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Once in Rome, the options for entertainment are endless. Those that prefer their vacation with a side of history will, no doubt, want to stop by the Colosseum. This ancient elliptical venue was the site of famous gladiator contests and seated 50,000 spectators. Partially ruined today, it still stands as an iconic image representing ancient Roman times.

One of Rome’s more distinctive features is that a separate city resides within its borders. Vatican City, home to the Pope, has a population of only 800, making it the smallest independent state in the entire world. While it was not officially established as an independent nation until 1929, Popes have resided in that general area since 1377. Some of history’s most important art can be found in Vatican City, including Michelangelo’s famous Sistine Chapel.

Italy is known for its pasta and Rome is no exception. In fact, the National Museum of Pasta is located in Rome and alfredo sauce was invented by a Roman chef in 1914. After a day of sightseeing, be sure to hop into a local restaurant for a wonderful selection of pasta dishes. Le Mani restaurant in Tratesvere has some great reviews for its pasta.  It is different from other trattorias (eating establishment in Italy which is less formal than a restaurant) in Rome as it offers dishes not normally found in trattorias. Le Mani is so popular, it is always busy, so booking ahead is a must. It can get very crowded.

Rome has a wealth of hotels and hostels, depending on length of the visit it might be more economical to consider renting one of the many Rome apartments available in the city. Renting one of the apartments offers travelers the luxury of having a home away from home, more space than a hotel room while also having the option to cook meals instead of constantly eating out. A simple online search for Rome accommodation rentals will bring up a list of possible options for renting Rome apartments.

There are many different places to stay when travelling round Europe.  A lot of companies offer short term accommodation rentals in Berlin, Rome, London and you can even rent apartments in Paris.

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While Emperor Constantine had given the area to Pope Miltiades back in 313 A.D., the establishment of the city did not occur until 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty. The area which today comprises of the Vatican City has been the home of the popes since 1377. Previously, the popes had lived in Avignon.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City / Photo by admin

The Mediterranean climate means that during the summer months, the weather is dry and hot around the Vatican City. In the winter months however, there is a regular presence of rain. Because of the size of the St Peter’s Basilica, a hazy mist regularly forms around the city throughout the year.

Situated along the western banks of the Tiber River, the first walls built around the Vatican City were done so by order of Leo IV between 847 and 855. However, these walls would later be expanded in 1534 by Paul III, again in 1559 by Pius IV. The current fortified walls surrounding the Vatican City were built between 1623 and 1644 by order of Urban VIII.

Today, a white line runs through the middle of St. Peter’s Square which is used to distinguish the Vatican City borders with Rome. There are also a number of other famous landmarks in Rome which are designated as part of the Holy See, but are not part of the Vatican City; the most notable of which is the Castel Gandolfo and several major basilicas which are scattered throughout the city of Rome.

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