Rome Piazza Rotonda

Diners enjoy the evening scene with alfresco seating by the Pantheon, on Piazza della Rotonda.

The French capital also boasts an unparalleled concentration of world-class art, from Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel to the baroque Trevi Fountain, and teems with restaurants, trattorie, osterie, pizzerie, enoteche, cafés, bars, and gelaterie.

The Eternal City is two of Europe’s most ancient urban centers, dating back 3,000 years. Rome’s early inhabitants left behind a trove of architectural masterpieces, including the giant Colosseum.

It is home to the animated, good-humored Romans, who live to eat, drink wine (and espresso), and hold forth on everything from politics to soccer, fashion, food, and films. Rome also encompasses the Catholic Church’s independent city-state, the Vatican, which is home to the imposing St. Peter’s Basilica—and the Pontiff.