This is Plymouth --*by Helen Pearse*
WE'VE all heard the saying "When in Rome…" so I thought it was time I returned to the Italian capital once again.
If you're looking for a short stay in one of Europe's most historical, cultural, fashionable and luxurious cities, then Rome is definitely the right choice.
You might think all there is to do is learn about history, but as I found, there is a whole lot more to this city than ruins, religion and relics.
It was founded over 2,760 years ago, and Rome gives any other top European city a run for its money as a destination for a fun few days away.
It is now home to three million people and attracts seven to 10 million tourists each year.
As one of the most ancient cities in Europe, you need only take a few steps in any direction to come across something of historical significance, whether that be an elegant piazza, a Baroque fountain, a crumbling column, a Renaissance palace or an imposing church. This place is packed with treasures and things to see and do.
So with just four days to explore this great city, we had no time to lose.
Think of Rome and you think of the Vatican, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain. And of course these were all high up on the agenda to do.
Now for me, the Colosseum has got to be the most impressive of all the sights to see here.
It is the city's greatest amphitheatre, commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. Deadly gladiatorial combats and wild animal fights were staged for free by the emperor and wealthy citizens for public viewing. Just the sheer size of the place means it is a sight to behold, and that's before you even get inside.
Next to the Colosseum is the site of the Forum, which was the centre of political, commercial and judicial life in ancient Rome. Now I have to say, this didn't exactly rock my world; it's basically a vast area of old ruins some of which are recognisable as arches, columns and temples – others of which are pretty unrecognisable as anything other than a heap of rock. But judging by the number of people here – my flippancy and lack of interest was in the minority.
I was much more taken with the famous Trevi Fountain, hidden away amongst the back streets of Rome's historic centre. Taking up most of the Piazza de Trevi, this is the city's grandest and most well-known fountain and as I found, is one of the best places for people-watching – you cannot move for tourists. Throw a coin into the water beneath the grand statues, make a wish and see how many times you can 'photobomb' all the tourists' pictures.
Some of the other well-known must-sees are the Spanish Steps and the Piazza di Spagna area. As depicted in many a Hollywood movie, the Spanish Steps are a great meeting place, and seem to be popular for sitting and watching the world go by, writing postcards, taking pictures and trying to avoid the local men who are determined to flog you a fake designer handbag. If you want to actually see the steps themselves, get there early as by mid afternoon, you can't see the landmark for people.
Or if you fancy a break from the tourist trail, the streets surrounding the Piazza di Spagna are packed with shops. Ones you might need to remortgage your house to set foot in, but nevertheless, any real shoppers' paradise. In just one 100m stretch I spotted Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Dior, Armani and Valentino.
Now they say you can't go to Rome and not visit the Vatican. The Vatican is a state within a state and houses not only St Peter's Basilica, but the Vatican museums, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms. With massive queues we decided to give that part a miss in favour of soaking up the atmosphere of San Pietro Piazza.
Other highlights of the trip were a visit to San Clemente church and the Pantheon – a monumental 2,000-year-old building which is one of the largest surviving temples in ancient Rome.
Just a few minutes' walk is the Piazza Navona, one of Rome's most famous squares, where whatever time of year you visit, it is buzzing with stalls, artists, entertainers, street cafes and restaurants, and couples enjoying the romantic atmosphere by its three flamboyant fountains.
But if all the history gets a bit much, remember there is so much more to do in Rome too. For one – eating. There are more than 7,000 restaurants and eateries in the city, so the choice is endless. Obviously pizza and pasta is on pretty much every menu you come across, but you can also lay your hands on an amazing fillet steak, fish dishes or any other international cuisine you could think of. Be careful where you choose though, as it's easy to get stung. We unwittingly wracked up a £110 bill on our first night – for just one starter, two pizzas, one dessert and a bottle of wine. Our mistake? Ordering a bottle of wine from the menu, rather than opting for a carafe of house wine. If you decide to push the boat out, head for cocktails at Harry's Bar – but take your credit card with you. You'll pay between 14 and 20 Euros for one drink! Ah well, when in Rome and all that….
If you fancy something different to winding through Rome's ancient and busy streets, head to one of the city's many parks. We visited Villa Borghese and hired Segways for an hour. Once we got the hang of it we were soon nipping around the maze of paths and covered so much more ground than we would have done by foot. It was a fantastically fun way to spend an hour, and something we would never have expected to find in Rome.
We stayed at the Jumeirah Grand Via Veneto Hotel in the northern Via Veneto area of the city. In Imperial Rome this area was a suburb where rich families owned luxurious villas and gardens, and by 1900 it had become an area of smart modern hotels and street cafes.
The five-star Grand belongs to the Jumeirah chain, so with that in mind, we had high expectations. We weren't disappointed. Our fifth-floor deluxe room, with two balconies overlooking the street, was everything we needed it to be, with a huge bathroom, walk-in dressing room, a giant bed, widescreen TV, free wifi, armchairs and table.
The hotel has two restaurants and a bar serving gourmet food. It also has an Aqva spa with a vitality pool, sauna, treatment rooms, "emotional showers" and relaxation area. But guests should be aware, despite having forked out for the room, you are still expected to pay a further 19 Euros each to use the pool. Welcome to Rome!
You will never run out of things to do in Rome, but the beauty of it is, you can do as much or as little as you want in the time you have. There are some definite must-sees but after that you could spend your time taking in more historical sites, churches, museums, shops, restaurants, parks or just plain old people-watching. It's certainly not a cheap place to visit, but is definitely a must on the European city list. My advice, get a guide book, plenty of cash, and get stuck in!
We flew to Rome from Bristol with Easyjet. For more information about Easyjet flights, log onto www.easyjet.com
We parked in the short-stay parking at Bristol Airport. Log onto www.bristolairport.co.uk
To find out more about the Jumeirah Grand Via Veneto Hotel log on to www.jumeirah.com Reported by This is 22 hours ago.