An older Goethe said that he had been happy only four weeks in his entire life and that those were the weeks he spent in Rome. Any visitor will see why.
However you arrive in Rome, you can tell by the traffic that you are entering a grand nexus: all roads lead to Rome. As you enter the city your expectations take shape: a bridge with heroic statues along its parapets; a towering cake of ornate marble decorated with allegorical figures in extravagant poses; a piazza and an obelisk under an umbrella of pine trees; a massive stone arena, even bigger than you imagined, that you realize with awe is the fabled Colosseum.
Lose yourself in blissful reveries in the ruins of villas, temples, baths, theaters, and arenas. Today priests in flowing robes saunter through medieval piazzas chatting on cell phones and locals dine in little restaurants near the grand palazza Campo dei Fiori. Nearby is the Palazzo Farnese, Michelangelo's monumental Renaissance palace. Dog-walkers stroll to a neighboring park that was once the mausoleum of the family of the Emperor Augustus, and upscale apartments are housed in restored medieval palazzi.
The best way to get to know this city is explore the different neighborhoods, all of which are full of character and historic interest.
Wandering about different parts of Rome, you will find it the most noisy and the most quiet place.
Rome is not only about historical sites. There is also the thrill of eating gelato, pizza, and superb pasta.
What is most vividly felt in Rome is its persistent exuberance, daring, and the beauty that shines through the stately ruins. There is always the sense here of life fully lived.
Live a full life in Rome, the Eternal City.
