Rome, the capital of Italy, is a heady blend of artistic and architectural masterpieces, classical ruins, and extravagant baroque churches and piazzas.

Rome is also Italy's treasure trove, packed with two millennia of artistic achievement. It's here that a metropolis once bustled around the carved marble monuments of the Roman Forum, where centuries later Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) painted Christian history in the Sistine Chapel, where Gian Lorenzo Bernini's nymphs and naiads dance in their fountains, and where an empire of gold was worked into the crowns of rulers for centuries.

For culture-seekers and historians this city simply oozes with possibilities for discovery, a chance to step back in time yet have one foot firmly in the present. It’s one city where you can have an espresso in a square designed by Bernini, then take modern metro (train) back to your hotel room in a renovated Renaissance palace.

Rome was built on seven hills - Capitolino (commonly known as Campidoglio), Palatino, Esquilino, Viminale, Celio, Quirinale, and Aventino. Two of these historic hills, formed the hub of ancient Rome, the centre of the civilized world (thus the true meaning of the words ‘All roads lead to Rome’).

It's hard to say what you'll find most breathtaking about La Cittá Eterna, The Eternal City - the arrogant opulence of the Vatican, the timelessness of the Forum, the top speed of the local drivers, the millions of cats in the Colosseum, or the numerous galleries and museums.

This is one city that will glut your senses. Be it the architecture, the food, the timelessness of the place, its monuments or the people. Simply put, Rome, as it has always been, is a monument to beauty, history and eternity.

The history of Rome spans 2,800 years of the existence. Ancient Roman civilization originated in the 8th or 9th century BC, when the tribe of the Latini migrated to the Italian peninsula to settle around the River Tiber, forming the city and surrounding region of Latium which continued to be inhabited with little interruption since that time.

For almost a thousand years, Rome was a very important city in the Western world and possibly the largest city in the world, with around 1.5 to 2 million inhabitants. It was also the capital of the expansive Roman Empire that dominated the Mediterranean region for centuries. It was eventually overrun by Germanic tribes, marking the beginning of the Middle Ages.

With the rise of Christianity, Rome became the centre of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the popes. The city regained prominence as the cultural capital of Western Roman Empire for several hundred years leading up to the Renaissance.

Rome remains influential today, as the capital of Italy, as centre of the Catholic Church, and as a major world metropolis.

Rome can be enjoyed year-round; however some months are better times to visit than others. Rome's climate is at its most comfortable from April through June or early July when temperatures average around 22-28°C.

By August, daytime temperatures often exceed 35°C. Many businesses close during August when Romans traditionally abandon the city for cooler climes.

The rainy season starts in November and continues through February. There are smaller crowds at this time, the weather is unpredictable and snowstorms can occur. The average temperature in January is 8°C.

October is another pleasant time of year to visit Rome. March will sometimes reward you with warm, sunny days and cooler nights.