Insight Pocket Guide Rome

by Wilcock, John

• ISBN13: 9781585730162
• ISBN10: 1585730165
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Insight Guides

Table of Contents

History and Culture
From the legend of the she-wolf, Romulus and Remus, and the founding of ancient Rome, to the rise and fall of the Roman empire, the central role of the Catholic Church and the 20th-century phenomenon of fascism and Benito Mussolini--a concise account of the forces and personalities that have shaped Rome's history	11	(10)
City Itineraries
The first four full-day itineraries focus on the city's four most significant areas: the historic centre, ancient Rome, the Vatican and Trastevere.
Art Historians' Rome focuses on some of the famous relics of Renaissance Rome, beginning with the churches and palaces surrounding Piazza Navona. From there the tour heads for the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and Piazza di Spagna, where the Spanish Steps lead to the Villa Medici and Villa Borghese	21	(4)
Ancient Rome begins the day at the Campidoglio on the Capitol, stopping at the Palazzo dei Conservatori, where the many masterpieces include the Etruscan shewolf. From there, take a tour of the Forum and the Colosseum, tread in Roman emperors' footsteps at the Palatine, and end the day at the Theatre of Marcellus	25	(5)
Trastevere crosses the Tiber to explore the bohemian artists' quarter. The tour takes in a flea market and some notable restaurants, before ending at Gianicolo hill	30	(4)
The Vatician is split into two parts: a morning at the Vatican museums (including the Sistine Chapel) and an afternoon at St Peter's Square and the basilica	34	(5)
The Spine of Rome takes a leisurely walk along the celebrated Via del Corso, beginning in the Piazza del Popolo and ending at Piazza Colonna	39	(2)
Popes and Heretics is a half-day tour combining Hadrian's mausoleum at the Castel Sant' Angelo citadel, the eternally enchanting, sun-blessed Piazza Farnese and the centuries-old market Campo dei Fiori	41	(3)
A Museum Trip through History tracks the city's history through its museum exhibits, from the Etruscans in the Museo di Villa Giulia and the imperial Romans of the Museo Nazionale Romano to the modern art of Galleria Comunale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea	44	(4)
Baths, Tombs and the Appian Way looks at some of the notable relics that flank the Via Appia, the ancient road leading south of Rome, starting with the Baths of Caracalla and ending at the Circus Maximus	48	(3)
The Jewish Quarter and Tiber Island focuses on the area flanking the east side of Tiber Island, starting at the lovely Piazza Mattei, and incorporating the Jewish ghetto, before visiting the famous island hospital	51	(2)
Arts and Crafts seeks out some of the best places to see traditional crafts in the making or for sale	53	(2)
The Seven Hills investigates the hills on which the city was built, from the gentle slopes of the Palatino to the Aventino, notorious site of wild Roman orgies	55	(4)
Excursions
Four recommended excursions that can be easily taken to some historic sights not far from Rome.
Tivoli's Villas travels 40km (25 miles) east of Rome to Tivoli, site of two aristocratic playgrounds: the ancient Villa Adriana and the Renaissance Villa d'Este	59	(3)
The Etruscan Trail takes the train or the bus to two Etruscan settlements: Cerveteri and Tarquinia, now a sleepy town of pretty churches and a museum	62	(3)
The Castelli Romani travels southeast to visit the medieval village of Frascati, the Castel Gondolfo (the pope's summer residence), Nemi and Palestrina	65	(2)
Ostia Antica visits a port that ranks among the best-preserved of all ancient Roman sites	67	(26)
Leisure Activities
What to buy, where to eat, and where to go	71	(10)
Calendar of Events
A guide to important occasions in Rome	81	(2)
Practical Information
All the background information you are likely to need for your stay, with a list of hand-picked hotels	83	(10)
Index and Credits	93