Colosseum, Rome, Italy / Photo by admin

A Bit of Romance

If you want a bit of romance you know where to go, don’t you? Actually, the whole country is extremely good for romantic breaks but the word Venice springs instantly into the minds of most couples who want to enjoy an unforgettable break. Even if you have read a thousand stories about the place and seen hundreds of pictures of it you will still be bowled over by the setting and the atmosphere.

A Lot of Art

Art is all around you when you go to Italy and nowhere more so than in Florence. This famously beautiful city holds some of the most exciting art treasures known to man. If walking from one museum to another and looking from one stunning piece of art to another is your idea of heaven this is a fantastic choice of destination. As it is in Tuscany you can expect great food and lots of friendly hospitality.

A Whole of Sight Seeing

The only problem with Rome is that there is just so much to do there. This is fine if you have plenty of time to wander around and see the famous sights but in shorter breaks the overwhelming number of things to do can be just too much to take in. The Coliseum, the Roman Forum, the Vatican and the Pantheon are just some of the amazing tourist attractions which have fascinated visitors here for centuries. If you want to feel as though you are steeped in history while on holiday then you can’t do much better than go to Rome, as long as you have the time to enjoy it all.

A Huge Amount of Freedom

Going on a camping holiday has always been a popular choice with those people who want to enjoy a lot of freedom while they are away. This type of break is especially recommended for families and those who want to enjoy their family holidays on a relatively tight budget. Camping in Italy is increasingly common now as there are lots of top campsites across the country. A quick look at a travel site like Eurocamp or Keycamp ones will give you a good idea of what to expect once you get across there.

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Fontana di Trevi, Rome / Photo by admin

Rome’s Main Attractions

During a first-time visit to Rome, there are a few main attractions that must be seen including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Trevi Fountain.

Luxury Boutiques

Step foot in Rome and one of the first things you will notice is how fashionable the locals are, even when out running simple errands. How could they not be with their streets lined with the likes of Prada and Dolce & Gabbana? The most prestigious place to do some shopping is along elegant Via de Condotti. Here you will find luxury boutiques from some of Italy’s most famous fashion designers including Versace and Armani. It is a real experience to walk into Bulgari or Fendi and make a purchase in the city where these brands were founded.

Upscale Dining

Many people plan entire trips to Rome just to eat. While other areas of Rome specialize in rustic dishes, restaurants in Rome are as refined as those in New York City — but with that distinct Italian flair. Beyond dining in the latest and greatest restaurants, Rome also offers the opportunity to engage with food and wine. If you’re interested in cooking, how about signing up for a cooking lesson with a local chef? If you want to expand your wine knowledge, there are many tastings (some paired with food) that will be both educational and fun. There are also many walking tours led by local experts focused on traditional Roman food.

Relax at the Spa

Part of the pleasure of Rome is strolling through Campo dei Fiori or Piazza Navona after dark, soaking in the architecture and atmosphere. After all that walking, you’ll probably be ready for a serene spa day. This capital city has a range of decadent spas to choose between, including Cavalieri Grand Spa, De Russie Wellness Zone, and Hassler Roma Spa. Do a little investigating before your arrival and you could plan a spa day that includes a romantic couple’s massage. These spas are very popular and in demand, so be sure to make your reservations in advance online to ensure an appointment on the day and time you desire.

Rome’s Little Pleasures

It’s easy to fill your days in Rome with so many museums, shops, and boutiques. But part of the fun in Rome is slowing down to enjoy the city’s little pleasures. Instead of rushing to dinner, how about sitting down in a square for an aperitivo? For a little culture, you can get dressed up for an evening at the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma. The Italians are known for their sweets, so after dinner or the theater, why not stop into Gina, a restaurant known for its dolci? After a few days, you might start thinking like an Italian, beginning your day with an espresso and joining in on the daily evening stroll.

Rent a Luxury Apartment

If you really want to see how the Romans live, step into their shoes. Rent a luxury Rome apartment and explore the local neighborhoods. Here you can take fashion inspiration from the locals, discover off-the-beaten-path boutiques for shoes and handbags, and linger of a glass of wine at lunch in a local ristorante. A luxury apartment will provide generous living space and a kitchen for stocking healthy snacks and drinks. When researching, keep your eye out for rentals with special touches such as a soaking tub, a balcony with views, or rooftop access.

Regardless of where you stay and what you do, there’s nothing like a trip to Rome.  Take your time and enjoy it!

About the Author
Joseph Miller is a writer and analyst for HomeAway’s Travel Ideas site. He has lived in California, Oregon, Florida, Texas and Tokyo and enjoys a good cruise now and then.

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Foro Romano / Photo by admin

Location

The Forum is located in a valley between the Palatine Hill on the southern border and the Capitoline Hill on the western border. On the east is the Velia, which was leveled in antiquity and two hills Quirinal Hill and Esquiline Hill on the north.
The best place to view the whole complex is from Palazzo Senatorio which is behind Piazza del Campidoglio. After gazing at the ruins and imagining the ancient grandeur and enormous size walk through the broken columns and stones with a guidebook and plenty of time.

Description and Purpose

Filled with beautiful statues and architecture, it was the showcase of Rome for centuries. The Sacra Via or main road through the Forum connected the Arch of Titus, the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vesta. The presence of these many significant buildings and monuments testify to the importance of the Roman Forum to the city life.

The Forum was designed by Vitruvius and contained Rome’s key buildings including the Arch of Septimius Severus built in 203 AD and the platforms for public speeches, the Roman Forum Rostra as well as the Curia. The prows of captured warships decorated the Rostra and the triple arch had reliefs that depicted Rome’s victories in war.

Another part of Foro Romano / Photo by admin

The Sacra Via was the culmination point of the heroic military processions when victorious generals entered the city though the Triumphal Gate. The Forum is the oldest part of the city and many great and famous men walked on the same stones that are there today.

Where did it go?

It was for centuries the center of the world with a senate house, law courts, business district and market, and even with only the stones and ruins that can be seen today, it still lifts the heart and mind. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the west, the Forum became a cattle pasture at the end of the 4th century when it was buried and forgotten.

The Roman Senate building or Curia is the largest brick building in the Forum that still has a roof. The original marble floor and tiered seats for senators is still there. The arch of Titus celebrating victories in Jerusalem and the arch of Septimius Severus celebrating victories in Iraq and Iran are on opposite ends of the Forum. Eight magnificent columns of the temple of Saturn which was built in 17 BC remain.
The lead and bronze tiles and clamps were stripped and stolen, the marble blocks and, incredibly, the beautiful statues were burned to make lime for cement. This magnificent place remained forgotten until the nineteenth century when it was appreciated again.

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Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

The history of the oldest buildings dates back to 7th century BC, to the reign of the first Etruscan king. But first important buildings connected with political, religious and civic life began to appear here during the reign of Claire Caesar. In addition to patrician houses here were built shops, temples, basilicas and markets. The most commonly used building material was marble, gilt metal and cut stones. Construction boom stopped in the early 2nd century AD. The reason was simple – there was no empty space here any more.

Foro Romano began to lose importance with the fall of the Roman Empire. The buildings then began to decay. Advanced and splendid city turned relatively quickly into ruins. A large fire even help it in the 3rd century. Following several earthquakes and barbarous conquerors destroyed almost the whole area. Marble stones were dismantled and used to build local houses or shipped to other parts of Italy, to build churches and palaces. Finally Foro Romano became untidy overgrown space again.

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In the 18th century, archaeologists discovered this area and immediately started to clean it. Slowly and carefully uncovered the remains of ancient buildings, and finally Foro Romano saw the light of day again. The first comprehensive archaeological survey was carried out at the turn of the 18th and 19th century under the leadership of the Italian archeologist Carlo Fea. In 1803 he discovered the remains of a massive arch Septimius Severus and later of the other temples as well. After these discoveries the place began to attract researchers from all over the world. The main archaeological works were completed in the early of the 20th century when many ruins of temples and basilicas were uncovered.

Visitors to Rome now can see at least a fraction of these beautiful ancient monuments that once dominated by Foro Romano.

Foro Romano is currently considered one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Although it cannot amaze visitors with its ancient beauty any more, attracts them with its glory and mysterious atmosphere.

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Basilica di San Francesco, Assisi, Umbria, Italy by Jim Linwood

The town stretches along one side of Monte Subasio. A typical feature of Assisi are picturesque houses decorated with pink geraniums, narrow winding streets, small squares with fountains, a number of churches and other monuments from pre-Christian times. Visitors to Assisi can enjoy tranquility, comfort and cleanliness.

St. Francis of Assisi was born here in 1181 and later founded the Secular Franciscan Order. But the city has a much longer history. The city was inhabited already in around 1000 BC. From the Roman period there have been preserved several sights: city walls, forum, where is now the Piazza delle Commune, an amphitheater and the Temple of the Goddess Minerva where is now the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. From the original temple only the front face with 6 columns have been preserved.

Most sites, however, comes from the Middle Ages, when the city experienced its greatest prosperity, and was several times under papal jurisdiction. Among the most important monuments from this period are:

• Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Franciscan monastery which were built in 1228 – 1253. The Basilica was badly damaged by an earthquake of 26 September 1997 – where four people died inside the church
• Pilgrimage Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built in 1569
• the Cathedral of San Rufino, built in 1140 – 1253
• Basilica of Santa Chiara from 1257
• Santo Stefano – one of the oldest churches of Assisi

In Assisi there are much more beautiful religious buildings, which are definitely worth seeing. The main square of the city is already mentioned Piazza delle Commune, which was formerly the Roman Forum. Assisi is dominated by the medieval Castle of Rocca Maggiore, built in 1367 by Cardinal Albornoz. There is also the smaller castle in Assisi which was built much earlier, in the Roman era. However, only small part has been preserved and only three towers are open to the public.

The city offers to the visitors lots of cultural events. Most renowned festival is Calendimaggio, which is held here every year in early May. It presents the medieval way of life where you can see many actors of theater and dancing crews. Since 2000, the town of Assisi, is UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today there are living about 27.000 people.

In the city neighbourhood you can reach following destinations:

• Urbino – about 73 km
• San Marino – about 97 km
• Montefiore Conca – about 91 km
• Rocca fortress – about 97 km
• the Leaning tower of Vernazzano – about 45 km
• Orvieto Cathedral – about 57 km

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