Rome the capital of Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the European Union and is regularly visited by an endless number of tourists. It is situated in the central-western portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber River. Rome is popular because it has a history which is truly ancient and glorious at the same time. Rome as a city holds so many attractions that a single visit is never enough to cover up everything in a single visit.
Rome is also considered very important as it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Vatican City has been recognized as an independent state by the Italian government since 1929. A visit to the Sistine Chapel is truly a heavenly experience. The Renaissance period can be experienced at a personal level out here. Also a rare sight seeing of the ceiling is a priceless experience, which highlights the creation of the world. It was painted by the one and only Michelangelo.
The Vatican Museums are one of the largest museums in the world and have 5 miles of galleries. The Gallery of Candelabra displays hundreds of ancient statues while the Gallery of Tapestries has beautiful Flemish and Roman tapestries with unusual prospective illusions. Finally the Gallery of Geographical Maps has maps showing Italy from South to North, in the 1500's.
St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world and is built on the tomb of the Apostle Peter. It houses some amazing masterpieces by Bernini and the famous sculpture "Pietà" by Michelangelo.
The olden parts of Rome have a rare charm of their own. They proudly possess a fine mixture of an open air museum, Castle St. Angel, a Papal fort and a jail too. The Piazza Navona is a large piazza and is surrounded by comfortable cafes and restaurants.
The beautiful fountain of four rivers by Bernini is something which should not be missed at all. And the Trevi Fountain is also famous and has been featured in movies like "Roman Holiday" and "Three coins in the fountain".
The Colosseum, an imposing structure reminds us of the past glory of the gladiators and their engaging fights with men and beasts.
