The capital of Italy, Rome is one of the world’s most magical cities. Teaming with over two thousand years of history, the destination retains a contemporary vitality to rival even the most modern metropolis. From classic Roman sites like the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Forum to Romanesque churches, Renaissance palaces and Baroque fountains, the assortment of famous sights scattered about the city is quite simply mind-blowing. So is the adrenaline rush of busy Romans whisking past ancient artifacts on motor scooters or rolling up to restaurants, cafés and clubs in posh Italian sports cars.
The museums of the Vatican, home to one of the largest and most important collections of art in the world, are an excellent place to start exploring. Here, the imposing dome of St. Peter’s Basilica serves as an alluring introduction to the treasures within, while Michelanglo’s Sistine Chapel is one of the undisputed masterpieces of Western art.
From the massive Museo Nazionale Romano and the opulent Galleria Borghese in the Palazzo Barberini to the elegant Doria-Pamphilj and the comprehensive Capitoline collections, Rome boasts an almost overwhelming number of must-see museums. Even strolling the city streets can feel like gallery hopping with such a plethora of evocative sights such as exuberant Trevi Fountain, post-card perfect Piazza Navona with its Fountain of the Four Rivers, and the steep Spanish Steps near the arterial Via Nazionale in the Centro Storico.
To the south, Campo de’ Fiori is packed with charmingly cramped streets to get lost in, while the Trastevere has remained something of a hub of Roman nightlife for centuries. Just north of the city’s ancient district, where the Colosseum is centered, Esquiline Hill is home to Nero’s Domus Aurea (or “Golden House”) and the magestic Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica.
Romeserves as an excellent base for exploring the neighboring region of Lazio with its ancient Etruscan sites of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, as well as Hadrian’s villa at Tivoli and the ancient harbor city of Ostia Antica. Nearly smack in the center of the boot of Italy, Rome is also a great jumping off point for destinations around the country. From the fashionista hub of Milan and timeless Venice in the North to rambling Naples and sunny coastal Calabria in the South, Italy is packed with an unrivaled density of historic sites and natural wonders.
United offers daily flights to and from Rome’s FiumicinoInternationalAirport (FCO). Book your next flight to or from Rome onunited.comand find out how to earn bonus miles when you stay at any Mileage Plus partner hotel or dine at any Mileage Plus partner restaurant in the city. For vacation packages to Rome including air and accommodation, visitUnited Vacations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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