All roads lead to ROME!

Hello people,

Well, Donald and I are just getting ready to leave for Rome; the last stop this summer. What a journey it has been! So, come aboard with us and let us see what fantastic facts 'she' can come up with for ROME!

1. Rome is the capital of Italy and is in Western Europe.


2. It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula on the River Tiber and in the Lazio region of Italy.

3. Italian is the official language.

4. The main religion is Roman Catholic.

5. Italy is a member of the European Union and so the currency, like Athens, is the Euro. Prior to 2002, it was the Lira.

6. Rome, like Athens, is an ancient city, founded by Romulus in the 8th Century BC on what is now known as Paletine Hill in the Ancient Centre of the city.


7. The Capitol, the southern summit of the Capitoline Hill was the symbolic centre of the ancient Roman world and home to three of the city's temples, dedicated to the god Jupiter and goddesses  Minerva and Juno Moneta.


8. Below the Capitol is the Forum which was the focus of political, social, legal and commercial life.


9. Also in the ancient city is the Colosseum, Rome's greatest amphitheatre commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. This Colosseum could hold 50,000 people.


10.On the north west side of the centre lies the Piazza Navona; this area has been inhabited for at least 2,000 years.


11. In this area the Pantheon can be found; it has been a temple since AD 27. It was a temple to all the gods and is Rome's best preserved ancient building.


12. The areas best time was during the 15th century when the papacy returned to Rome. Princes, popes and cardinals resided in this area and commissioned the building of lavish and extravagant  palaces, churches and fountains.


13.On the west side of Rome lies the area known as Vatican City; the world capital of Catholicism.


14.It was the site where St Peter was martyred in AD64 and buried. It has become the residence of the popes who have succeeded him.


15. Rome is also a city well-known for its fountains which provide both drinking water and decoration in the piazzas;  the most famous being the Trevi Fountain.


16.The city contains eight ancient Egyptian obelisks and five Roman ones.


17. Rome has  a large number of ancient catacombs or underground burial places.


18. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world due to it large number of archaeological sites and artistic treasures and the beauty of it panoramic views... and then there is the Vatican, the Colosseum, fountains, statues....


19. Rome enjoys the Mediterranean climate.


20. And what better place to end our tour this summer than in Rome, the Eternal City!


"Wow, Donald, I can't believe how beautiful this city is. A week is not long enough."
"Never mind Sofia, we can come back any time. . .because..."
"WE ARE DEAD! Guess, I had better tell them about 'her' latest interview."
"Yep, go on Sofia."
"She has done another interview, see it at http://SellingBooks.com "

Thought for the week: Rome was not built in a day!