Visitors might have to root out the history of some cities, but in Italy’s capital the past presents itself. Sit down at an alfresco restaurant table for a plate of Rome’s signature dish, spaghetti carbonara, and chances are you’ll do so looking at an icon of classical antiquity. Seek out a fountain to refill a water bottle and you might be relying on 2,000-year-old plumbing. A glance across the spires and cupolas on the skyline reveals the architectural legacy of the city’s long-held position as seat of the Catholic Church. Stroll through the centre and you’ll see masterpieces by the titans of European art: sculptures by Michelangelo, paintings by Caravaggio, frescoes by Raphael and fountains by Bernini. But this is no museum-city: Rome offers endless opportunities for la dolce vita, from aperitive among a crowd of statues to traditional dining at atmospheric trattorias.
The Colosseum at sunrise. Previous pages: Looking over St Peter’s Square from the top of the basilica