Are You a History Buff? Romantic? Hollywood Junkie? There's Much in Rome for All of You

La vita e’ bella! – wow, what a city! Scrape your jaw off the street – newcomers to Rome invariably find themselves doing during their first few days here. The lavish sprawl of monuments are an astonishing display of excess and a testament to the fact that once, this was the power centre of the world – caput mundi. Not that it seems to matter to the motorini who whizz around their magnificent heritage at killer speeds, redefining that rather pompous term, “living heritage”!

Much of Rome is oddly familiar – remember those blurry pictures in school textbooks? Hollywood probably burned more images of Rome on to our minds than any other influence. Standing on the steps of the Colosseum, you can almost hear the roar of 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators watching a gladiator battle an infuriated animal. This enormous amphitheatre was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72 and completed eight years later by Titus, his son. The Pantheon, originally dedicated to Rome’s pagan gods is a marvel of symmetry and architectural innovation. Its huge dome remains the largest of its kind built without reinforced concrete. In the 7^th century, the Pantheon was consecrated as a Christian church, one reason why it was not left to the ravages of time. The Roman Forum was the imperial capital’s most happening place. Politicians and emperors felt the pulse of their subjects here, even as commoners engaged in business, prostitutes plied their trade and courts dispensed justice.

Getting around Vatican City, with its vast spaces and throngs of people requires will power, strong legs and sackfuls of patience. Why go? Because it’s worth it. The 11 Vatican Museums are storehouses of priceless art collected by a succession of popes. The walls of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace glow with the works of Botticelli, Perugino and Ghirlandaio. Michelangelo is everywhere – from the ceiling fresco of the Sistine Chapel to the Last Judgement and of course, St. Peter’s Basilica, which he took to designing at the age of 72. Book a ticket on the Vatican Museums website and get there early to beat the crowds!

History can be fun too, as you’ll discover among some of Rome’s quirkier relics. Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth) is a large, open-mouthed stone face in the courtyard outside the Church of Santa Maria, Cosmedin. Liars who dare to insert their hand in risk getting it chomped off. Just kidding! The Mouth was where dissenters of all stripes lodged their written protests to government or religious officials.

Older kids – who could get bored with Rome’s historical excess – might enjoy the Monster Park, an hour’s drive from Rome in Bomarzo. This Renaissance-era garden has huge stone sculptures of animals and gargoyles that kids can clamber over. There’s also the Capuchin Crypt, a series of small chapels under the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on Via Veneto). Between the 16^th and 19^th century, these served as the last resting place for thousands of Capuchin Friars. On display are their skulls and bones, arranged to resemble wall decorations and objects of everyday use – ghoulish, but nonetheless, fascinating.

Some of Rome’s best attractions come for free. One is a huge convenience for travellers – the nasone, or drinking water fountain. Nasoni (the name means “”large nose”) were installed in 1874, sturdy cast-iron structures with a nose-like spout from which flows cold, potable spring-water. Today, there are some 2,500 of these in metropolitan Rome, affectionately termed by locals as l’acqua del sindaco (“the mayor’s water”).

Then, there’s people watching. The winding lanes of Trastevere take you back in time. Sit yourself down in the atmospheric Piazza Santa Maria and soak it all in – mothers with their babies and the elderly come by for a breather during the day. At dusk, Trastevere is a spot for craftsmen hawking their wares, lovers’ rendezvous and hangout for trendy, young Romans.

For more buzz, the Piazza Navona is where you should head. This showpiece piazza sits over the ancient Stadio di Domiziano. Post renovation in the 15^th century, it’s been a lavish spread of baroque palaces, fountains and pavement cafes. Good for a stroll, a shot of espresso or delectable pasta!

Even as you savour the melange of hyperactivity, art, heritage, fashion and wine that’s Rome, watch out for the city’s other claim to fame – scams! Conmen, gypsies sweet-faced “bracelet makers” and pickpockets abound at tourist hotspots like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Barberini and train and bus terminals. Stay wary and safe and take home happy memories of Bella Roma.