Rome is one of the most beautiful cities that I have visited. It has a long, rich culture and history brimming with ancient monuments from the Roman Empire. Some of these moments are almost 2,000 years old. The top site is Palatine Hill, where the first emperor of Rome, Augustus, constructed his frugal palace. Palatine Hill was significant to the ancient Romans because they believed two brothers, Romulus and Remus, were kept alive by a wolf in a cave in Palatine Hill. The boys were found and raised. Then Romulus eventually killed Remus and established the city of Rome after his name. The Colosseum and Forum Romanum are at the base of the hill. The Forum Romanum was originally a marketplace that evolved into the centre of Roman life. The forum had government buildings and temples and was a place for public speeches, criminal trials, and gladiatorial matches.
The only problems with Rome are the tourists. You know when you are approaching a famous monument. You turn a corner, and crowds of people stroll like herds of cattle along the sidewalks.
Of course, I love a good cup of cappuccino, and Rome has the best cappuccino in the world. A small coffee shop hidden from a main road would make a great cappuccino. The coffee glides down the throat softly like silk. Just remember, latte means milk in Italian. If you want the coffee latte, ask for a latte cafe, or you will get a frothy hot cup of milk.
Italy
- The country's area spans 116,346 square miles, making Italy the 71st largest country in the world.
- The currency is the Euro.
- The capital is Rome, which has a long, rich history.
- In 2010, the population was estimated at 60 million, making Italy the 23rd most populous country in the world.
- Rome is the country's largest city and financial, manufacturing, and political hub.
- Rome is 2,500 years old and dominated Western Civilization. Rome was the centre of the Ancient Roman Republic and Empire.
- The papacy, the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church, has been headquartered in Rome since the first century A.D.
- Rome is the major tourist destination for foreigners, while Venice is second.
Trieste is a small port city located in Northern Italy near the Slovenian border on the Adriatic Sea. The city is immaculate and modern, and it has a very Italian character and flavour to it. The best amenity is the lack of tourists. The sidewalks are spacious and devoid of rustling people and tourists. The roads have little traffic, and the train station is located downtown near the central park. On the peripheral side of the central park is the transportation hub, which links to local and international bus stations. I planned to stay a few days and visit the local museums; however, Trieste is still part of Italy and is just as expensive. I decided to hop on a bus and head directly to Ljubljana, Slovenia. After Venice, I needed a break from the high tourist prices.
The Vatican is one of the most beautiful places that I have visited. The Vatican is an old Roman fortress well preserved and surrounded by massive castle walls. The Vatican has been the centre of the Catholic Church since the first century A.D. I was struck with awe as I walked through the entrance to the Vatican through the monstrous tall Roman columns into the central courtyard. An obelisk is located in the heart of the courtyard, and the Basilica of St. Pietro is located at the backside. The Vatican combines Roman, Middle Ages, and Renaissance architecture.
I went to the Vatican on a Sunday, and the courtyard was filled with thousands of people. As I walked around, the crowd went ecstatic and started cheering. Then I heard Pope Benedict XVI's words as he began to speak. I had to scan the courtyard, searching for the Pope. He spoke from a window on the top floor of a building that overlooks the courtyard.
Venice is spread over 117 islands along the marshy lagoons in the northern Adriatic Sea. It was founded in 461 A.D. when the citizens consecrated the church San Giacomo di Rialto. Venice rose to prominence and dominated the civilizations along the Adriatic Sea. Like Amsterdam and the Netherlands, the Venetians relied on ships and barges to transport goods. Trade became the foundation of Venetian economic development.
Venice had a population of around 270,000 inhabitants in 2008. It has been called "the most beautiful city in the world" and "the most romantic city." My impressions of Venice are quite different. Although it is a beautiful city, Venice has only one function: to extract all the money it can from tourists. I am lucky to have fled from this city with my bank account intact. Here are examples of prices.
Venice has the ambience of New Orleans without the sounds of jazz echoing through the streets. Everywhere one went, crowds of tourists meandered slowly along the streets.
