Italy: Rome: Ancient Rome

With the beginning of the new millennium comes new life to the city of Rome, Italy, whose forums, museums, churches, palazzos, and other landmarks and monuments have undergone major clean-ups and restorations. Now that Rome is in top form for this, the "Holy Year," there's no better time to consider a trip to this ancient city in southern Europe and the World Wide Web is just the place to look for information on such an overseas sightseeing adventure.

Throughout Rome, world-renowned tourist attractions such as the Colosseum and Domus Aurea, also known as the Golden House of the Emperor Nero, have been made over for public viewing. The Caetani Castle and the Tomb of Cecelia Metella have been readied for display as well. Among the museums that have been restored are the Borghese Gallery, the Attemps Museums, and the Capitoline museums, which include the Palazzos Nuovo, Sentorio, and Caffarelli. Also, a former brewery has been converted into the Montemartini museum and the Municipal Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art has been constructed in an early 20th century power plant.

Excavation is ongoing at the Balbi Crypt and the Imperial Forums of the emperors Caesar, Augustus, Nerva, and Trajan. Once the $10.5 million excavation on the forums is completed in 2001, the reconnected Roman Forum will stand as the world's largest archaeological park. To learn more about all these newly restored places to visit in Rome, Italy, one can go to the web site belonging to the Italian Government Tourist Board, which is provided below. Online resources covering lodging in the city are also included here.