On the centuries-old cobblestone streets, in the busy cafes, in church pews, Rome is much more inviting than people imagine.
Romans say you need more than a lifetime to fully discover the Eternal City.
Everywhere you look there's a swirling mix of styles from every conceivable era -- a 2,000-year-old Roman temple supported by huge white columns, and churches where you can admire frescoes from the Middle Ages that are not listed in guide books; then it's off to a trattoria to savour the best spaghetti carbonara you've ever tasted.
Such a place requires you give yourself over to the pleasure of wandering the streets, then stopping at a cafe to recharge with a espresso.
There are mandatory destinations: The Vatican, the Colosseum, the Roman ruins in the historic city centre, the Pantheon, the Castel Sant'Angelo, the Catacombs, the Trevi fountain, the Capitolini Museums.
Churches are on many street corners, from every era and in all sizes. There are more than 900 in the Eternal City. They're overflowing with history, relics, masterpieces, anecdotes, icons and plaques.
These places can be quite moving, as in the case of Santa Maria di Trastevere. Covered in ornate 13th-century mosaics and incorporating elements from the Roman era, the church plays host almost every night to concerts of religious music. The quality of the choirs is excellent.
Another church, Basilica of Saint Clement, offers an amazing journey into history. Excavations at the site found two floors below the church. The lowest level dates back to Roman times and the second one to the High Middle Ages.
