rome rises from the lazio region in the
central west of italy
cradled between the apennine mountains
and the tiranian sea the city of seven
hills is home to almost three million
people
according to legend rome was founded by
twin brothers romulus and remus 700
years before the birth of jesus christ
and it was here on palatine hill that
the foundations for the city were laid
a city that would soon become kaput
mundi the capital of the world
below the birthplace of rome plays the
roman forum
the far romano
filled with temples monuments and
markets the forum was the center of
public life in ancient rome and the most
celebrated meeting place in the world
when the roman empire fell in the 5th
century the forum was reduced to a cow
pasture
but the 8 columns of the temple of
saturn and the arch of cetimus refused
to crumble
in the 17th century young european
travelers came to rome searching for the
roots of western civilization
this hunger for rome's antiquities led
to their preservation
and still the travelers camp from all
corners of the globe
surviving earthquakes and centuries of
stone thieves the colosseum remains the
most enduring symbol of ancient rome
across four centuries tens of thousand
gladiators slaves and christians died in
a place of glory or martyrdom
on the nearby arch of constantine an
inscription bears the words
inspired by the divine
the pantheon was a place to worship all
the gods from juno the god of fertility
to mars the god of war
step beneath the dome central oculus and
stand in the same divine light that has
bathed emperors gladiators merchants and
travelers for almost two millennia
once a stadium today piazza navona is
one of europe's great squares
the thundering crowds and chariots have
long faded
replaced by a trio fountains baroque
architectures artists and the aroma of
rome's best coffee
no roman holiday is complete without
making a wish at the trevi fountain
toss one coin into the trevi and one day
you will return to rome toss two coins
and you will fall in love with the roman
if you're not looking for love relax on
the steps with a gelato
rome is a city of elegant bridges too
ponte santangelo was built by the
emperor adrian in the 2nd century as
part of the grand entrance way to his
mausoleum
rome may no longer be the capital of the
world but it has long been the center of
christianity
today modern pilgrims continue to cross
the river guided by the british angel as
they make their way to one of the
world's great squares piazza san pietro
san peter square
and here stands the world's largest
church saint peter's basilica
filled with masterpieces by bernini
jotto and raphael saint peter's crowning
glory is their dome
designed by the brightest star of the
reina sans michelangelo
from the dome look down upon the holy
square where two colonnades reach out
like open arms welcoming the faithful
who gator in their thousand to receive
blessing from the pope
as the sun sets on rome head to the
island sanctuary of isolative
let the russian worders of the liver
teaver soothing your senses and enjoy
traditional roman recipes that have been
perfected by generations of italian
grandmothers
this is just an appetizer an aperitivo
of what awaits in the eternal city to
really taste all of rome's treasures can
take a lifetime but be worried it only
takes a moment for rome to forever
conquer your heart
you