Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It has over 3000 years of history and is home to the Vatican, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It is nicknamed the “Eternal City” and is the most-visited city in Italy.

The entire center of the city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it´s not hard to see why. Everywhere you look, you´ll see evidence of the city´s ancient past. The Colosseum is the most-famous monument leftover from ancient Rome. The largest amphitheatre built by the Roman Empire, it is about 2000 years old and was the site of the deaths and executions of nearly half a million people. The Roman Forum which served as the ancient city square, and the Pantheon which was originally built as a temple to the gods, also stand as a testament to the enduring strength of Roman construction.

Tour the Vatican, St. Peter´s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, and wander through the ancient Christian burial grounds of the Catacombs. Make a wish and throw coins in the Trevi Fountain and dare to tell a lie at The Mouth of Truth, (La Bocca della Verità) a statue recognizable to many people for its appearance in a scene from Roman Holiday. It´s rumored that if you lie with your hand in the statue´s mouth, it will be removed.

Rome offers dining for every budget, heavy on the Italian of course. Indulge in fresh pasta, hearty meats and decadent desserts, or stop at a street-side food stand for a cheaper option. All over the city, you´ll find merchants selling pizza or tripe sandwiches, a local delicacy, as well stands offering that quintessential Italian treat of gelato.

Links –
Vatican - http://www.vatican.va
UNESCO - http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/91
St. Peters - http://www.stpetersbasilica.org/
Sistine Chapel - http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Main.html
catacombs - http://www.catacombe.roma.it/
Trevi - http://www.trevifountain.net/index.html
Mouth of Truth - http://www.dpsusa.com/bocca_verita_history.shtml