LISA! Language Travel

Italian Language Courses in Rome

Rome has a wealth of sights to offer, from well-preserved frescoes to museums with astonishing art collections. Evenings in this incredible city are usually mild, and the palm tree-bedecked bar terraces remain packed until the early hours of the morning.

Rome

The capital city of Italy lies on the banks of the River Tiber. It is also the largest Italian city, with around 2.5 million inhabitants. The city centre is packed with antique buildings, famous museums and large squares with decorative fountains such as the Fontana di Trevi. The Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world, and the official seat of the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1980 the city state was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status, as it contains some of the most important sights inside the walls of Rome, including the monumental St. Peter's Cathedral and St. Peter's Square. The Pope makes his twice-yearly 'Urbi et Orbi' address and blessing from the central loggia of the Basilica to the crowds below. The rectangular Sistine Chapel is also located in the Vatican, well-known for its ceiling frescoes such as The Creation of Adam, painted by Michelangelo himself. St. Peter's is the largest cathedral in Europe. From the top of the dome, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view across the historic city.

Across on the other side of the Tiber lies the large Roman amphitheatre, the oval Colosseum. This was once an arena seating up to 50,000 citizens of the Imperium Romanum (Roman Empire) where fierce battle between gladiators and wild animals were fought out out to the death. Visitors can easily access the Colosseum via the metro system, alighting at the station also named 'Colosseum.' Just next to this architectural and historic gem lies the Forum Romanum on the Palatine Hill, the cultural and administrative centre of the Roman Empire. Some of the ancient buildings and ruins here include the Arch of Titus and the Curia (house of the Roman Senate). The incredible frescoes in Emperor Augustus' suite of rooms has only been opened to the public in the last couple of years after undergoing extensive restorative work. The round Pantheon building on Via del Corso is one of the best examples of Roman Antique Architecture still standing. Built by Emperor Hadrian at the beginning of the 2nd century A.D., the temple houses the tomb of Raphael.

Romans traditionally meet on the Campo de' Fiori at around 9pm to kick off the evening. They might go out for dinner at one of the restaurants on the Piazza Navona, where you can enjoy your meal from the palm-lined terrace; or perhaps to a trattoria in one of Rome's more Bohemian neighbourhoods. They might then go for a stroll across the Piazza di Spagna to the famous Spanish Steps, when young people gather in the evenings and head to one of the clubs in the Testaccio area. Visitors are highly recommended to spend a good few days in Rome, as the city is large and full of amazing sights, top boutiques and shoe shops, such as Dolce & Gabbana or the Beltrami on Via Condotti. If you feel that your time in Rome is too short, visit the popular tourist attraction, the late Baroque-style Trevi Fountain; it is said that whoever throws a coin into the fountain is sure to return to the 'eternal city' of Rome again one day.