Rome

Rome, the capital of Italy, is a sprawling cosmopolitan city displaying nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture. Ancient ruins like those of the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the ancient Roman Empire. Vatican City, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, boasts St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, home to masterpieces such as Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes.