ROME: ATTRACTIONS

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish steps is a series of famous stairs in Rome, which rise between the Piazza di Spagna, at the base of the stairs, and the church of Trinita dei Monti at the summit. The stairway consists of 138 steps, built by a Frenchman's funds, linking the Spanish embassy to the Holy See. The Spanish steps have been restored on numerous occasions, but most recently of all being in 1995. The Piazza at the base of the stairs contains the Barcaccia fountain, which translates to 'the Ugly Boat.' Also on the square, you can find the old house, now museum, of John Keats, English poet who lived in the city.

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is right in the centre of the city, and is the largest and most ambitious of its type in the capital. Work began on the fountains current form in 1732, and was finished in 1762. The fountain's facade is that of 'the taming of the water' a gigantic scene, as water tumbles forward, as tritons guide Neptune's shell chariot, taming seahorses. A tradition whilst at the Trevi Fountain is to throw coins over your right shoulder using your right hand. Throwing one coin means that you will return to Rome, two coins mean that you will fall in love with a beautiful roman man/woman, and throwing three coins ensures that you will marry them.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, and is the largest of its type that was built under the Roman Empire. It was built for gladiator combat, as an entertainment area for the people of Rome in the 70's AD. The Colosseum is a architectural marvel at 48 meters high, 188 meters long, and 156 meters wide. The elliptical shape was to stop the subject in the arena from retreating into a corner. The arena boasted 80 entrances at ground level, 76 of these for ordinary spectators.

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