City breaks to Rome are like flicking through the pages of a history book. The Italian capital’s teeming with ancient architecture, and eating out delivers some of the country’s best cuisine.
The ancient Romans were on the money when they nicknamed this place the Eternal City. They believed it would survive forever, and the bevy of pristine historic sites shows that they weren’t wrong. It’s full-to-bursting with centuries-old architecture, and the gaps are filled in with trendy boutiques, pavement cafés and traditional trattorias.
Rome’s piazzas are at the heart of the city’s social scene, and showcase everything from symmetrical churches to Egyptian-style obelisks. You can’t go five minutes without stumbling on one of these charming squares, and they range from intimate meeting spots to sprawling, fountain-filled spaces. Restaurants spill out along the sides of Piazza Navona, while Piazza Santa Maria doubles up as a stage for street magicians and buskers.
Picture gladiatorial battles in the towering Colosseum, cross the statue-flanked bridge to Castel Sant’Angelo, or watch the world go by on the flower-lined Spanish Steps – and you’ve still barely scratched the surface. The whole city centre’s got a UNESCO tick to its name, and lines up other standout sights like the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, and the Capitoline Hill.
In the heart of Italy’s culture-stuffed capital, you’ll find Vatican City. St Peter’s Basilica dominates the skyline, while Tuscan colonnades form a ring around the adjoining square. The Swiss Guard, clad in flamboyant blue, orange and red-striped uniforms, continue their long-standing protection of the Pope around the grounds. Inside, the dazzling architecture includes the Sistine Chapel – tilt your head back here, and you’ll see Michelangelo’s famous Renaissance fresco.
Weather-wise, Rome’s a city of extremes. The summer months see temperatures hit the high twenties and low thirties – July tops the lot with highs of 32˚C. January and February are the coldest months, with averages of about eight or nine degrees, and December’s the rainiest time to visit. It’s generally dry and pleasant for most of the year, but sun-seekers should aim for late May to September.
British passport holders don’t need a visa to enter Italy but must have a valid passport. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy/entry-requirements ..
Don’t forget to arrange your travel money and insurance before you go.
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover you while you’re away. If you’re travelling to the EU and you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. This entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Italian nationals. It won’t, however, cover you for medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or non-urgent treatment. Visit www.nhs.uk/ehic for full details on what it covers. You do not need to apply for a GHIC if you already have an EHIC. Your EHIC remains valid in the EU until it expires. An EHIC or GHIC is free of charge. For the latest health and safety information, visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
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