It's been featured in many romantic comedies (think the evergreen
"Roman Holiday" or the more recent "When in Rome"), its cuisine is
well-known (count the number of Italian restaurants in any
metropolitan city), and it's the 'in' place for fashion and style
(heard of Armani, Prada or Fendi?).
But what really sets apart this magnificent metro apart is the
historical and cultural significance. Sure, New York and Mumbai are
important metros too, but are their streets lined with quaint little
pizzerias and cobblestones? Can one see beautiful sculptures along
major crossroads and piazzas? No, it is only in Rome where these are
daily sights. Since there's so muchto see, here are a few do-not-miss
sights:
The Colosseum
About 1900 years ago, Emperor Nero, the much hated monarch, built an
artificial lake of about 300,000 square feet. After his death, the
pool was covered up and in its place was built the largeamphitheatre
we now call the Colosseum. At its peak (during thetime of gladiators),
it could seat about 75,000 spectators (about 1.5 times the capacity of
Chennai's cricket stadium). But what really strikes the viewer is the
aging grace of the structure. Even after having been half-broken down
by the invaders, it serves as a symbol of the grandeur once associated
with the Roman Empire.
Food and Fashion
Rome contains the headquarters of fashion brands like Valentino and
Bulgari and has the distinction of being the hometown of pasta!
For food, stick to the small pizzerias by the street sides. Theymay
seem a bit cramped as everything seems to be in Rome, where lack of
space is a huge issue, but the mouth watering food makes up for it.
Pizza, traditionally associated with Italy,first originated in Naples.
When the citizens of Naples showed their invention to the
city-dwellers of Rome, they were laughed upon… Guess the joke is on
them, now! Don't miss out on Roman specialities: Pomodori conriso
(Baked tomatoes filled with rice and potatoes) and Gnocchi alla Romana
(potato dumplings doused in butter and melted cheese).
Fashion-wise, things might be expensive, but don't be afraid to
splurge a little. The Via de Condotti is home to top designer stores
such as Armani, Prada, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucciand other
global brands. Once upon a time, store-owners used to charge up to €10
for customers to just walk through the doors! Thankfully, now we can
window shop and dream about these luxurious products without having to
pay a penny.
St. Peter's Basilica
It's true that the most famous structure in the Vatican City is the
Sistine Chapel, but the St. Peter's Basilica is not something you can
miss! The interiors are just as impressive as its exteriors. St.
Peter's is vast and spacious, leaving a lot of room for visitors to
wander and explore different parts of the church. Inside, one can see
statues by artists such as Michelangelo of popes and figures who
played a crucial role in the construction and maintenance of the
basilica.
Fountain of four rivers
Rome boasts of a collection of public fountains unmatched by any other
city. They were once used as a way of distributing drinking water to
the poor. Rome's greatest fountain, the "Fountain of Four Rivers" is
found in Piazza Navon and depicts Gods of the four great rivers in the
four continents then known to geographers: the Nile in Africa, the
Ganga in Asia, the Danube in Europe and the Río de la Plata in
America. Each sculpture is enhanced by decorations of flora and fauna
of the respective regions. To top it all, a giant Egyptian-style
obelisk towers over the whole piece. People were originally worried
that the obelisk would cause the whole structure to tip over, but it
has held strong.
Varalakshmi Sarathkumar, actor
Last August, I visited Rome for the first time. It was one of my best
trips. It is the food that reallymade my trip great. I ate everywhere
possible, from street food joints to luxury hotels and I wasn't
disappointed anywhere. The gelatos were particularly special.
Also, a discussion about Rome would be incomplete without a mention
about its splendid architecture. Vatican City is beautiful. What I
feel is that we may take photographs to relive moments but witnessing
the breathtaking landscapes there in real is a different experience
altogether
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:-> :->
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