Rome

Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy and famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain,

The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With wonderful palaces, millennium-old churches, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world

With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a "global city" and the best way to see the city is to walk.

Climate:

The temperature is usually mild the whole year round with heat rising during the months of July and August.

Even during the winter the temperature is pleasant. There are only few really cold days and they are mainly concentrated between December and January ( the temperature however rarely drops below zero).

Rainfalls, seldom heavy, are concentrated in the months of November and February. The best time to visit the city is in spring and autumn when the temperature is mild and the days, thanks to Daylight Savings.

June- August can be really hot to visit Rome, so proper sun protection is recommended.

See the World Insider's tip

A great way to see the city (especially when its to hot to walk around) is by a Hop on Hop off bus. They will allow you to travel through history and visit the places where the ancient Romans lived their social and political life as well as to admire the great Papal Rome, with its fine buildings and beautiful churches, by just sitting comfortable on board a bus. You will be able to visit the many churches, monuments, palaces, squares and streets of Imperial and Christian Rome, of Baroque and Modern Rome. Each bus has a highly technological, multilingual commentary system in eight (8) languages available for every passenger, which will not only keep you entertained, but also well informed about the city.

We recommend Pre-purchasing your tickets prior to leaving New Zealand as Rome is notorious for touts trying to sell you their bus tours.