Holiday in Rome

What makes Rome special as a destination?

Rome, the Eternal City, is a vibrant open-air museum with over 2,700 years of history, where ancient ruins, baroque splendor, and the pulsating life of a modern metropolis fascinatingly blend. The Colosseum, once the stage for bloody gladiatorial battles for 50,000 spectators, still majestically overlooks the Roman Forum — the political heart of the Roman Empire. Just a few minutes' walk away stands the Pantheon with its perfect dome, which has held without steel reinforcement for almost 2,000 years. The Vatican forms a state within a state: The Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling fresco, the monumental St. Peter's Basilica with its 136-meter-high dome, and the endless corridors of the Vatican Museums attract millions of visitors each year. The Trevi Fountain, where one throws a coin to return to Rome, the Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona with Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers are must-see attractions. However, Rome's true soul reveals itself away from the tourist hotspots: In Trastevere, cobblestone streets wind between ivy-covered facades, trattorias serve Cacio e Pepe from grandmother's recipe, and children play late into the night at Piazza Santa Maria. Testaccio is the culinary heart — here, Roman cuisine was born with Carbonara, Amatriciana, and Supplì. An espresso at the bar for €1.20, a tramezzino on the go, and an aperitivo at sunset on Pincio Hill: Rome is Dolce Vita in its purest form.