| Italy is a country
located in Southern Europe comprising of the Po River valley,
the Italian Peninsula and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean
Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern alpine
boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The
independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican City are
enclaves within Italian territory, while Campione d'Italia
is an Italian exclave within Switzerland.
Today, Italy is a highly-developed country with the 7th-highest
GDP and the 17th-highest Human Development Index rating in
the world. It is a member of the G8 and a founding member of
what is now the European Union, having signed the Treaty of
Rome in 1957. Inhabitants of Italy are referred to as Italians
(Italiani, or poetically Italici).
Rome, the eternal city has been a destination
for travellers for more than three thousand years. The following
articles provide
an introduction to some of Rome's most outstanding attractions.
Rome
The Colosseum
When Rome dominated the world, one of the most popular places
for Romans to go for entertainment was the Flavian Amphitheater. Continued
St Peter's Basillica
Any tourist to Rome will tell you that the attraction formerly
known as Basilica di San Pietro and now called St. Peter's
Basilica stands out as one of the best. Continued
The Roman Forum
There is a very unique part of Roman history that you will
want to visit between Palatine Hill and Capitoline Hill near
Rome. The Forum Romanum or the Roman Forum, may be one of the
most ambitious archaeological projects of all time. Continued
The Vatican Museums
If we were to list all of the galleries and museums that make
up the famous Vatican Museums, it would take up all our time
just reading them. And if we listed the many artists and famous
art works contained in those galleries, the list would be even
longer. Continued
Domus Aurea
If you are looking for a fascinating attraction in Rome, the
ancient ruins of the Golden House of Nero have just recently
been opened after years of being excavated and restored. Continued
The Fountains of Rome
The fountains that you will find in Rome are amazing to see
and they are rich with tradition and history. There are fountains
that date as far back as the Roman Empire plus many that reflect
the surge of creativity of the Renaissance. Continued
The Pantheon
When you visit Rome and you go to see a building from the
first century, you expect it to be pretty much in ruins.
That is why the Pantheon is such a surprise because it has
survived intact all of those centuries. Continued
The Sistine Chapel
It was Pope Sixtus IV who commissioned and gave the name to
the Sistine Chapel. But it was in 1508 that Pope Julius II
gave the chapel worldwide fame when he commissioned the
Italian artist Michelangelo to paint the 10,000 square foot
ceiling with creative frescoes. Continued |
