Project Destination Erasmus Plus – The Malta Tourism Authority.
Rome, the capital city of Italy is based in the Lazio Region and it consists of nearly 2.9 million residents in 1,285 square
kilometres. Rome is the country's largest and most populated city and fourth-most populous city in the European Union
by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome has a population of 4.3 million residents.
The Vatican City is within the Roman walls, although is an independent country, the only existing example of a country
within a city: for this reason Rome has been often defined as capital of two states. The Vatican City hosts the
marvellous Basilica of St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums home of the well-known Sistine Chapel with its ceiling
decorated by Michelangelo, a real unique masterpiece of art.
Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, Whilst the Roman mythology dates back to
approximately 753 BC, and has been inhabited for much longer, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied
cities in Europe. The city's early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans and Sabines. Eventually, the city
successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded
as one of the birthplaces of Western Civilization. The Roman citizens named the city "Roma Aeterna" (The Eternal
City) and "Caput Mundi" (Capital of the World), two central notions in ancient Roman culture.
Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Monuments and museums such as the Imperial Forum
and the Colosseum are among the world's most visited tourist destinations with both locations receiving millions of
tourists a year. Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics and is the site of United Nations' Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO).
Rome is also the home of some of the most beautiful squares in Europe such as Navona Square with the work of arts
(fountains and churches) of the artist Bernini and Borromini, Popolo Square with the widely known twin churches and
Venezia Square with the fatherland altar the access to the Campidoglio, home of the Mayor of Rome and the site to see
the famous she-Wolf who fed Romulus and Remus, funders of Ancient Rome.
Rome is strategically located and all is nearby, the seaside, the lakes, the hills and the mountains. Rome is famous also
for its excellent food and traditional cooking; you can taste different kind of pastas and lovely pizzas in all different
Roman restaurants.
Click on the following links and video for more information about Rome:
Roma – Sito turistico ufficiale: http://www.turismoroma.it/?lang=en
Rome.info – Your travel guide to Rome: http://www.rome.info/
ItalyGuides.it – A sightseeing revolution: http://www.italyguides.it/en/lazio/rome
Official Web Site of Musei Capitolini: http://en.museicapitolini.org/
Rome Video: “Rome in a nutshell, City Guide for first time visitors”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2VcEkPaeF4