Known around the world as the Eternal City, Rome has been the capital of united Italy since 1871. Beginning as far back as 753 BC and continuing into the 1800’s, everyone from the Etruscan kings to numerous popes wanted to call Rome their own. Because the city has had such a large amount of rulers, Rome is steeped in culture and history. Some of the world’s most beautiful and romantic ruins lay in Rome including the impeccably preserved Pantheon which was founded in 27 BC. The body of the famous artist Raphael is entombed here. Some of Rome’s most cherished testaments of time are now used for modern day cultural events such as the Baths of Caracalla. Each summer both locals and tourists flock to this area to enjoy opera performances. The saying, “All roads lead to Rome”, has been around almost as long as the city itself. It remains as true today as it did during the city’s earliest days. Every year hundreds of thousands of world travelers flock to this city that is located on the shores of the Tiber River in order to immerse themselves in the culture, sights and traditions.

The Colosseum which opened in 80 AD and the activities that took place there have been immortalized in blockbuster movies such as the Gladiator, but to really understand the sheer magnitude and impressiveness of the structure it must be viewed first hand. Although the Colosseum was partly destroyed by an earthquake, it is still an impressive sight to behold. As the stage where bloody scenes of man vs. man or man vs. beast played out before the Roman people, visitors can almost hear the clash of metal on metal and the roar of the bloodthirsty crowd. At one time the structure sat over 45,000 people. Rome is also infamous for its baroque style fountains, perhaps the most famous being the Fontana di Trevi which offers an absolutely breathtaking sight during the evening. The Piazza Navona is a square with three fountains. The Fountain of the Four Rivers was created by the famed Italian sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The Piazza di Spagna is the sight of the famous Spanish Steps. The steps lead to the 15th century church of Trinita dei Monti. Bright beautiful flowers spill from the vistas, terraces and straight flights. Rome is also home to numerous temples and arches that pay homage to various gods and heroes of the city many of which are located in the Roman Forum. This is where the cultural heartbeat of Rome once resounded. The Arch of Titus was built to honor Titus’ victory over Judea which occurred in 79 AD. Engravings that tell the tale of Jerusalem’s conquest can still be seen inside of the arch. The Temple of Castors is one of the most visited sights in all of Rome. This ancient structure was built in 484 BC and has changed many times over the centuries. The temple was dedicated by Postumius to the demigods who made the fateful announcement of the Romans victory over Tarquins. Days could be spent wandering around and soaking up the history that is associated with these ancient ruins.