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Ancient Rome: This centro storico (historic district) is where you find all the famous ruins that define Rome. The Coliseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill, the Pantheon and so on form the infrastructure of what was once the capital of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Ancient Romans walked - a lot - and you'll see this reflected in the compact area that was their home, much smaller than today's sprawling city. The streets are narrow and the piazzas are airy; except for the grandeur of the buildings, you could easily believe it had never been more than a small provincial town, rather than the most powerful city on earth.

Vatican City: This independent and tiny city-state - also known as The Holy See - across the Tiber, is the center of Roman Catholicism, with the Pope as its sovereign leader. It is the smallest country in the world and it is also very likely the richest, relative to its size. There are no natural resources, but it has an astonishing collection of priceless art collected over the 6 centuries of its existence. Despite its religious foundation, the Vatican has had its fair share of scandal and intrigue, which add an interesting twist to its appeal. St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and many other significant, glorious sites lure history buffs, art lovers, and pilgrims.

Trastevere: One of the last of the old, authentic rioni (neighborhoods) in the city, this neighborhood is populated with genuine Romans, some of whose families have lived in the area for centuries. During the day, it mostly has the busy look of a small Italian town, with people shopping, chatting, drinking their espressos, and boasting about their children. In the evening, it throngs with people "a passeggio" (walking around) and eating in the many excellent restaurants that serve Roman cuisine as genuine as its people. This neighborhood is really a village of its own within the larger metropolis, and the people even speak their own dialect.

Rome is a cityscape built on 7 rugged hills, halfway between the country's fertile, industrious north and the balmy, Mediterranean south. The city's green space is largely contained within parks and botanical gardens.

Spring and autumn bring Rome its best weather of the year, with average temperatures of 70° and rainfall between 2 - 4 inches monthly. Summer can become quite hot and sticky during the day, often reaching the 90s, but nights usually cool down. Winters are mild, with the lowest average temperature of just 47° coming in December.

If you want to be sure of the nicest weather for your trip, visit Rome in spring and autumn, as summer can get a bit hot and winter weather, though mild, can be unpredictable. For crowd concerns, June, July, and September are the busiest tourist months. Ironically, though spring and autumn and the nicest times for the weather, the crowds are smaller. There is a drop-off of tourist activity in August when Italians head out on their own vacations and either close their businesses or leave only skeleton crews to tend them.

Important Historical City: Rome is a city steeped in history, which has affected to some extent the entire world. Rome boasts one of the world's highest concentrations of artistic masterpieces, found in museums and churches across the city. There are countless sites to see, from the city's fountains to the imposing Coliseum.

Mediterranean Culture: Rome is the capital of Italy, and has a vibrant culture and heady Mediterranean atmosphere, all housed in a city marked by millennia of spectacular classical architecture. Rome's culture is best felt strolling the streets in the evening and tucking into some of the tastiest food on Earth.

Religious Pilgrimage: Throughout the year millions of Roman Catholics make pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy See. There is opportunity to attend mass and special functions headed by the Pope himself.

Ancient Rome

·Arch of Constantine: This is the largest, best-known, and last arch of Ancient Rome. It was built to celebrate the 10th year of Emperor Constantine's reign and his victory against Maxentius in 312AD to reunify the Roman Empire.

·Casa de Livia: The decidedly modest home of Livia, wife of Augustus, is remarkably well-preserved and features frescoes depicting mythological scenes, including an encounter between Hermes and Io.

·Coliseum: The Amphitheatrum Flavium is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, commissioned in 72AD by Emperor Vespasian as an entertainment stadium for the people. Rowdy crowds numbering up to 55,000 could quickly enter and exit the building through its innovative maze of arcades, staircases, and corridors. After falling into disuse in 523AD, it was heavily looted for stone to build palaces, bridges, and the Basilica of St Peter, causing much more damage than the simple passage of time. Restoration and protection did not begin until the 19th century.

·Forum: This was the focal point of the Empire, though it began as a simple market that later evolved, by the 2nd century BC, into a complex of offices, law courts, temples, and assorted government buildings.

·Palatine Hill: Predating the Forum, this hill is where legend holds that the founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were suckled by a wolf. Whatever the truth of its origins, Iron Age remains from the 9th century BC have been unearthed here. Its excellent location lured such dignitaries as Cicero, Mark Antony, and the emperor Augustus Caesar to make their homes there. Succeeding emperors continued to live on the hill until the Emperor Domitian built a vast imperial residence over the Palatine, thus coining the term "palace."

·Via Sacra: This road, The Sacred Way, linked all the main Forum buildings and is the oldest surviving street in Rome. Triumphal processions would flow down this route and culminate at the Temple of Jupiter on Capitol Hill.

Monumental Rome

·Capitoline Hill: The hill was once the epicenter of the Roman Empire, where the city's first and holiest temples stood, including the most sacred Temple of Jupiter. By the Middle Ages it had fallen into ruin and so remained until 1538, when Pope Paul III restored its grandeur for Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Its highlights today are the Piazza del Campidoglio and the staircase ramp by Michaelangelo.

·Pantheon: Emperor Hadrian built this temple in the 1st century BC to honor the 12 Olympic deities on the site of an earlier temple built by Marcus Agrippa. The world's best-preserved ancient monument, we owe its excellent condition to its conversion into a 7th century AD church, which deterred looters from taking its stones.

·Piazza Navona: This plaza is built on the site of the 86AD Stadium of Domitian, which was dismantled in the Middle Ages to make way for a market and jousting field. When its famous fountains were commissioned in the 17th century, it took on yet another personality as an elegant oasis for resting. Charged simply with raising an obelisk above a fountain, Bernini instead created a marble sculpture called the Fountain of the Four Rivers, one of the most amazing in Rome.

·Temple of Vesta: This is a 1930s recreation of the home of the "sacred flame" that symbolized the life of the Empire and was guarded by Vestal Virgin priestesses who lived in a neighboring house. The House of the Vestal Virgins retains the interior courtyard floor, headless statues of the senior vestals, and some man-made pools.

·Trevi Fountain: Begun in 1732 by Nicola Salvi and Pietro Bracci, this is the biggest fountain in Rome. The city's many fountains were meant to be simply a source of water, but their creators made art of necessity. Trevi is a sensational study in movement, with the stone carvings representing the ocean, and Neptune, god of the sea, presiding at its center. This fountain gained worldwide recognition when Anita Ekberg splashed around it in Fellini's film La Dolce Vita.

Christian Rome

·Catacombs: Early Christians were not permitted burial inside the city walls, so they turned to the catacombs. These are underground passages that linked graves and crypts and also served as meeting places for the persecuted fledgling religion. Christian insistence on equality and justice was seen as a threat to the security of the state and they were duly punished for their "insurrection." Many martyrs and saints were buried here up to the 1st century AD, and pagans had also been buried here as early as the 4th century BC because of the lower cost.

·Vatican City: Not actually a part of Rome, it is a sovereign state headed by the Pope. With its own head of state, palace, army, worldwide political relationships, currency, postal system and stamps, you would expect it to be much bigger than it is. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in substance.

·Sistine Chapel: Arguably the most outstanding masterpiece ever created by the hand of man is Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling depicting key passages from the Pentateuch. On the great wall of the altar, Michelangelo depicted The Last Judgment, with Christ the Judge dominating the center of this apocalyptic scene. The walls have panels by other masters, like Botticelli's Temptation of Christ.

·St. Peter's Basilica: Emperor Constantine commissioned a basilica to replace the altar marking the grave of the martyred St. Peter (which was unearthed in the exact spot indicated by tradition). Though it was meant to last 1,000 years, it was crumbling by the mid-15th century so, in 1506,Pope Julius II laid the foundation stone for a new basilica. It is the largest and most important Catholic church in the world, and its greatest feature is Michelangelo's dome. It has a series of columns interspersed with windows, the largest of which is the Loggia of the Benedictions, from which the Pope imparts his blessing to the faithful gathered in the square.

·Vatican Hill: This is believed to be the site of the crucifixion of St. Peter in the Imperial Gardens in 61AD. Around 200AD, an altar was raised to mark his tomb, known as the Necropolis.

·Vatican Museums: By far one of the greatest art collections in the world is found in Vatican City. In addition to priceless works by Renaissance masters, there is an extraordinary collection of historically important work by Byzantians, as well as early Christians, that makes palpable the intensity of faith that kept the new religion alive in the face of relentless persecution.

·Vatican Palace: A large group of buildings, a few of which serve as the residence of the Pope and the Pontifical Court and most of which house museums, galleries, libraries, and archives, make up the palace.

Out and About Rome

·Appian Way: The Via Appia, dating from 312 BC, was the road used by Roman legions, and much of the original paving remains. Fashionable Romans were buried here and the early Christians dug their catacombs underneath. The mass crucifixion of the noble rebel Spartacus and his slave army in 71 BC lined the route in a gruesome forest of death all the way to Capua. Yet, today, this is many a Roman's favorite place to stroll, as the scenery, historic presence, and ancient trees create a setting as magnificent as the world can offer.

Day Trips

·Cápri: At the far end of the Sorrentine peninsula lies the island of Capri, a vacation getaway at least since Emperor Tiberiusretreated here for bouts of hedonistic excess until his death in 37AD. The Blue Grotto and the island's stunning landscape and views have inspired writers and artists for centuries, and led to its natural evolution as a tourist destination. Many ferries from Rome service the island.

·Florence: When interest in Renaissance art surged to the forefront of aesthetic appreciation in the 19th century, Florence was reborn as a shrine to the movement. The signature landmarks of the marble Baptistery and the Duomo are stupendous, but the treasures of the city are actually indoors, in the galleries, chapels, and museums that contain an inexhaustible collection of the spiritual hand of the Renaissance artist. It was here that the Medicis made their fortune in banking and turned the city into a center of patronage for the burgeoning masters.

·Naples: 124 miles south of Rome lies this "Capital of the South," large, overbearing, and noisy, whichis just the way its fiercely loyal citizens like it. You may be taken aback at first, but then you realize that these abrupt elements are the city's very attraction, akin to the chaos of New York City. In Naples, you get the sensation that you have stumbled upon some sort of Italian Casbah unlike any other in Europe.

·Pompeii: The larger of the two cities destroyed by the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD (the other was Herculaneum), which buried the town and its people, Pompeii was one of the Campania region's most important commercial centers. The volcanic ash and layers of pumice effectively froze the village in time, giving us a priceless, though tragic, image of exactly how imperial citizens lived.

·Sorrento: Atop the rocky cliffs jutting off its peninsula 150 miles South of Rome, Sorrento is a brazen seaside resort that has drawn travelers from around the world for over 200 years. The lively atmosphere stays true to its unpretentious southern Italian roots, and it the perfect place to explore the rugged Amalfi shore and bay islands.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as "Italian food." What you eat in all your favorite restaurants and cook up at home is really a collection of regional dishes, like the lasagna of Bologna, the creamy risotto of Milan, or the spaghetti with tomato sauce of Naples. Rome has its own cuisine, but you probably haven't had too much of it, since it has never really made its way to international kitchens. Even in the city itself, it's hard to come by as restaurants cater more and more to an increasingly diverse population demanding equally diverse food choices. Roman cooking is based on seasonal local ingredients like milk-fed lamb, artichokes from the sandy coastal plains, and fresh vegetables from the Campagna Romana farms. The food is simple, hearty, irresistibly aromatic and, thankfully, not yet extinct. Travestere still has many affordable and authentic Roman eateries despite its rapidly developing tourist trade. Affordable dining, in fact, can be found all over Rome.

Gourmet

Ristorante da Pancrazio serves some of the finest Roman food in the city in an archaeological setting. Risotto alla pescatora and saltimbocca, along with many other classic dishes, make the transition from ancient traditional peasant dinner to culinary renaissance chic. To perfectly complement your culinary time travel, Pompey's theater - lined with marble columns and bas-reliefs - is your banquet hall! Piazza del Biscione 92

Quinzi & Gabrileli: This is the place to come for the freshest seafood in all of Rome. Located in a 15th-century building, Quinzi & Gabrileli has earned its reputation by serving fresh fish cooked and presented in a simple manner. There are no frills because there is nothing to hide. Look for appetizers and entrees of sea urchin, octopus, sole, and red mullet. The restaurant is also renowned for its raw seafood, including carpaccio of swordfish, sea bass, and deep-sea shrimp. The house specialty is spaghetti with lobster, and tastes best when dining al fresco on the small dining terrace. Headwaiters prepare wriggling crab or scampi on the grill right before you, but expect to pay for the privilege. Reservations are recommended. Via delle Coppelle 5-6

Highly Recommended

Myosotis: Living up to its Latin name, "forget-me-not," Myosotis is a central Rome branch of a long-flourishing restaurant in the far-flung suburbs. The chefs prepare "grandma's best" recipes tweaked with the latest innovations and flavors to make a perfect blend of adventurous comfort food. Prawns are so fresh you could be dining on a shrimp boat and the frittura mista (mixed fish fry) is the best in town! Vicolo della Vaccarella 3-5

La Pergola: The Cavalieri Hilton's spectacular panoramic restaurant sits high atop Monte Mario. Views at sunset are stunningly beautiful, and in summer you can dine al fresco on the restaurant's terrace. The setting is elegant, befitting the reputation of German chef Heinz Beck, who continually dazzles the sophisticated taste buds of Rome. Italian cuisine is taken to new heights, mixing cheeses, spices, olive oil, and white wine into pasta and antipasti entrees, including spaghetti and seafood dishes. Try the succulent and flavorful pigeon with asparagus and porcini mushrooms, the deep-fried zucchini flowers with shellfish and saffron consommé, or the lamb baked in puff pastry with fresh baby eggplant. Be sure to make reservations to ensure a table at one of Rome's most revered dining venues. Via Cadlolo 101, Monte Mario

Local Flair

Da Baffetto pizzeria isn't just a place to get a slice, it's a part of the culture. This packed little gem has everything you want in a "tourist-lite" kind of place - red-shirted unflappable waiters, noisy students, long group tables, outdoor tables, and a toppings listthat leaves no doubt you're not in Kansas anymore. Try one of the most popular pizzas, the one that comes topped with artichokes and a soft runny egg in the center. Via del Governo Vecchio 114

Le Cinque Statue: This comfortable restaurant is run by a very hardworking Italian family who pride themselves in preparing a traditional, unpretentious cuisine. For authentic local food, this is the place to be. For starters try a pastiche of mushrooms, or select from the excellent antipasti menu. Entrees are simple yet delectable, including such choices as rigatoni with fresh herbs, tripe fried Roman style, and mixed fry of brains and vegetables. All pasta is freshly made on the premises, and all meals are accompanied by local wines. If you have room, finish the meal with some fresh fruit and homemade Italian ice cream. Via Quintillio Varo 8, Tivoli

Romantic

Relais Le Jardin has an atmosphere that could not be more romantic if Nat King Cole dropped by your table to sing "Unforgettable." A piano bar, white-lattice woodwork, rich colors, and masses of fresh flowers set the tone, and an ever-changing menu accommodates seasonal ingredients. Tucked into an art deco villa neighboring embassies and exclusive townhouses, its setting puts the finishing touch on your evening. Via G. de Notaris 5

La Terrazza: What could be more romantic than dining in one of Rome's finest restaurants while enjoying sweeping views over St. Peter's? You and your loved one will delight in the exquisite creations found on Chef Enrico Derfligher's seasonally changing menu. Perhaps you wish to start with the zucchini blossoms stuffed with ricotta and black olives, or the lobster medallions with apple purée and black truffles. Then choose from entrees such as tomato mousse tortelli stuffed with mascarpone cheese and drizzled with lemon, or sea bass baked in a crust of black olives and served with oregano and potatoes. Finish the meal with a rich dessert and coffee. Via Ludovisi 49

Before you sprinkle glitter in your hair and go dancing, or before you nestle into a velvet chair to soak in a harp concerto, take a stroll through illuminated Ancient Rome. It's a goose-bump experience and also conveniently passes some time until the action gets going much later time than you're probably accustomed to. Later in the evening, party at a student-run rave in an abandoned fortress or have a pint at one of the newcomers to the Roman night scene… the Anglo-Saxon pub! If you visit in summer, there'll be lots of outdoor concerts and, year-round, there are countless local bands playing just about anywhere that serves a drink. For current happenings in English, look for the Wanted in Rome or Metropolitan mini-mags for jazz, rock, and other such listings.

Alien: The latest of the hippest clubs, this future-shock, high-tech dance hall is deliberately bare-piped and metal-happy. Strobe lights and techno music spun by the best dance DJs feed the frenzy. Between sets, an emcee provides cabaret or comedy.

I Cherubini: A god-send if you like music, like to dance, like a cocktail or two, but would never set foot in a room full of raving 20-somethings. This tea room and piano bar has a small dance room where you can sway peacefully to romantic melodies or get a little jiggy with more playful tunes.

Centri Sociali: The coolest places for 20-somethings to be seen these days, the centri are mostly run by politically active students to provide an alternative to the corporate, high glitz dance club scene and offer concerts, films, readings, avant-garde art exhibits, and, of course, parties. Roma C'e and Il Manifesto list the many centri and their activities.

Da Ciceruacchio: The 18th-century vine-covered walls date from the time when this building was a sunken jail, but there's more than bread and water being served today. Dine on savory steaks and wine, with an original bean soup specialty of the house, but it's really all about the entertainment. Folk groups appear throughout the evening, the most popular singing old-time favorite Neopolitan tunes accompanied by guitars and harmonicas.

Classical Music: There are quite a few places to find large concerts or small performances, especially during summer. The city's various churches host a wide range of choral, chamber, and organ recitals, many of which are free! The Accademia di Santa Cecilia presents concerts by its own orchestra as well as visiting groups at Via dei Greci, and in summer at the Piazza del Campidoglio.

Opera: The Teatro dell'Opera is the focus of the November to May season, after which performances move outdoors to the Piazza di Siena in Villa Borghese park - a gorgeous location for the uniquely carnival-like atmosphere of these epic productions.

Festa di Sant Agnese: This ancient ceremony focuses around the blessing and shearing of two lambs. The wool is used to weave palliums, white woolen bands with pendants worn by a pope or archbishop. This practice is derived from the men of ancient Greece and Rome. January

Festa della Primavera: Welcomes spring with banks of flowers along the Spanish Steps and lovely performances of orchestral and choral concerts in Trinità dei Monti. April

Holy Week: A sacrosanct time in Rome, when legions of the devout attend various events, the most notable of which is a procession led by the Pope through the ruins of Ancient Rome. The observances come to an end with a traditional torchlight parade. April

Easter Sunday: This day is the focus of Holy Week, which bring pilgrims pouring in from all over Italy and the world. From the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the Pope blesses his flock as the international media broadcast it worldwide. April

Festa di San Pietro: The most important Catholic festival in Rome. June

La Festa di Noiantri: Trastevere, the most colorful and authentic quarter of Old Rome, fills with streams of people feasting on the savory food and drink served at tables lining every street. Mirth abounds as street musicians and assorted performers entertain. July

Sagra dell'Uva: Brings musicians in ancient costume to entertain friends, Romans, countrymen, and tourists during the harvest festival. Grapes are sold at grab-em-while-you-can discount prices. September

Papal Christmas Blessing: The Holy Father imparts his blessing "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and to the world) from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica with the same enormous attendance and world-wide media coverage as the Easter blessing. December 25

Bring sturdy, comfortable walking shoes and loose, cool, clothing for summer. Winters are cold, but quite mild, so just pack moderately warm clothes. Spring and autumn call for a medium gauge jacket. As for style, tidy casuals are perfect for most activities, except certain upscale venues that may require a jacket and tie for men, with equally fine dress for women.

Italian (in varying dialects) is the national language, but many other languages are spoken in varying degrees of fluency, including English, French, Spanish, and German.

The current is 220 volts/50 cycles AC, though some places are fitted with 110-volt outlets. Generally, expect to need an adapter and transformer for American appliances.

We strongly suggest that you verify with a consulate for the most current and complete rendering of the information outlined below.

Entry: A valid US passport is required, but no visa is needed for stays up to 3 months.

Italian Customs: Most items intended for personal use can be brought in duty-free, in addition to 400 cigarettes or cigars/pipe tobacco not exceeding 1 pound. Limits on alcohol are strict, but if you purchase it tax-paid in another European Union country, the rules are more liberal.

US Customs: US citizens are allowed to bring $800 worth of duty-free merchandise every 30 days. After that, you are charged a flat rate on the next $1,000 worth of merchandise. For easier processing, have your receipts handy.

US Embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 119Aa, Rome, Italy; phone (+39) 06-46741, fax (+39) 06-48-82672

Ente Provinciale per il Turismo: Via Parigi 11, Roma 00185, Italia; phone: (+39) 06-48-899-253

New York: 630 Fifth Ave, Suite 1565, New York, NY 10111; phone 212-245-4822, fax 212-586-9249