BTM December 2011 107 Trevi Fountain The Fontana di Trevi is a beautiful baroque fountain which incorporates many marble statues to create a scene of towering Roman gods; it is an impressive site of sculptural genius. If you fall in love with Rome, throw a coin into the fountain - it is said that if visitors do this then a return trip to the city will occur. Colosseum Step into the colosseum and you can almost envisage the cheering crowds as the gladiators prepared themselves to race. This ancient amphitheatre is probably the most known site in Rome and still retains a large amount of its original structure. It is the largest Roman colosseum ever built and boasts a seating capacity of over 50,000 when it was built in 80 AD. The Roman Forum If you want a clear idea of Roman architecture and living space, the forum is the place to go. The towering column formations surround a complex of ruins; temples, basilicas and arches are in abundance hinting at what this old meeting place once looked like. Vatican City The Pope’s home is bounteous to say the least. At the centre is St Peter’s Basilica, with its double colonnade and a circular piazza in front bordered by palaces and gardens. It is the largest religious building in the world and displays a rich assortment of baroque and renaissance art from the likes of Michelangelo and Raphael. Sistine Chapel Arguably one of the most famous places in the world, the Sistine Chapel is best known for the vaulted ceiling which is entirely covered by the artist Michelangelo’s famous frescoes. The chapel is today also used as the site of the Papal concave. Borghese Gallery Take time to visit this stately museum that safeguards an incredible collection of baroque and renaissance paintings and marble sculptures. Located inside gardens of the same name and housed in an expansive villa, it is a beautifully green and serene area of Rome to enjoy. Jewish Catacombs Rome’s oldest duo of catacombs is quietly tucked away under the Park of Villa Torlonia, in the north-east of the city. Descend a series of stairs to reach the catacombs, which extend for more than 13,000 square metres, and gaze at the spectacular coloured frescoes which cover the walls and ceilings. Spanish Steps This famed staircase was built in the 17th century to connect the Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) to the French church on top of the hill. There are a total of 137 steps over twelve different flights which are built in an irregular yet symmetrical structure. Both tourists and locals gather on these steps constantly; so expect it to be crowded! Gulf Air now flies to Rome four times a week; call 17 335-777 or visit www.gulfair.com for further details. Sistine Chapel Trevi Fountain Vatican City
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