots, cinemas and theatres.

With its romantic sunsets and the splendid parks that make it one of the cities with most green areas in Europe, Rome is an unforgettable city, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it.

You might be interested to know, by the way, that if you read “Roma” backwards, it spells “amor”, Italian for love.

So get ready to visit the wonders of this splendid city.

Enjoy your stay!