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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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Bologna, Italy by Roberto Taddeo

The area where Bologna sits today has been inhabited since the 9th century B.C. In the 19th century, a number of archeological digs were undergone which uncovered evidence of settlements in the area. In these earliest days, the city of Bologna was known by the name of Villanova. With the rise of the Etruscan Empire, the city’s name would be changed to Felsina and then finally Bona during the reign of the Celts.

During the middle ages, the city of Bologna was considered to be the fifth largest city in the whole of Europe. It is also the home to the University of Bologna which is considered to be the oldest university in the entire world; having been founded back in 1088.

There are many towers located throughout the city and the historical center of town is one of the largest and most well-preserved in the country. As a result of the damaged caused by numerous wars, a huge movement in the 1970s led to the slow but meticulous restoration of the town’s oldest monuments.

Two towers of Bologna, Italy by Luca Volpi

There are many beautiful monuments, structures and churches which can be found throughout the city of Bologna. Many of these can be dated back to well before the 10th and 11th centuries. Every year, millions of visitors make their way to Bologna to see the amazing culture and heritage that this ancient city has to offer.

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