From the Colosseum to the Forum, history is close enough to touch when you take a city break to Rome from Glasgow Airport. The Italian capital is fast paced and frenetic, but you can always retreat to a pavement café to recharge with a perfect Italian espresso.
History to spare
Rome is a living museum of ancient history. It’s hard to walk more than a block in the historic centre without stumbling across another historic ruin. The Colosseum tops the must-see list, but be sure to explore the interior, to gain a glimpse of how this famous building was used in life. Nearby, the ruins of the Forum were once the haunt of emperors and philosophers; the best views are from above, from the slopes of Palatine Hill. On the outskirts of the city, the most famous Roman road of all – the Appian Way – leads south towards Apuglia, flanked by ancient catacombs.
A city within a city
Rome offers two cities for the price of one. The Vatican City is not just a city within a city, it’s an independent nation, presided over by the Pope and the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The soaring dome of St Peter's Basilica rises above a vast square that fills with thousands of worshipers during public appearances. Deeper inside the compound are the Vatican Museums, an astonishing treasure house of art and sculpture, home to the world's most famous mural in the Sistine Chapel.
Dining under the sky is a national pastime in Italy, and nowhere more so than in Rome, where every public square is filled with chairs and tables. Even the Piazza della Rotonda, home to the graceful Pantheon, is lined with open-air eateries, but the most authentic Roman restaurants are found in the nightlife districts of Testaccio and Trastevere. Must-try local delicacies include thin-crust Roman pizza, spaghetti all'Amatriciana (with pancetta and pecorino cheese) and for the brave, trippa alla Romana (tripe with tomato sauce).