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By Chris Snow
Rome is an enchanting place that has been attracting tourists
for its rich cultural heritage and brilliant historic
monuments. In the ratings of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2004
Reader’s Choice Awards, Rome grabbed the coveted second spot
on
the list of top ten European cities.
Some quick helpful facts about traveling to the city. You need
to have a valid passport to enter Italy though you do not need
a visa if the duration of the stay is less than 90 days.
However, there is an exception to this rule for some specific
countries. Since the summers are hot and dry, you should visit
Rome between October and March. Book yourself at a hotel that
is close to the historic district. The ideal place would be
Hotel de Russie, situated between the Piazza del Popolo and
the
Spanish Steps that are worth seeing.
Plan your itinerary well in advance, especially the places you
definitely want to visit. The ideal mode of discovering Rome’s
heritage is on foot, as it gives you the flexibility of
covering the locations at your own speed. The other option to
save cost is to use the Tram Bus system that links the entire
city and also the nearby areas. And if you are looking at
convenience, you can always opt for a private tour. Make sure
you have taken a pair of comfortable shoes. Carry minimum
weight while going around the city. The city has many eating
joints around the tourist attractions so you can appease your
hunger pangs any time you want.
The city is full of tourist attractions and it is a real tough
task to decide which of them are a must see. Your local
sightseeing plan for a given day could look like this. Start
with the Coliseum that is a popular tourist attraction. Since
the visiting hours change through the year, make sure that you
confirm the timings beforehand. To make this awesome
experience
more realistic, they have an hourly conducted tour by guides
in
the guise of gladiators. The next important stop, the Roman
Forum or Foro Romano, is just across the street. The Roman
Forum, the heart of the Roman Empire, is standing tall even
after 2000 years! You would be fascinated by the involutions
of
the Roman architecture. There is no entry fee here and you can
also avail the facility of guided tours.
The next stop, The Pantheon or ‘The Temple to all Gods’, was
built around 125 AD and is one of the best-preserved buildings
in Rome. Built by Emperor Hadrian, many famous personalities
like Vittorio Emmanuel II and Umberto I (the kings of Italy)
and the one and only Raphael are buried here. There is a nine
meter opening in the concrete dome which the only source of
light in this monument. It takes you back in time to the
glorious days of the Roman Empire and you cannot stop
imagining
being a part of the Romans, as it existed then. You would get
goose bumps dreaming of the kind of clothes they would have
worn, their language, gestures etc. You can have this
extraordinary experience through the year except Christmas
when
the Pantheon is closed.
By the end of the day, there is just one more place to see
that
cannot be missed. You can easily spend three hours visiting
The
Vatican and its collection of artifacts that chronicle the
Catholic Church’s history. If you have time, you should let
Michelangelo’s Pieta, which is housed in St Peter’s Basilica,
amaze you. The Vatican museum has even more splendid antiques,
including the Egyptian mummies. You should not miss Sistine
Chapel that has The Bible painted on the ceiling by the
legendary Michelangelo himself.
Well, whatever you chose to do, get to befriend your hotel
concierge first since he can be the best source of updated
information.
About The Author: For more travel and vacation tips and guides
visit www.comprehensive-travel.com
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