THE NEIGHBOURHOODS

Rome ('Roma' in Italian) has been founded around 752 b.C., close to the mouth of the Tiber river. There is probably no other place in the world were you will be able to admire 2700 years of history and so many monuments concentrated in such a small area. Almost every corner of the city's center has its own story. It will come as no surprise that the neighbourhoods that can nowadays be distinguished all have their own characteristics, their own history and sometimes even their own culinary traditions or local dialect. Some are packed with the greatest jewels of ancient times, others will reflect the presence of religion throughout the ages, and again others will be labyrints of narrow streets full of Roman gastronomy. Below you will find a short overview of the most important neighbourhoods. Click in the bar on the left for more detailed information.

The Vatican City
The Vatican is a state within a city. It has its own administration, its own post office, radio station, newspaper, embassies and its own army: the Swiss Guard. The homeland of the Catholic church and pope Benedictus XVI is without doubt one of the most impressive places of Rome. The heart of it is formed by Saint Peter's Square, which is embraced by Bernini's porticoes. Facing the piazza is Christendom's largest church, the magnificent Saint Peter's Basilica. On the north side of the Vatican are the huge and marvelous Vatican Museums, housing a large collection of stunning art-works and the world-famous Sistine Chapel. Do not let the crowds scare you: a visit to the Vatican is worth a few hours waiting. Click here to explore more.

Piazza Navona and around
The neighbourhood around Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori, in the heart of the historical center of the city, can be considered on of the most diverse and busy areas of Rome. One moment you will find yourself strolling through narrow streets that you share with too much traffic, a minute later you suddenly note the buzz of some of the most beautiful piazzas Rome has to offer. The Piazza Navona is one of the most spectacular squares of Italy. Built on the fundaments of the stadium of the Roman emperor Diocletian, the piazza houses some beautiful baroque palazzi and Bernini's famous 'fountain of the rivers'. The nearby Campo de' Fiori is an open-air market at daytime and one of the Romans' favourite spot for an aperitivo in the early evening. But there is more! Click here to discover the area.

Piazza di Spagna and around
The Piazza di Spagna is most known for its flowered Spanish Steps that lead up to the church of Trinità dei Monti, from which there is a beautiful view over the center of Rome. It is one of the most famous piazzas of Rome and has already for a long time been a meeting-place for foreign visitors of the eternal city. The area is nowadays also one of the most expensive areas for shopping, especially in the elegant via Condotti that also houses the famous caffè Greco. This café, which opened in 1760, was the meeting place of poets, artists and aristocrats throughout the ages. Keats, Byron, Goethe and Casanova all drank their favourite espresso here. In the area you will also find some interesting churches, especially around the obelisked Piazza del Popolo. Click here to visit the area.

Roman Forum and around
This is the heart of classical Rome and one of the most stunning archeological areas of the world. The Forum and the area around it have been the political, economic and social center of the Roman empire for more than twelve decades.The palaces of the Roman emperors on the Palatine hill, the temples and markets of the Forum, the triumphal arches of Titus and Constantine, the gladiator fights of the Colosseum and the Capitoline Museums: this is where
the splendour, glory and power of Rome in antiquity will come alive. Click here to discover more.

Trastevere
With a name that literally means 'on the other side of the Tiber', the neighbourhood of Trastevere has always kept its own character. At daytime, in this area of narrow streets, small churches and traditional trattoria's one can breathe the air of ancient times in an almost serene tranquility. But when the sun has gone done, Trastevere transforms into one of Rome's most popular area to go out. It is packed with restaurants, bars and pizzeria's and crowded until late at night. The beautiful Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere is the lively centre of this must-see neighbourhood. Click here for more.

Via Veneto and the Villa Borghese
While the glamorous atmosphere of the Via Vittorio Veneto, as it was portrayed by Federico Fellini in his masterpiece 'La Dolce Vita', has since long disappeared, it is still one of Rome's most expensive area's housing some of the city's most exclusive hotels. The majestic, tree-lined boulevard winds up to the entrance of the Villa Borghese park. Between beautiful gardens, fountains and
a few of Rome's most impressive pieces of art, located in the marble-white Galleria Borghese, you are close but oh so far away from the Eternal City's busy centre. Read more.

Outside of the centre
Escape the city centre and follow the cobble-stoned trail of the illustrious Via Appia. Discover the magnificently excavated old port of Rome at the archeological park of Ostia Antica. Or visit the remains of Emperor Hadrian's luxourious villa in the hills around Tivoli. Click here to find out more on what to see outside the city's borders.