A stay near the Pantheon sharpens an appreciation of the ancient Romans. An eternal city converges in the surrounding neighborhood of this once pantheistic temple. Residues of lauded ages still resonate here, astutely representing Rome’s exquisite history. Here also the Renaissance idea of virtù (capacity, proficiency) is an model source and surviving standard of culture. No passage to Rome is fit to omit this mysteriously splendid continuum of cultural ascension.

With a vast number of cultural treasures spread around the whole Eternal City, your short stay in Rome may need to change into a longer stay. However, we believe it’s all a matter of selection, and we’re here to help you make the most of your time in this wonderful city. And what better place to start than the astonishing and mysterious Catacombs of Priscilla reopened to the public?

What is history? Well, one of the most correct answers would be ‘Rome is history’. Indeed, the capital of Italy earned its name of the Eternal City because there’s a piece of history in every nook and cranny of this magical place, despite all the transformations that have occurred over time. Below is a list of 5 top less-popular ‘survivors of the past’, still available to see once you’re there for even a short stay in Rome.

Central Italy’s sunny climate may not conjure images of the ice rinks and snow-covered streets that we’ve come to associate with the holiday season, but Rome is arguably the original city of Christmas, having celebrated the first recorded mass in 1300 AD. Today’s Rome hasn’t lost the spirit, and you’ll find a myriad of ways to celebrate the holidays in the Eternal City, from 3,000 nativity scenes to midnight mass with the Pope.

Since Roman sculptures bear a close resemblance to those by ancient Greeks, their aesthetic and artistic qualities are considered indisputable and unsurpassable. After all, after so many centuries they still fail to amaze, leaving visitors of the Eternal City breathless, inspired and craving for more.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Rome for New Year’s Eve, get ready for the party of a lifetime. The entire city, from the Piazza del Popolo to the Colosseum, ignites in celebration, resulting in a fantastic and unforgettable experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

A beautiful old church and the home of Bernini’s Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

Santa Maria della Vittoria as featured in the movie Angel’s and Demons is a stunning little Baroque style church and worth a visit on any leisure or business short stay in Rome. The church is also a popular destination as it houses Bernini’s famous statue Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.

You will not regret a visit to this beautiful and perfectly built Late Renaissance Church. St. Peter’s Basilica is located inside the walls of the Vatican City and to this day retains its sophisticated beauty. Its history and aesthetic interior and exterior make it an incredibly popular attraction for all ages and interests during a leisure or business short stay in Rome.

Rome, by any account, is an ancient city. Although a variety of sources point to different years, most agree that its foundations were laid sometime between 700 and 800 B.C. Things worked a bit differently before the age of democracy and the internet, so it’s not surprising that Rome’s founder was an illigitemate, wolf-suckling, fratricidal teenager.

Rome’s ever-bustling streets hold enough mystery and excitement to keep you as busy as you’d like to be, but on your next trip to the Eternal City try to make time for a day trip or two. From volcanoes to pristine beaches, from hilltop cathedrals to rustic palatial gardens, you’ll be surprised where you can go in a day.