The capitol of the Roman Empire to which it owes its name, and the centre of Christendom since the fall of the Empire, Rome is rich in monuments of its ancient history which justify its renown as the Eternal City.
Today Rome is not longer the marble city of the Papal era: since 1870,the year in witch it was proclaimed capitol of Italy, Rome has seen a widespread and, especially after the Second World War, uncontrolled urban expansion.
The best views of this urban complex sprawling over the seven hills are from the belvederes on the Janiculum (Gianicolo)the Aventine(Aventino) and th Pincio Hills.
No other city in the world has such a wealth of classical antiquities, medieval buildings, Renaissance palaces and Baroque churches.

Campidoglio... On the hill witch symbolised the power of ancient Rome, there now stand the city's administrative offices, the church of Santa Maria d'Aracoeli, Piazza del Campidoglio and its palaces , and pleasant gardens.
Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitol Square) was designed and partly laid out by Michelangelo from 1536 onwards. It is framed by three palace and balustrades with statues of the Heavenly Twins or Dioscuri. In the centre stood the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius installed by Michelangelo and now housed in the Capitoline Museums.
Colosseo (Colosseum)... This amphitheatre , inaugurated in AD 80 , is also known as the Flavian Amphithe after its initiator , Vespasian, first of the Flavian emperors. Work begun in the early years of Vespasian reign, but had completed by his son Titus and was inaugurated in 80 A.D. with magnificent spectacles lasted 100 days.
Foro Romano (Roman Forum) …. The remains of the Roman Forum , the religious, political and commercial centre of ancient Rome , reflect the 12 centuries of history which created Roman civilisation. The forum was excavated in the 19C and 20C.
Pantheon... An ancient building perfectly preserved, founded by Agrippa in 27 BC and rebuilt by Hadrian (117-125), was a temple which was converted into a church in the 7C.
Spanish Steps ...This square,was so named in the 17C after the Spanish Embassy occuopied the Palazzo di Spagna.At the foot of the stairway are the Fonatna della Barcaccia, by Bernini 's father.
Trevi Fountain.. Maybe the most beautiful and most famous fountain in Rome. It's a true masterpiece both of sculpture and architecture. The design of the fountain is highly simbolic. The large niche at the centre of the arch lends balance and symmetry to the whole ensemble.
Sistine Chapel..The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, in the Vatican City. Its fame rests on its architecture, which evokes Solomon's Temple of the Old Testament, its decoration, frescoed throughout by the greatest Renaissance artists, including Michelangelo whose ceiling is legendary, and its purpose, as a site of papal religious and functionary activity, notably the conclave, at which a new Pope is selected.
Trevi Fountain...Maybe the most beautiful and most famous fountain in Rome. It's a true masterpiece both of sculpture and architecture. The design of the fountain is highly simbolic. The large niche at the centre of the arch lends balance and symmetry to the whole ensemble.
St Peter...In the classical period Nero's Circus stood on what is now the site of S. Peter Basilica. The prince of the Apostoles was martyrized and then buried here in 64 A.D. In 324 A.D. the Emperor Costantine built a Basilica similar to many other of that period. In 1452 Pope Nicholas V appointed B. Rossellino to renovate and enlarge the basilica. Works was not resumed until 1506 under Pope Julius II, and this time the planning was radical. Most of the original church was desmanteled by Bramante. Various architects succeded each other until finally Michelangelo was appointed by Paul III. Michelangelo was succeded by Vignola, G. Della Porta, and D. Fontana. The work on the fa�ade was by C. Maderno and the sumptuous design of the square by L. Bernini.