The Eternal City, ancient and powerful, moving, filled with life, art, wonder, and the seat of Christendom.
Stay at - The Excelsior
Go shopping - Via dei Condotti
Via del Corso
Piazza Navona
Eat at -La Pergola
Trattoria Monti
L'Eau Vive
Imàgo at the Hotel Hassler
Take side trips to - Assisi
Florence
Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este
Castelgandolfo
Be sure to visit - St. Peter's
The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
The Colosseum
The Catacombs
The Spanish Steps
The Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome
Best time of year to go - Holy Week through September
Best things to buy - designer clothing, leather, art and antiques, wedding dresses, stationery, religious articles
Best indulgence - sitting on the rooftop of the Hotel Hassler at the end of the day gazing over the Eternal City
Fly into - Rome Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport (FCO)
Transportation - Get a private car and driver if you can. The Archeobus is a reasonably priced alternative for visiting Roman archeological sites. Watch out for gypsies if you're seeing the city on foot.
