Theme Week Rome – Vatican City
3 September 2015 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time: 11 minutes Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. The Vatican City is the world’s smallest state, being only around 44 ha (110 acres). In July 2007, the Vatican agreed to become the first carbon neutral state. They plan to accomplish this by offsetting carbon dioxide emissions with the creation of a Vatican Climate Forest in Hungary. Vatican City was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri, on behalf of the Holy See and by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on behalf of the Kingdom of Italy. Vatican City State is distinct from the Holy See, which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin. The two entities have distinct passports: the Holy See, not being a country, issues only diplomatic and service passports, whereas Vatican City State issues normal passports. In each case very few passports are issued. read more…Civitavecchia, the port of Rome
16 August 2014 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 7 minutes Civitavecchia is a town and comune of the province of Rome in the central Italian region of Lazio. A sea port on the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is located 80 kilometres (50 miles) west-north-west of Rome, across the Mignone river. The harbour is formed by two piers and a breakwater, on which is a lighthouse. The name Civitavecchia means “ancient town”. The modern city was built over a pre-existing Etruscan settlement. The harbour was constructed by the Emperor Trajan at the beginning of the 2nd century. Civitavecchia today is a major cruise and ferry port, the main starting point for sea connection from central Italy to Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Tunis and Barcelona. Fishing has a secondary importance. read more…Ariccia in the Alban Hills
20 June 2013 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 6 minutes Ariccia is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, central Italy. It is in the Alban Hills of the Lazio region and could be considered an extension of Rome‘s southeastern suburbs. One of the Castelli Romani towns, Ariccia is located in the regional park known as the Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani. read more…Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the popes
5 September 2012 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, Palaces, Castles, Manors, Parks Reading Time: 7 minutes Castel Gandolfo is a small Italian town or comune in Lazio that occupies a height overlooking Lake Albano about 15 miles south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills. It is best known as the summer residence of the Pope. It is an Italian town with the population of 8834. The town was voted one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. read more…Tivoli, city of art, history, culture and monuments
21 June 2012 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time: 6 minutes Tivoli, the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills. The city offers a wide view over the Roman Campagna. read more…Frascati, southeast of Rome
2 June 2012 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General Reading Time: 5 minutes Frascati is a town and comune in the province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills close to the ancient city of Tusculum. Frascati is closely associated with science, being the location of several international scientific laboratories. Frascati is renowned for its white wine, Frascati. It is also an important historical and artistic centre. read more…Theme Week Rome – Castel Sant’Angelo, Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon
11 November 2011 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time: 15 minutesThe Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant’Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. read more…
Theme Week Rome – Circus Maximus and Roman Forum
10 November 2011 | Author/Destination: European Union / Europäische Union | Rubric: General, Museums, Exhibitions, UNESCO World Heritage Reading Time: 11 minutesThe Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire. It measured 621 m (2,037 ft) in length and 118 m (387 ft) in width, and could accommodate about 150,000 spectators. In its fully developed form, it became the model for circuses throughout the Roman Empire. read more…