DK Travel : Rome

Although functioning as a vibrant, modern capital akin to any in Europe, the unique appeal of Rome is that the entire city is a vast, 3,000-year-old, indoor-outdoor museum. In every quarter you’ll find ancient monuments, art treasures and timeless architecture in churches, galleries and protected ruins. Home to the world’s smallest city, the Vatican, Rome has religion at its heart and history in its soul – a city that dazzles and inspires visitors time and time again.

Mountgay

Very relaxed, two-room disco-bar, named after the Caribbean rum, featuring occasional live jam sessions and DJ gigs.
Mr Brown

Very popular British-style bar with a vaguely old-fashioned sporting theme and a faithful English ex-pat clientele.
Musei Capitolini

At the ancient centre of religious Rome are found some of the world’s greatest masterpieces, from 4th-century BC Greek sculptures to Caravaggio’s revolutionary – even scandalous – paintings.
Musei Capitolini

The glorious square, designed by no less than Michelangelo, is home to smaller papal art collections than the Vatican’s, but equally invaluable.
Musei Capitolini

Notwithstanding their great beauty, the original motivation for these museums was purely political. When the popes started the first museum here in 1471, it laid claim to Rome’s hopes for civic autonomy – the Palazzo dei Conservatori was the seat of hated papal counsellors, who ran the city by “advising” the Senators. Today the museums are home to a spectacular collection of art.
Musei Capitolini Café

A bird’s-eye sweep over the archaeological park at Rome’s heart can be seen from here (see Musei Capitolini).
Museo Barracco

This select collection traces the development of sculptural art in the ancient world. Assyrian and Egyptian works are highlighted, along with Etruscan, Roman and paleo-Christian art. Its original Greek sculpture is second only to the Vatican’s.
Museo Barracco

This delightful palazzo houses a small but important collection of ancient sculpture.
Museo Barracco

The museum’s basement dates from the 4th century AD: walls, flooring, column stumps, a bit of cornice and sculpted relief, a marble basin and a large double pestle for hand-grinding grains can be seen.
Museo della Casina delle Civette

One of the restored buildings in Villa Torlonia, Mussolini’s abode as prime minister, this Art Nouveau cottage displays ceramic and stained-glass decorations, including owl motifs, which gives it its name, “The Little House of the Owls”. The setting is now a public park.