Rome is littered with relics of over 2000 years of history and exerts an enduring fascination over its countless visitors. The monuments of ancient times and the splendours of the Baroque are the backdrop to the hectic buzz of swarming scooters, bellowing motorists and animated street cafes. The streets contain reminders of all the eras in Rome's rich history - the Colosseum and the Forum are the most famous from the classical period and ancient basilicas bear witness to the early Christian era.
The influence of the 17th century can be seen through the work of architects such as Bernini, Borromini and Maderno. Magnificent squares and flamboyant façades mask a wealth of painting and sculpture by some of the greatest High Renaissance and Baroque artists - Caracci, Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Raphael, to name but a few.
Via del Corso, Rome's main thoroughfare, cuts through the length of the city centre from Piazza Venezia in the south, with the vast marble Vittorio Emanuele Monument to emerge in Piazza del Popolo in the north, beyond which lies the cool green refuge of the Villa Borghese. East of Via del Corso lie the elegant shopping streets including Via Borgognona and Via Condotti which lead up to Piazza di Spagna (the famous Spanish Steps).
At the nearby Trevi Fountain, visitors guarantee their return to Rome by throwing a coin into the waters. West of Via del Corso, a maze of narrow streets winds its way down to the River Tiber.
It is in the historic centre of Rome, the most complete ancient Roman structure is found. The Pantheon, on Piazza della Rotonda, built by Emperor Hadrian and completed in AD 125. Monumental in scale, the diameter of the dome and its height are precisely equal, while the interior is illuminated by sunlight entering through a 9m (30ft) hole in the dome's roof. Just beyond the Pantheon lies Piazza Navona, a long thin square, on a classical site, rebuilt in the 17th century in High Baroque style.
Close by stands the circular hulk of Castel Sant'Angelo, burial place of Emperor Hadrian and the papal city's main fortified defence. The district of Trastevere is the city's alternative focus and is home to numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
On the west bank of the Tiber, the Vatican City is an independent sovereign state, best known for the magnificent St Peter's Basilica. The Basilica is approached through the 17th-century St Peter's Square, a superb creation by Bernini, enclosed by two semi-circular colonnades, with an Egyptian obelisk in the centre. To the right of St Peter's stands the Vatican Palace, the Pope's residence. Among the principal features of the Palace are the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Gardens can be visited only by those on guided tours.
