Rome and the dolce vita, Rome the chaotic, Rome and its sunsets... Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni in the Trevi fountain, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Vespa, Toni Servillo and its wild celebrations... Rome never stops haunting our collective imagination through dozens of pictures. And yet if the Italian capital is an open-air museum, it is far from confining itself to its ancient remains and Renaissance palaces as the only attractions. The Eternal City surprises and surprises at every street corner by unveiling its timeless wonders. When you think you've gone around it, here comes a forgotten masterpiece or a picturesque square away from the crowd. And the best way to discover them is certainly to let yourself be guided by a pure Roman. An experience made possible by Airbnb. So, welcome to a city that never leaves anyone indifferent!
A World Heritage Site of Humanity
Rome, eternal city before the eternal! Since its foundation, Rome has been constantly associated with the history of humanity. Capital of an Empire that dominated the Mediterranean world for five centuries, it later became the capital of the Christian world and still retains its leading religious and political functions today. It is difficult to find another city with so many unique aesthetic achievements that have had such a significant impact on the development of architecture and the arts. Since its foundation, Rome has inspired many artists who have succeeded one another over the centuries. The Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel or the Trevi Fountain are all wonders, imprinted in the collective imagination. The ancient capital of the world is a real open-air museum in which the visitor evolves, seized by its contrasts: a mixture of the old and the modern, encounters between the religious and the profane, between harmony and chaos. Rome is a bouquet of all these flowers, with a sweet, heady scent, filled with grace and voluptuousness.
Thus, in 1980, the historic centre of the city of Rome, the extraterritorial properties of the Holy See within the city and the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The World Heritage site was extended in 1990 to the walls of Urban VIII, it includes some of the main monuments of antiquity such as the Imperial Forums and Mausoleum of Augustus, the columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian's Mausoleum, the Pantheon, as well as the religious and public buildings of Papal Rome.
Christian Rome and Museum Rome
Rome is the capital of Catholicism, the city of the popes who are the bishops of Rome, who were its masters for centuries, and also of the first martyrs of Western Europe. It is therefore not surprising that a large number of churches coexist there, from the converted pagan temples to the neo-Gothic buildings of the 19th century. It is also the only city that has a state (the Vatican) within its communal boundaries. Most of these churches, by their architecture and the treasures they contain, deserve to be discovered, just like a museum.
Becauseit is impossible to talk about Rome's assets without mentioning its culture and heritage. The Capitoline Museums contain sculptures dating back to Antiquity, as well as major masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance. In the gallery, you will also find many paintings by great Italian painters. Other palaces and galleries display the collections built over the generations by the high aristocracy of Rome and the Church, whether they are the Pamphili, the Colonna or the Barberini, to name but a few. The Vatican museums bring together exceptional works from the greatest civilizations, such as the Etruscans, Egyptians and Greeks. For lovers of modern creation, two major museums of contemporary art, with an exhaustive range, play an active role in the Roman art scene: the Macro and the MAXXI. This is only an appetizer, because the list of museums is still long.
Softness of life and intense nightlife
La dolce vita, like Fellini's major work, perfectly reflects the atmosphere floating in the city. Rome is a city where life is good and the newly arrived tourist is quickly caught up in a sense of well-being. Having a coffee on the terrace, enjoying an Italian ice cream or a granita in the shade of the narrow streets, quenching your thirst at one of the city's countless fountains, then strolling through one of its parks are an integral part of Roman life. Its inhabitants will seduce you with their friendly and spontaneous atmosphere, as well as their joie de vivre. Slow gestures, languid looks, a slow life. A certain idea of happiness to which we can only subscribe.
And, like all major capitals, Rome has an intense nightlife. Clubs and bars connected to small cinemas and neighbourhood theatres; a plethora of places host the city's cultural events, not to mention the summer events that take place around the squares when the temperatures are mild. The city belongs to the night owls. The Romans have a sense of celebration, as well as a pronounced taste for refinement and elegance. So plan a wardrobe for the occasion, if you want to join these improvised parades and have the door opened to the biggest discos. Many concert halls will offer you an evening of classical music. Something to delight night lovers.
Nature at your fingertips
Finally, not far from the noise and Roman pollution, you will find splendid beaches and natural parks. Thus, the Pontine Islands, 40 km from the capital, preserve clear waters, while the Castelli Romani offer beautiful views of the wooded slopes of the Albains mountains and volcanic lakes. The Circeo Park is one of the most beautiful in Italy for its preserved localities. In addition, the very heart of the city will charm you with its many natural oases and gardens such as that of the Villa Borghese, to name only the most famous. So let yourself be charmed by a city and a region where time does not pass like elsewhere.
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Useful. To immerse yourself in the local atmosphere and discover Cape Town with locals, there is nothing like organizing your activities with Airbnb Experience.
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