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This tiny city-state is home to the Pope, the world’s greatest museum, largest church, and the most astounding work of art ever created – Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling.

The most perfectly preserved of all ancient temples, this marvel of architectural engineering has a giant oculus forever open to the sky.

At the once-bustling heart of ancient political, judicial and commercial power, there’s now an evocative emptiness, punctuated by grandiose arches, solitary columns and carved rubble.

A stunningly beautiful pleasure-palace, this was the vision of an immensely rich, hedonistic papal nephew, who filled it with Graeco-Roman, Renaissance and Baroque works by the greatest masters.

Imperial Rome constructed many impressive monuments, including the spectacular amphitheatre.

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.

These collections, housed at two sites, feature some of the world’s finest ancient art, including Classical sculpture and stunning mosaics.

Built over emperors’ tombs, this church offers one of Rome’s richest displays of Renaissance and Baroque art, including masterpieces by Pinturicchio, Raphael, Caravaggio and Bernini.

With its mysterious passages and legends, this fascinating church provides first-hand experience of the layers that comprise Rome; here you can descend to a depth of 18m (60 ft) and go back over 2,000 years.

Extending over several square kilometres, the remarkable ruins of ancient Rome’s main port city hold many surprises and convey a powerful sense of everyday Imperial life.

Dressing up, parties and pranks.

Sugar candy, nativity figurines and all the Christmas trimmings.

Events include the Good Friday Procession of the Cross at the Colosseum and the Easter Sunday blessing from the balcony of St Peter’s.

Fireworks and partying to celebrate the founders of the Catholic Church.

Put on by the DS, the former Communist Party, this is a lively evening event, featuring music, films, dancing, games and more, much of it free. The venue changes every year, as do the exact dates, but it’s usually held in a central park, sometime around July, for about a month.

Villa Borghese’s annual splash-out for the equestrian classes. International show-jumping in this gorgeous garden setting. Much of the park is closed off for the event and its gala parties.

The effigy of the Madonna leaves Sant’Agata to reside in San Crisogono for two weeks.

Commemorating a papal vision of an August snowfall in the 4th century, white petals float down from the ceiling of S Maria Maggiore.

Held in front of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (see San Giovanni in Laterano and Scala Santa), this is a vast, free event, boasting a line-up of top Italian popstars and the occasional international luminary. It’s in celebration of socialist Italy’s “Day of the Worker”, when just about everything shuts down.

Rose petals shower down through the Pantheon’s oculus (see Oculus) followed by pageantry.

A fast-growing performing arts festival with a pronounced emphasis on the provocative, held every autumn in various superlative venues, including the French Academy, Palazzo Farnese and the Spanish Academy. All kinds of music, dance and theatre, including several international artists.

Every 21 April there’s a gala civic observance in the Piazza del Campidoglio, celebrating Rome’s traditional founding in 753 BC (see Romulus and Remus). Music, fireworks and a speech by the mayor mark the event, but the best news is that the Musei Capitolini are free of charge and open until 10pm.

Orchestral and choral concerts in Trinita dei Monti and a mass of azaleas take over this popular gathering place. End of March.

Not only does the Rome Opera Company offer its usual summer programme in the Baths of Caracalla, but there are also a number of other opera programmes all over the city, with singers from around the globe.