According to legend, twin boys, Romulus and Remus, were born to the Vestal Virgin, Rhea Silvia and Mars, the god of war. Their grandfather's brother wrested control of the city where they were born, from the boy's grandfather, and, fearing the consequences of male heirs, he had them thrown in a trough into the river. The trough drifted to shore, where legend says, a she-wolf found the twin babies and suckled them until a shepherd adopted them and they grew into manhood. Years later, having taken back control of the city for their grandfather, Mars directed the boys to build a city of their own, and they chose the riverside site where the wolf had found them. Romulus decided to wall the city in, and Remus jeered at the idea, going so far as to leap over the wall. Romulus then killed him and went on to complete the building himself. Living on for many years after as a great leader, he vanished one night into a storm. The building of Rome started in about 753 BC, placing Rome on a major trade route, which made it one of the world's oldest cities. Ruled initially by seven kings, Rome eventually became a republic, ruled by a Senate, where Senators had specific duties. There were Dictators. Julius Caesar, who was Consul of the Senate from 49-44 BC, was rumoured to desire to become Emperor of Rome, therefore several of his Senators murdered him. Had he been born 20 years later, he would have had his way, as the political structure of Rome changed, and Augustus, the first Emperor, was installed in 27 BC as Emperor Of Rome. The Praetorian Guard was created, just to protect the Emperor. By the third century, the Roman Empire made up a good portion of the "civilized" world, and the city of Rome had about 2 million residents. Over the centuries Rome has never lost its position as a cultural center of Europe. We were first there in August of 1999.

Getting to Rome, Italy: Rome has two airports - The Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (Italian: Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino) (IATA: FCO, ICAO: LIRF), also commonly known as Fiumicino Airport, which is Italy's largest airport and the first international air gateway into Italy. It also has the Rome Ciampino Airport (Italian: Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino or Giovan Battista Pastine Airport) (IATA: CIA, ICAO: LIRA) which is a joint civilian, commercial and military airport near Rome in Italy. The airport is situated 6.5 NM (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) south southeast of central Rome. The express train between Fiumicino Airport and Stazione Termini (Rome's main train station) costs � 9.50 and the journey takes about 30 minutes. The train departs from and arrives at Termini station at track n.27 and runs from 6.30am till 11.30pm. Ciampino Rome's smaller airport, is mostly used by charter flights and budget airlines. There are numerous flights into Rome and numerous hotels in Rome. There are several Guided Tour Agencies offering standard city, and historical tours of Rome and the surrounding area. After arranging your flight we would suggest getting your hotel and then letting them arrange tours of the area for you. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem doing it this way! However, This Is Usually More Expensive To Do, & You Still Have Long Waiting Times In Line At The Various Attractions! We have links to priceline.com on our page so that you can arrange your flight and hotel in Rome. Special Note - To Arrange Tours: A New Way To Arrange Your Tours Has Become Popular. It makes the process of getting a tour easy, and timesaving for you. It also is almost always less expensive. In most cases when you are at an attraction, you will be escourted to the front of the line, and be given special treatment. It is viator.com. They can do all of the work for you and get you into some awesome tours of the various attractions. Here is a link to viator.com where you can arrange many special tours in Italy. Find and book Italy tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money! Here is a link to viator.com where you can arrange many special tours in Rome. Find and book Rome tours and activities on Viator.com. Book ahead to save time and money! There are huge lines to get into the Colosseum. Viator.com can get you to the front of the line, or in some cases, no line at all!

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6-Day Italy Tour from Rome Including Venice, Verona, Milan, Florence, Pisa and Siena - $2,339.94 Discover Italy's most beautiful and historically significant cities and towns on this 6-day tour from Rome. Sightsee in style from the comfort of an air-conditioned minivan as you travel to the likes of Venice, Verona, Milan, Florence, Pisa and Siena. Make the most of your time with guided or panoramic tours in each destination and skip-the-line entrance tickets to famous attractions such as Doge's Palace in Venice and Accademia Gallery in Florence. Superior 4-star accommodation, breakfast and gourmet 3-course dinners are included. Numbers limited to 15 people, ensuring a small-group experience.

9-Day Best of Italy Tour from Milan Including Rome, Tuscany and Venice - $1,324.37 See the best of beautiful Italy on this 9-day tour from Milan! With an expert guide at your side, visit Rome, Umbria, Tuscany, Veneto, the Italian Lakes and Milan, taking in world-class attractions like Rome Pantheon, Florence Duomo and Venice's Basilica di San Marco. Hotel accommodation in the top cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan are included, plus guided walks and a free departure transfer to Rome (should you need it), ensuring you have everything you need to discover Italy with ease!

6-Day Rome and Southern Italy Tour Including Naples, Pompeii and Amalfi Coast - $696.74 Discover Rome and southern Italy on this exciting 6-day tour with an expert guide, 4-star accommodation included! Spend two nights in Rome and get to know the city on a walking tour, taking in iconic sites like Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Then head south to Italy's Campania region, where a hotel in Amalfi will be your base for two nights. Visit Naples and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii, plus enjoy free time to explore the glittering Amalfi Coast before returning to Rome.

Rome Super Saver: 2-Day Experience Including Three Rome City Tours and Capri Day Trip - $258.63 Discover the highlights of Rome on an action-packed Super Saver tour, spread over two days, that combines four top sightseeing experiences at a discount of more than 15%! After seeing classic top Rome attractions such as Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain and Rome Pantheon by morning, discover the sites of Imperial Rome in the afternoon, and enjoy a skip-the-line Colosseum tour, too. Admire illuminated St Peter's Basilica and other incredible monuments on a relaxing night tour by coach, and then spend the following day visiting the island of Capri.

Viator VIP: Exclusive Rome Rooftop Dinner and Colosseum Night Tour Including Underground Chambers - $277.58 Enjoy a gourmet meal fit for a Roman Emperor, followed by a nighttime Colosseum tour on this must-do Viator VIP! The evening experience starts with a glass of prosecco at the Hotel Forum's rooftop restaurant that overlooks Ancient Rome. Hear tales of Roman history from a guide before savoring a 4-course meal at a private table on the terrace. Dine on Roman delicacies such as prosciutto-wrapped veal, stroll through the Roman Forum, and then step inside the Colosseum to explore its first tier, arena floor and underground chambers ' all free from the daytime crowds.Numbers are limited to 15 people on this small-group tour, ensuring personalized attention at all times.

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Rome Vespa Tour: Highlights of the Seven Hills of Rome - $211.81 Combine history with adventure on a 3-hour tour of the hills of Rome by classic Vespa scooter! As your private guide drives, enjoy the wind in your hair and take in the highlights of Rome's historic seven hills. See the impressive Baths of Caracalla on Caelian Hill and cruise along ancient Appian Way. Take a break on Palatine Hill and soak up views of the Colosseum and Ancient Rome. If there ever was an ancient city to see on the back of a Vespa, it's Rome!

Skip the Line Private Tour: Ancient Rome and Colosseum Art History Walking Tour - $106.39 Explore the Colosseum and Forum in style on a private walking tour with an art expert, and skip the queues for the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. Accompanied by your own private guide who specializes in art history, you'll enjoy personalized attention on your special private tour of the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman Forum without wasting time waiting in line.

Ancient Rome and Colosseum Tour: Underground Chambers, Arena and Upper Tier - $107.23 Experience the full glory of Rome's Colosseum on a walking tour with skip-the-line entry! Accompanied by an expert guide who is passionate about Roman history, you'll gain rare access to areas of the Colosseum that are newly opened or normally off-limits. Enjoy private viewings of the Colosseum's underground chambers, arena and upper level, and then head to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill for unforgettable views of Ancient Rome

Colosseum Underground and Ancient Rome Small-Group Tour - $110.36 Relive the glory of Ancient Rome on this 3-hour, small-group tour, led by an expert guide. Skip the long lines and enjoy an access-all-areas tour of Rome's mighty Colosseum, including parts usually restricted to visitors. Explore the subterranean underground chambers, where the wild animals were held, stand in the area where the bloody gladiator battles once took place, and enjoy unparalleled views from the top tier. Then, wander around Palatine Hill before discovering the historic gems in the Roman Forum. Numbers limited to six people, ensuring a small-group experience.

Rome Combo: Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter?s Basilica and Colosseum Walking Tour - $128.20 Experience Rome's headline acts, the Vatican and the Colosseum, on this full-day combo, made even better by fast-track, skip-the-line access to both attractions. With an expert guide, head inside the hallowed Vatican Museums through an exclusive, reserved entrance, beating even the Standard skip-the-line priority lines. Witness its glorious artistic treasures, including Michelangelo's extraordinary frescos in the Sistine Chapel, and then visit magnificent St Peter's Basilica. After free time for lunch (own expense), skip the lines at the Colosseum and Roman Forum, with a guided tour of the stunning amphitheatre and the Forum's evocative ruins.

Rome Walking tour - Entire Ancient City and Monuments - $65.77 After touring the entire Roman forum and Colosseum inside with priority entrance tickets, we take you right to the heart of Renaissance Rome where you will see and learn about the most beautiful piazzas and monuments in the city. A tour of Piazza Navona follows where you'll see some fine examples of Baroque sculpture above the Circus of Domitian, before a concluding stroll through the most beautiful part of Rome to the Pantheon, which is without any shadow of doubt one of the oldest and most spectacular buildings ever created.

Entire Vatican and Vatacombs - heritage of Rome tour - $65.77 This is the original and best entire Vatican tour in Rome running all year round. Entire Vatican & Vatacombs includes St. Peter's Basilica and runs for 3 hours between 09:00 AM and 12:00 noon. Reviewed hundreds of times on TripAdvisor and elsewhere online, this is your first port of call when in Rome and the Vatican City!

Rome in a Day Colosseum, Vatican and Gems of Rome Semi Private or Private tour - $110.36 Semi Private tour max. 13 Pax Fast entrance included (depending by the tour option selected) . Colosseum, Imperial Forum, Venice Square, the Sacred Area where Julius Caesar was murdered, the Pantheon and Navona Square, the most famous baroque masterpiece. The adventure continues in the afternoon through the enchanted places of the Vatican city. The second part of the tour includes the beautiful Vatican Museums, the fascinating Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Take a step back in time to the age of gladiators, great rulers, emperors and popes, art and Roman history! The first 3 hour skip the line tour bring together all the multi facets of Ancient Rome. This experience also allows you to learn about obelisks and ancient divine statues, medieval buildings, renaissance and baroque monuments and fountains, legends and traditions still alive, because this tour includes some of the main attractions of Rome.