Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
Rome: Where
All Roads Lead
Every traveler to Italy should visit the capital.
by Barbie Latza Nadeau
O NCE IT RULED THE WESTERN WORLD . AND EVEN THE PARTIAL , SCATTERED
ruins of that awesome empire, of which Rome was the capital, are today among
the most overpowering sights on earth. To walk the Roman Forum, to view the
Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Appian Way—these are among the most mem-
orable, instructive, and chilling experiences in all of travel. To see evidence of
a once-great civilization that no longer exists is a humbling experience that every-
one should have.
Thrilling, too, are the sights of Christian Rome, which speak to the long and
complex domination by Rome of one of the world's major religions. I am a resi-
dent of Rome, and I am constantly reminded of its extraordinary history, which
sets the stage for your own visit.
It is virtually impossible to visit Rome without harboring at least a few expec-
tations. After all, most people have seen pictures of St. Peter's Square and the
Colosseum. There is a certain preconception that's hard to shake about dining
alfresco and wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets. In fact, Rome has
been described and typecast in such tedious detail that it may seem inconceivable
that you could have a unique experience here. But Rome is precisely the type of
place you can easily make your own—no matter how much you've heard or read
about the city.
With that in mind, it's important to remember that Rome is much more than
a place in which to be a tourist. Walk across the same stones that Julius Caesar
once traversed in the Roman Forum and imagine what it was like to rule the
world from here. Stare at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on a lonely winter's day,
or imagine Federico Fellini filming Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita as she splashed
in the shallow water of the Trevi Fountain. Or better yet, go to the center of St.
Peter's Square at dusk, when it is nearly empty, and try to remember the histori-
cal scene of the recent election of Pope Benedict XVI that was shown across the
globe; or look down between the square's cobblestones, at the candle wax left
there from prayer vigils when Pope John Paul II passed away. These experiences
can be intensely emotive, and they are so easy to include in your visit to Rome.
As Renaissance artist Giotto di Bondone said, “Rome is the city of echoes, the city
of illusions, and the city of yearning.” And as a visitor here, it is all yours for the
taking.
DON'T LEAVE ROME WITHOUT . . .
CATCHING A VIEW FROM THE TOP The best place to look out over the
eternal city depends entirely on the time of day. Sunset is best from Gianicolo
11
Search WWH ::




Custom Search