Rome is the capital of Italy, the province of Rome, and of the region of Lazio. With 2.7 million residents in 1,285.3 km2 (496.3 sq mi), it is also the country's largest and most populated and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. Between 3.2 and 4.2 million people live in Rome metropolitan area. Rome is the only city in the world to contain in its interior a whole state; the enclave of Vatican City.
Rome's history spans more than two and a half thousand years, since its legendary founding in 753 BC. Rome, the "Eternal City", is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. In the ancient world it was successively the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization. Since the 1st century AD, Rome has been considered the seat of the Papacy and in the 8th century it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, and in 1946 that of the Italian Republic.

If you're prepared to fight your way through the crowds of tourists, you can actually get to see the fountain.

Move your cursor over the image for a shot of the fountain.

Still jetlagged.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II (the first King of Italy), referred to by foreigners as the "Wedding Cake" or by Romans as the "Typewriter."

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

Facade on a fascist era government building near our hotel.

Santa Maria Maggiore.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

The facade of Santa Maria Maggiore.

On a hill overlooking the forum.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

A view of the Colosseum from the Forum.

A different view of the Colosseum from the Forum.

Close up shots of the Colosseum.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

A view from the Palatine Hill in the Forum.

Another view showing part of the Forum, as well as the Colosseum.

A view from the Forum towards Vatican City.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

A view from the forum looking toward the back of the Victor Emmanuel II Monument.

Not sure exactly what I was looking at here, but thought it looked pretty, so I took the shot.

We spent several hours wandering around the Forum, but still saw only a fraction of what there was to see.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

A shot of the back of the Vittorio Emanuelle II Monument.

In the Roman Forum.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

More ruins.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

Tourists looking into the Forum through the arch of Septimus Severus.

Julius Caesar.

These guys were everywhere in the area around the Forum. Can you figure out how they do it?

Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Statues symbolizing strength on the Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II.

A statue of Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers who are central characters in the myth of Rome's foundation, on Capitoline Hill.

A view through an open doorway off the Piazza del Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill where Roman Divinities were once praised and is now the headquarters of the Italian Government.

The current structures are dated to 1560, as a result of the project by Michelangelo Buonarroti inspired by pre-existent buildings.

Palazzo Senatorio was completed by Giacomo dalla Porta and Girolamo Rinaldi between 1582 and 1605.

Allan on Capitoline Hill, the smallest and most important of the seven hills of Ancient Rome. As the political and religious heart of Rome the hill became a symbol of Rome's reign as Caput Mundi, capital of the world.

A statue in front of Palazzo Senatori.

Overlooking the Forum from Via Monte Tarpeo.

The Ponte Fabricio leading to Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island).

Allan's new magical see-through apron.

Exploring Trastevere.

At a restaurant in Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere

A man playing the saxophone under a bridge on the Tiber River.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

The view from the opposite side of the river.

Everywhere you look in Rome, even just down some random alleyway, there is another incredible work of art to feast your eyes on.

Another little piazza near the Piazza Navona.

Allan in front of the Pantheon.

Some interior shots of the dome of the Pantheon.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

The tomb of Vittorio Emanuele II in the Pantheon.

Having drinks in the rooftop bar at the Grand Hotel de la Minerve.

At the Grand Hotel de la Minerve with the Pantheon in the background.

The views from the bar at sunset were incredible.

Another view from the roof of the Grand Hotel de la Minerve.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot - the same view with a different camera setting.

Two more stunning views from the rooftop bar at the Grand Hotel de la Minerve.

Move your mouse over the image for the second shot.

A perfect dinner, on a perfect night, in a perfect city - a pitcher of wine and a pizza at Pizzeria di Baffetto.

An orange tree on the sidewalk near our hotel.

The view looking down from the top of the Spanish Steps.

The view looking up to the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti at the top of the Spanish Steps.

Il Palazzetto bar just off the Spanish Steps.

Having our first Aperol Spritz (our new favourite cocktail) at il Palazzetto.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

The view of the Spanish Steps from il Palazzetto.

The obligatory "I was here" shots on the Spanish Steps.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

The beautiful Piazza del Popolo.

A carousel near the Castel Sant'Angelo.

The ubiquitous "hot priests" calendar.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

Cheesy chotskies‎ were also everywhere.

Allan on the Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II with the Castel Sant'Angelo in the background.

Ducatis, Vespas and assorted other scooters are not in short supply in Rome.

Piazza Navona.

Here we are in the Piazza Navona.

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

Having a liquid lunch.

Dinner out near the Colosseum.

The view from our table.

From the Ponte Sant'Angelo looking toward Vatican City.

The Canadian Embassy to the Holy See.

St. Peter's Square.

Here we are in St. Peter's Square.

Move your mouse over the image for a different shot.

Swiss Guard at St. Peter's Basilica.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

The facade of St. Peter's Basilica.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up of some of the statues.

The inside of the dome of St. Peter's.

Looking down into St. Peter's from inside the dome.

Making the long climb inside the dome of St. Peter's. Not for the weak or the claustrophobic.

The view of St. Peter's Square from the top of the dome.

A different view looking toward the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

Two views of the Vatican gardens from the dome of St. Peter's.

Move your cursor over the image to see the second shot.

Here we are now on the roof of the Basilica after climbing down from the top of the dome.

Move your cursor over the image for a shot of Allan.

A Vatican City post box outside the Pope's cafe on the roof of the Basilica.

Two more shots on the roof of St. Peter's.

Move your cursor over the image for a shot of Ian.

The dome of St. Peter's viewed from the roof.

Move your cursor over the image for a close up.

Ian on the roof of St. Peter's

Move your cursor over the image for a different shot.

Statue of Jesus on the top of the facade of St. Peter's.

The Pietà (created between 1498–1499) is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica. It is the first of a number of works of the same theme by the artist. The statue, commissioned for a French cardinal, was made of Carrara marble for the cardinal's funeral monument. It was moved to its current location, the first chapel on the right as one enters the basilica, in the 18th century. It is the only piece Michelangelo ever signed. This famous work of art depicts the body of Jesus on the lap of his mother Mary after the Crucifixion.

Looking up at one of the smaller domes in the basilica.

Two views of altar with Bernini's baldacchino.

Move your cursor over the image to see the second shot.

The monument of Pope Alexander VIII is one of the most elaborate in the basilica.

As luck would have it, our flight path for the return to Toronto, on September 17, flew us over the Island of Giglio. We were afforded a bird's eye view of the Costa Concordia cruise ship which had just been brought to a vertical position by the salvage team several hours earlier, more than a year and a half after running aground in the shallow waters.

A view of the French Alps.

Aircraft contrails over France.