Rome Itinerary

Rome is the current capital of Italy, said to have originated in the 8th century B.C., after which it grew and eventually became the great Roman Empire. Its historical legacy is unmatchable, and its buildings, gardens, museums, and ancient structures testify to its undeniable religious, political, and artistic impact.

Due to its location on the Italian coast, Rome enjoys warm weather for most of the year, as is typical of Mediterranean areas. The winters do get colder, with temperatures that average in the 50s, but not much colder than that. The summers – particularly the months of July and August, when temperatures are almost always above 90 degrees – can be unbearably warm, which is why the spring and autumn months are more attractive for tourists who want to visit.

Millions of tourists flock to Rome each year to see its historical buildings and other places of interest. One of the most well-known of ancient Roman structures is the Colosseum. Built in the first century A.D., the Colosseum hosted the famous gladiator combats viewed for entertainment by thousands of spectators. The Pantheon is another famous historical monument of Rome that continues to attract tourists. It was originally a temple of the Roman gods, built in the second century, though it became a Christian church at the start of the seventh century. The other most significant religious building in the city is the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano. The church was built by the emperor Constantine after his conversion to Christianity.

One of the most unique aspects of Rome is that it surrounds the territory of the Vatican City, the smallest country in the world and the seat of the Pope. In the Vatican City, one can see, among other things, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.

Rome is worth seeing for the beauty of its gardens. One of the most well-loved is the Villa Celimontana, a relaxing area of greenery interspersed with marble statues and fountains.

Italy’s form of currency used to be the lira, before it was replaced by the euro in 2002. The euro divides into 100 cents, and there are 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5 euro bills. The coins appear as 1 euro and 2 euros, as well as 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cents. Many of the larger establishments and tourist areas will accept credit cards for payment, but the local places throughout Rome generally prefer cash. For tourists, it is a good idea to carry travelers’ checks, which can be exchanged for cash.