Rome Italy Travel: Ancient Roman Forum House of the Vestal Virgins Opens

House of Vestal Virgins Rome Forum

Great news for Rome Italy travelers and for those on a cruise around Italy. After twenty years, Rome has reopened the House of the Vestal Virgins, remains of an ancient Roman palace flanking ruins of the imperial seat of government in the Roman Forum.

The House of the Vestal Virgins, (Atrium Vestae), was the residence of the Vestal Virgins, the high priestesses of the cult of Vesta. The cult of Vesta is dates back to its founder Numa Pompilius (753-673 BC; king of Rome, 715-673 BC) who was the legendary second king of Rome, succeeding Romulus.  The Vestal Virgins had their residence in the same location from the 6th century BCE to the end of the 4th century CE. It is located on the Forum Romanum, just behind the Temple of Vesta, between the Regia and the Palatine Hill.

Statues of the vestals surround pool in House of Vestal Virgins

Major renovations to the structure were inaugurated with the opening of a new visitors' route through the ruins called Via Nova, which traverses the northwest slope of the Palatine Hill overlooking the Forum and ends at the Atrium Vestae, or ancient palace.

The configuration of Via Nova is believed to date back to urban planning made in the wake of a blaze that razed much of Rome in 64 AD, but may be older.

More than 4,000 meters were refurbished along the route, of which the Atrium Vestae occupies 1,568 square meters. Work focused on restoring the structural stability and integrity of the ruins.

The Atrium Vestae was once a 50-room palace built around an elegant, rectangular garden, decorated with statues and two pools. It housed the priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth, who were entrusted with keeping a flame eternally lit in the Temple of Vesta, located next door.

The high priestess selected six initiates between the ages of six and 10 from Roman patrician families. Physical perfection was an important criteria. The girls took vows of chastity and served the Cult of Vesta for 30 years.

Vestal priestesses were revered, lived in luxury and relative independence, and were free from obligations to marry and rear children. At the end of their 30-year service they could choose whether to marry or remain with the cult.

The renovation and reopening of the House of the Vestal Virgins was conducted as part of a larger program for the rehabilitation of the Roman Forum, funded with 19 million euros from private and public funds, according to Rome councilor Dino Gasperini.

Gasperini called the opening of Via Nova and the House of the Vestal Virgins "a goal that waited too many years."

"It is another place that has been returned to the city and to tourists who come to Rome to admire the archeology," said Culture Undersecretary Francesco Giro.

Visit Italian Tourism website for more about Rome holidays.  Click Rome Cruise 2011 for full listing of cruises around Italy from Rome.  Or, plan an Amalfi Coast holiday and visit Rome as well.  Italian Tourism also has full selection of Italy pre cruise tours and Italy post cruise tours. Whatever your Italy travel plans Italian Tourism has the Italy travel package and Italy tour package for you.

Italy Holidays- Epiphany

Epiphany January 6 celebration and festivals around the Magi.


To plan your vacation to Rome click for Rome holidays.

Italian Tourism has the best Rome Italy pre-cruise tours and Rome Italy post-cruise tours.

Italian tourism also specializes in Italy cruise tours from Rome. For a Italy cruise from Rome click Rome cruise.

If you'll be on a Rome cruise 2011 be sure to visit the Roman forum. Click for January Rome cruises 2011.

Rome Holiday Season-Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona Rome Italy Christmas

To plan your vacation to Rome click for Rome holidays.

Italian Tourism has the best Rome Italy pre-cruise tours and Rome Italy post-cruise tours.

Italian tourism also specializes in Italy cruise tours from Rome. For a Italy cruise from Rome click Rome cruise.

If you'll be on a Rome cruise 2011 be sure to visit the Roman forum. Click for January Rome cruises 2011.

Rome Christmas Eve: Things to do

Italy Right Now brings you to Rome Christmas Eve - wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk for a Roman festival.

For more video of holidays in Italy click here.

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To plan your vacation to Rome click for Rome holidays.

Italian Tourism has the best Rome Italy pre-cruise tours and Rome Italy post-cruise tours.

Italian tourism also specializes in Italy cruise tours from Rome. For a Italy cruise from Rome click Rome cruise.

If you'll be on a Rome cruise 2011 be sure to visit the Roman forum. Click for January Rome cruises 2011.

Rome Day Trip: SPA Destinations Near Rome

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Walking Rome's cobblestone streets is for sure the best way for a traveler to Rome to learn about the Eternal City. Wandering Rome's streets, slipping into an artist's studio, marveling Bernini's sculptures, counting Egyptian obelisks in Rome, sitting by a Roman fountain with a gelato, enjoying an afternoon espresso people watching, shopping in Rome's fashionable boutiques or strolling a fabulous Rome street market all the while walking in Rome on cobblestones laid by the ancient Romans 2000 years ago takes its toll on the Rome-walker's feet.

Upon leaving Rome a slow Italy traveler would be wise to think about a few days relaxing at one of Lazio's thermal spring water SPAs that are just a short trip outside Rome. This a great way for the Italy traveler to relax and re-charge along the Italy vacation before moving on to another fabulous Italian city like Florence, Naples, or Milan.

Salute per acqua - good health through water - is a saying going back to the ancient Romans, who learned from the Etruscans, which civilization settled around the thermal springs near Civitavecchia (old city) in Lazio, the curative powers of water. Of course, Italy is a volcanic land that is spotted with thermal springs across the Italic peninsula providing all types of thermal water springs and mud bath resort and SPA destinations for Italy travelers to visit.

2000 years since the Etruscans and ancient Romans lived on this land, benessere (well being) is the buzzword for Italian spas that are still the pick of the best thermal water spring SPAs in the world.

Below are Italy travel videos of SPA destinations outside Rome. Looking for exclusive Italy itineraries to off-the-beaten path destinations near Rome, Florence, Naples, and Venice contact WebVisionItaly's Italy travel specialists "travel@webvisionitaly.com"


"Salute Per Acqua" - good health through water.

Acqua di Fiuggi preferred by Europe's royalty, was site of Rossellini & Bergman love affair.

SPA outside Rome in medieval Viterbo full of lovely fountains, Est Est Est wine & Dante's favorite thermal spring.

Ancient Etruscan spring baths in Rome's port Civitavecchia, perfect for cruise shore excursion and Rome day trip.

Outside Rome is Castelli Romani. Etruscan & ancient Roman water spas.

For more Rome day trips visit WebVisionItaly.com Lazio Television Channel.

To plan your vacation to Rome click for Rome holidays. Italian Tourism has the best Italy pre-cruise tour and Italy post-cruise tour Italy vacation packages. Italian tourism also specializes in Italy cruise tours from Rome. For a Italy cruise from Rome click Rome cruise.


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Deredia in Rome

Rome's two most famous archaeological sites are for the first time playing host to a contemporary art exhibition, with a series of large-scale sculptures by Costa Rican artist Jorge Jimenez Deredia.

A number of massive bronze and marble statues are on show in front of the Colosseum and in the Roman Forum as part of a wider display of Deredia's work around the Italian capital.

Deredia's sculptures have been erected in several key sites, including Piazza Barberini, San Lorenzo in Lucina and in the courtyards of Rome's art museums, such as Palazzo Massimo and Palazzo Altemps.

There are also a number of smaller works by the artist at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni, along with several of Deredia's bronze pieces from his renowned Genesis series.

The Forum is hosting 17 separate sculpture groups located at sites along the Via Sacra. The idea of showing Deredia's statues in the Forum and the Colosseum was first raised two years ago but met with resistance in some quarters among those who felt the contemporary nature of the work was inappropriate for the ancient sites. But thanks to firm backing from Rome's municipal council, centre-left former Rome mayor Walter Veltroni and the current centre-right mayor Gianni Alemanno, the initiative has finally come to fruition. Discussing the idea at its inauguration, Culture Undersecretary Francesco Maria Giro said the contrast between old and new was a crucial element of the scheme.

''This is a project that unites the new, which is the future, with the old, which never dies,'' he said. As well as marking a first for Rome's archaeological sites, the exhibition also offers a preview of a new international initiative by Deredia entitled La Ruta de la Paz (The Path of Peace).

The Ruta de la Paz comprises nine new sculpture groups that will eventually be located in nine different countries across the Americas, from Canada down to the Tierra del Fuego, with stops en route in the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru and Chile. The idea is to pull together peoples, legends, myths, symbols and traditions from an array of different backgrounds into a single, overarching project. The Rome exhibit features several of these pieces, while the Genesis group at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni has been described as ''the heart'' of the Ruta de la Paz. Deredia's art will be on display around the Italian capital until November 30.

UEFA Finals Rome: Barcelona ties Chelsea, Faces Manchester United

Barcelona tied Chelsea with a spectacular goal by Andrés Iniesta's in the 93rd minute during penalty time to tie the game 1-1. Since Barcelona was the away team its goal counted for more than Chelsea's goal, meaning the tie goes to the away team and Barcelona is going to Rome to face Manchester United in the Champions League UEFA final in Rome May 27. Last year Manchester United beat Chelsea in the finals, but there will be no repeat this year.

Pompeii Frescoes at Naples National Archaeological Museum

(ANSA) Naples, April 30 - A collection of frescoes that once adorned the walls of Ancient Roman buildings in Pompeii are set to go on show in Naples.

The National Archaeological Museum is to open its completely revamped fresco section, which hosts 400 works of art, following a ten-year renovation project. Preserved by a hail of lava and ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, the precious artwork lay untouched for centuries until excavations started in the 1700s. Over the next 150 years, hundreds of frescoes were removed from their original location and carried away, sometimes for profit, sometimes in a bid to protect the art.

In nearly all cases, removing the artwork damaged the walls of the ancient buildings. Today, the collection housed in the Naples museum is the largest in the world, and is ready to go on show again. The principal change is an entirely new layout, which seeks to place the works in their historical context. The new layout offers visitors a chronological route through the works, charting developments in Pompeian art, as well as a thematic route, which groups together items removed from the same building wherever possible. The developments in art are mapped out through the four so-called ''styles'' of Pompeian wall-painting. The collection contains no examples of the first style, dominant from the 2nd century BC until around 80 BC, as this mainly simulated marble and other materials, and so was of little interest to early archaeologists and was rarely removed. However, there is an extensive selection of art from the second style, which was popular throughout the first century BC. This period saw a focus on architectural features and trompe l'oeil compositions, such as a renowned painting of Macedonian princes and philosophers.

The third style, which peaked in around 10 BC but still appeared in Pompeian art 70 years later, favored ornate and colorful decoration. Well-known examples from this era include a series of beautifully intricate paintings from the Boscotrecase villa, and bedroom decorations from the House of Fatal Love. The fourth style saw a resurgence in architectural scenes, although without the illusionary depth that characterized the second style.

However, a number of categories were eternally popular subjects for wall-painting. Religious and mythological subjects were long-running favorites, such as the feats of Hercules, Dido's abandonment by Aeneas, Perseus rescuing Andromeda or the love of Mars and Venus, which appears in 30 paintings. Landscape paintings also appear throughout the ages, ranging from idyllic mythological scenes to elaborate gardens to exotic locations such as Egypt, complete with Nile and crocodiles. Paintings from taverns and shops provide another recurrent category.

Generally hurried works with little preparation, these served the sole purpose of attracting attention. However, they are today of particular interest to archaeologists as they depict rare scenes from everyday life, such as tradesmen, market people, laborers and tavern scenes.

For more about Naples and the Pompeii area click Campania channel on WebVisionItaly.com.

Rome Walking Map: Obelisks of Rome-Rome Walking Tour Map

Rome Walking Map: Obelisks of Rome.

As we wander Rome it is fun to imagine from where the obelisks in Rome come and how old are the many obelisks that decorate Rome. When walking Rome's ancient streets you are sure to stroll by an obelisk in Rome that dates back to even before Christ, to around 30 B.C. when Augustus brought the obelisks to Rome from Egypt. Many of the Rome obelisks are from Egypt's Ramesses II era. The obelisks were brought to Rome initially by Augustus to continue Rome's connection to the Sun Gods.

On the Rome walking map below the 8 red dots are ancient Egyptian obelisks brought to Rome and the 5 blue dots are ancient Roman obelisks.

Download and enjoy WebVisionItaly.com Rome Obelisk walking tour guide maps and more WebVisionItaly walking tour maps of Rome.

To plan your vacation to Rome click for Rome holidays. Italian Tourism has the best Italy pre-cruise tour and Italy post-cruise tour Italy vacation packages. Italian tourism also specializes in Italy cruise tours from Rome. For a Italy cruise from Rome click Rome cruise.

View Rome Walking Map: Obelisk in Rome in a larger map

Rome Easter: Good Friday & Easter Celebrations in Rome

Easter is a beautiful time to travel to Rome. With the Spanish Steps ablaze in pinks, whites and red spring flowers in full bloom that look like the azalias and rhodadendrums on the fairways of the Master's Tournament. Rome Good Friday tradition Via Cruces, the reenactment of Christ carrying the cross, happens every year in Rome. The Easter Holy Week in Rome culminates with Easter Mass by the Pope from St. Peter's Square, The Vatican inside Rome.


Click for Italy video Rome Easter.



For more video of Italy at Easter time and Rome Easter click WebVisionItaly.com.

Greece returns looted frescoes - Medieval works stolen in 1982, recovered on Greek island

Last week Greece returned to Italy two medieval frescoes looted from a tomb near Naples in 1982.

The frescoes of two saints were recovered by Greek antiquities police in a raid on Greek art traffickers on the Aegean island of Schinoussa in 2006.

They originally adorned the walls of one of the famous tufa chambers called Fornelle at Calvi south of Monte Cassino, site of the Ancient Roman city of Calves.

The particularly ornate chamber - many of whose frescoes are still missing - is believed to have been the tomb of 11th-century Count Pandolfo and his wife Countess Gualferada.

Handing over the frescoes, Greek Culture Minister Antoni Samaras said the event marked ''another important stage in collaboration with our Italian friends and partners in the fight against art theft''.

Italy and Greece launched a joint battle some years ago to crack down on trafficking and reclaim smuggled works from museums around the world.

Italy recently signed landmark deals with New York's Metropolitan Museum and the John Paul Getty Museum in California, among others, hailed as possibly paving the way for a wider-scale return of looted antiquities.

By setting a precedent that could be used by other countries, notably Greece, the accords sent alarm bells around the art world.

The 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization convention bans the import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property.

Italian design gems on show - Initiative showcases legendary industrial creativity

(ANSA) - Rome, March 19 - A selection of Italy's 20th-century design gems has gone on show at the foreign ministry in Rome, as part of a new initiative to promote the country's stellar reputation in this field. The Italian design industry, which blossomed at the start of the 1900s, has gone from strength to strength over recent decades and three of the country's ministries have now joined forces to preserve some of its greatest achievements. ''Design is the pinnacle of Italian creativity, a blend of artistic ingenuity, artisan skills and business capacity,'' commented Culture Minister Sandro Bondi.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini explained: ''The ministries involved are pooling their resources and energy, and we are also seeking assistance from leading industry and business figures''. Car design legend Sergio Pininfarina is heading up a technical committee coordinating efforts between the industry, culture and foreign ministries. Unveiling details of the collection in Rome, the ministers showcased some of automotive industry's design stars. Pride of place went to a brilliant red Ferrari F430 Spider from 2004, along with a state-of-the-art Ducati motorbike. Recalling an earlier period in Italian design history was a mythical 1953 Isetta, which helped launched the concept of microcars in the post-war years. Also from this period were two classic scooter models: a Vespa 150 and a Lambretta Innocenti, complete with sidecar. Although the focus was on vehicles during the presentation, the initiative has identified 15 separate areas in which Italian design has left its distinctive mark, including fashion, furniture, lighting, interior decor and graphic design, as well as the booming web sector.

In addition to the Rome collection, the three ministries plan to promote conferences, initiatives and exhibits around the world through Italy's culture institutes and embassies. The Italian design industry emerged in the early 1900s, with a focus chiefly on automobiles and machinery. However, during the post-war boom, its reputation spread to numerous other fields. Home appliances, furniture, lamps, radio sets and TV sets all made their mark in the 1950s. In the 1960s, the focus switched to specific individuals, with industrial designers such as Gae Aulenti, or architects like Marco Bellini becoming established ''brand names'' in their own right.

Alternative, post-modern design took center stage in the 1970s with provocative and kitsch pieces, while Italy's strongest design sector today is furniture, followed by the automotive and lighting industries.

For more video about Rome and Italian design visit WebVisionItaly.com's Italy Trade channel.

photo: a Ferrari F430.

Rome Gelato Sales Banned After 1AM

Rome, March 26 - Revellers spilling out of discos and bars in Rome in the early hours of the morning will no longer be able to satisfy late-night munchies under a new city council reform designed to calm the capital's nightlife.

Vendors of freshly made croissants, ice-cream, pizza and sandwiches will have to shut up shop at 1 AM under the new law, which comes into effect in mid March.

''This applies to croissant makers, ice-cream makers, cake shops, yoghurt shops, sandwich shops, take-aways and rotisseries,'' said city councillor Davide Bordoni.

''One in the morning seems to us a reasonable hour that is satisfactory for both the shop owners and residents,'' he said.

For more on two of Rome's most famous gelateria, Giolitti Gelato and La Palma Gelato, and the history of gelato click WebVisionItaly.com Gelato in Rome.

Rare artifacts uncovered in Roman baths dig

Rare artifacts uncovered in Roman baths dig
Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:53pm IST

By Deepa Babington

ROME (Reuters Life!) - Excavations at an ancient Roman villa and bath complex in the outskirts of Rome have unearthed a wealth of surprisingly well-preserved artifacts, including the marble head of a Greek god, archaeologists said on Wednesday.

"It's very unusual to find such well-preserved remains in Rome because most of the sites have usually been plundered already and the artifacts stolen," Dora Cirone, an archaeologist on the dig, said at a news conference to announce the findings.

"Luckily, much of the remains here were found buried below floor level, and no one had laid their hands on it."




Of note:

• The site is Villa delle Vignacce, near Ciampino airport southwest of Rome;
• First explored by archaeologists in 1780 who found statues that are now in the Vatican museum;
• excavations began two years ago, revealing residence attached to thermal bath complex dating to 1st century A.D.;
• archaeologists said they had also uncovered artifacts including: fragments of columns, floor slabs and the head of a marble statue believed to represent either the Greek divinity of Zeus Serapide or Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing;
• Discovery of special importance is colored-glass mosaic of leaves and vegetation lining the inside of a vault.

For more on well preserved ancient artifact sites to see authentic ancient Roman lifestyle click Campania TV and Naples TV on WebVisionItaly.com, the only Internet video about Italy.

Rome Culture, Museums, and Festivals December 2008

"De Chirico e il museo" (a retrospective of this classical artist) and "From Rembrandt to Vermeer", a rich overview of the work of major Flemish painters. Also worth a visit is the show in Palazzo Venezia of another painterly genius, Giuseppe Modica, and the exhibition of Basil Theocharakis, master of sea art. This is the last opportunity to catch painting-photography exhibition "Visions of the Grand Tour from the Hermitage", that brings together works by German, Italian and Dutch artists.

What about music? This month check out the live concerts by the likes of Claudio Baglioni (on his "Q.P.G.A." tour), Giorgia, Zucchero, Cesare Cremonini, Mario Venuti and Gianluca Grignani, but also the traditional Christmas concerts, such as those of the buzzing 'Gospel Festival' and the many concerts on at the city Auditorium.

On the classical front, some great operas can be seen in Rome this month, such as "Othello" and "The Barber of Seville"; great ballets such as "The Nutcracker"; but also many concerts: by the city's Philharmonic Orchestra, by the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, at the Gonfalone venue, in Borromini's Sacristy... And don't miss "Notre Dame de Paris", the mega operatic event by Riccardo Cocciante.

It's time to find out what Rome's theatres and stages have in store for us this month. For the younger set, there's the fantastical "Mickey Mouse Magic Show", the musicals "Poveri ma belli (Poor but beautiful)" and "High School Musical", and two classical Neapolitan dramas, "Miseria e nobiltà" and "Quaranta ma non li dimostra" with Luigi De Filippo.

We can't wait to see Francesca Reggiani in "Questioni di prestigio" and Anna Marchesini's spirited performance in "Giorni felici".

And it's not over yet: you can still catch the last few days of the "Romaeuropa Festival", the guided tours of the Appia Antica park, the many events being hosted at the auditorium for Christmas under the "Natale all'Auditorium" banner, and last but not least, the traditional Christmas rituals, both religious (such as the masses in St Peter's Square) or the pagan (such as the Christmas market in Piazza Navona)...
Exhibitions

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Musei Capitolini - Palazzo dei Conservatori, Sala degli Arazzi. Piazza del Campidoglio, 1. Info 060608
Until 6 Jan 2009: Ospitando... l'Apollo di Mantova (Hosting the Apollo of Mantua)
This exhibition is part of the "Ospitando..." series that encourages the circulation - in the literal sense of the term - of art, i.e. the exchange of works between different museums in different cities. The Capitoline museums host this refined sculpture - a marvellous marble Apollo probably dating back to Hadrian's era - which is on loan from the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua for a limited time. Tue-sun h9-10. €8, reduced €6 (the ticket includes entry into the exhibition, "The invention of the Imperial Fora. Demolition and archaeological excavations: 1924-1940)

Scuderie del Quirinale, via XXIV Maggio, 16. Info 0639967500
Until 11 Jan 2009: Giovanni Bellini
One of the most famous Italian painters of the 15th century, Giovanni Bellini (a.k.a. as Giambellino) is celebrated in this exhibition. His contribution to the development of painting techniques was considerable, and ranged from the employment of tempera paints to his very particular use of oils in the manner typical of Flemish painters, creating soft tones and amazing light and colour effects. About 70 of Giambellino's works (including his famous 'Baptism of Christ') are displayed in the Scuderie del Quirinale exhibition venue and will be followed by shows featuring the masterpieces of Titian and Giorgione.

GNAM Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, viale delle Belle Arti, 131. Info 06322981
Until 25 Jan 2009: De Chirico e il museo (De Chirico and the museum)
Thirty years after the death of the great painter from Volos, a retrospective is dedicated to the classicist and inventor of metaphysical painting. For De Chirico art was a compass with which to orient oneself in the sea of emotion. About 30 paintings and drawings illustrate the relationship between the artist and classical heritage. Particularly worth mentioning are the works that are clearly influenced by Michelangelo, Titian, Guido Reni, or Rubens.

Complesso del Vittoriano, via San Pietro in Carcere. Info 066780664
Until 8 Feb 2009: Picasso Arlecchino 1917 - 1937
A unique exhibition curated by Yve-Alain Bois shows 180 pieces by Pablo Picasso, on loan from the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museu Picasso in Barcelona. Oils, etchings and drawings tell of the artist's life and work between 1917 and 1937 - a period that came after the cold melancholy of the blue period, the pale cheerful tones of the pink period, the determined lines of the African period and the intuition and decomposition of the Cubist period - when the Spanish artist was in a discovery phase in which different styles and inspirations converge and were transformed into something free from the constraints and labels of critics.

Colosseo, piazza del Colosseo
Until 15 Feb 2009: Rovine e rinascite nell'arte italiana (Ruins and rebirths in Italian art)
This exhibition focuses on the themes of recovering and preserving the artistic and natural landscape of the nation. These 60 works tell of the various measures and developments that Italy has developed - decrees, laws, private and collective actions - to safeguard its most beautiful sites and treasures. The exhibition is divided into six sections - "The origins of conservation", "Italian Unity and National education", "20th century progress", "Fascist propaganda and war", "The development of conservation principles" and "Counter-trends: conservation today" - and among the many works on show are the Birth of Bacchus from Budapest, the statue of the Goddess Niobe from the Villa dei Quintili and fragments of the Metopes of Selinunte sculptures from Palermo. h8,30-16,30. €11, reduced €6,50

Museo del Corso, via del Corso, 320. Info 0667862098
Until 15 Feb 2009: Da Rembrandt a Vermeer. Valori civili nella pittura fiamminga e olandese del ’600 (From Rembrandt to Vermeer. Civil values in 17th century Flemish and Dutch painting)
Rubens' "Landscape with a hanged man" and Rembrandt's "The money changer" are just two of the artistic gems on show in this exhibition curated by Bernd Lindemann, the head of Berlin's Gemaldegalerie. This prestigious museum has loaned some 55 masterpieces from the so-called "Golden Age" (17th century) of Flemish painting for the exhibition. The works on show the wealth of this cultural period through landscapes, portraits, domestic interiors and the representation of sacred themes.

Galleria Nazionale d'arte antica in Palazzo Barberini - Sala del Caravaggio. Via delle IV Fontane, 13. Info 064824184 e 064814591
Until 23 Feb 2009: Un'ospite misteriosa a Palazzo Barberini (A mysterious guest in Palazzo Barberini)
The painting of Saint Catherine of Alexandria can be seen in the stupendous Sala del Caravaggio and is on loan from the Musée des Beaux Arts in Nantes (which in return has borrowed Simon Vouet's 'Buona Ventura' for their own venue). This work is by Roman artist, Angelo Caroselli, a pioneer of naturalism whose work often had a philosophical vein and overtones of witchcraft. Catherine, the patron saint of philosophers, with her jewellery and sumptuous clothing, evokes pagan priestesses, and in the painting she is imbued in a highly colourful and theatrical atmosphere and displayed alongside "the Holy Family during the Flight to Egypt", a work by the same artist.

Chiostro del Bramante, via della Pace. Info 0668809035
Until 5 Apr 2009: Giulio Cesare. L’uomo, le imprese, il mito (Julius Caesar. The man, the enterprise, the myth)
An exceptional and exclusive event coming up in Rome is the first show dedicated to a quintessential figure in Roman history. Julius Caesar was the link between the republic and the empire, a charismatic man and an extraordinary leader. A series of valuable archaeological finds - sculptures, mosaics, frescoes, jewels, gems, coins - are on show, as are sculptures and paintings by major artists like Hayez, Tiepolo and Rubens that tell the story of Caesar's life. Tue-fri h10-20; sat-sun h10-21. €10, reduced €7

Musei di Roma, info 060608
From 8 Dec to 5 Jan 2009: Apertura straordinaria dei musei (Late museum openings for Christmas)
The city's museums will stay open late during the Christmas holidays. Venues participating in the initiative: Musei Capitolini, Centrale Montemartini, Mercati di Traiano, Museo dell'Ara Pacis, Museo Barracco, Museo della Civiltà Romana, Museo delle Mura, Villa di Massenzio, Museo di Roma, Museo Napoleonico, MACRO, Museo Carlo Bilotti, Museo Pietro Canonica, Museo di Roma in Trastevere, Musei di Villa Torlonia, Planetario e Museo Astronomico, Museo Civico di Zoologia www

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Complesso del Vittoriano, via San Pietro in Carcere
Until 8 Dec: Luciano Pavarotti. L'uomo che emozionò il mondo (Luciano Pavarotti. The man who moved the world)
Photos, videos and other souvenirs pay tribute to one of the strongest and most famous voices on the planet: that of Luciano Pavarotti. This exhibition, which was curated by second wife Nicoletta Mantovani and Alessandro Nicosia, includes audio materials, stage costumes, posters and librettos and traces the extraordinary career of the man known as Big Luciano. His incredible voice accompanies us as we make out way through this exhibition and further improve our knowledge of this incomparable tenor from Modena.

Palazzo Venezia, via del Plebiscito, 118. Info 066780131; 06699941
Until 14 Dec: Giuseppe Modica. Roma e la città riflessa (Giuseppe Modica. Rome and the city reflected)
One of the most interesting contemporary painters in Italy - Giuseppe Modica - has once again chosen the capital as the place to present a series of works dedicated to the theme of the city reflected. Reflection is what this artist's poetics is all about. For years he has had a philosophical perspective, striving beyond objectivity and looking for the evocative core of the matter. 40 never-before-seen works - dream-like Roman landscapes, views and monuments. Tue-sun h8,30-19,30. Admission free

Braccio di Carlo Magno, Città del Vaticano. Info 0668193064
Until 6 Jan 2009: Pio XII. L'uomo e il pontificato (1876-1958) (Pius XII. The man and the papacy 1876-1958)
An exhibition that explores the figure and life of Eugenio Pacelli, better known to the world as Pope Pius XII. The show is divided into nine different sections, dedicated to the intimate and public phases of the pope's life: his childhood, his education, his family life and background, his spiritual journey, his cultural grounding, his time as a priest and finally, his 19 years as pope.

Palazzo delle Esposizioni, via Nazionale, 194. Info 0639967500
Until 6 Jan 2009: Etruschi. Le antiche metropoli del Lazio Etruscans. The ancient metropolises of Lazio)
Mario Morelli and Anna Maria Moretti curated this exhibition dedicated to the Etruscan culture and civilisation of Lazio, which left manifold traces in the urban fabric, rituals and traditions of its main settlements: Veio, Cerveteri, Tarquinia and Vulci, all have a particular spirit and character - Veio, for example, is a great ceramics centre; Cerveteri is famous for its necropolis; Vulci is famous for its white stone; and Tarquinia boasts over 100 stupendous frescoed tombs.

Palazzo delle Esposizioni, via Nazionale, 194. Info 0639967500
Until 6 Jan 2009: Bill Viola
"The Crossing", "The Veiling", "Silent Mountain" and "The Locked Garden" are just some of the works we can admire in this exhibition dedicated to video art guru Bill Viola. His creations are the fruit of a spiritual life that finds nourishment in Buddhism, Christianity, Sufism and Mysticism and that explores the universal moments of human life - birth, death, nature. Videotapes, video-installations, sound landscapes, video performances and electronic projects lead us into a sensorial experience that immerses us in a world of pure sound and imagery.

Palazzo Venezia - Sala Regia, Sala delle Battaglie e Sala del Mappamondo. Via del Plebiscito, 118. Info 0669994319
Until 11 Jan 2009: Basil Theocharakis - Pittura: 1952 – 2008 (Basil Theocharakis - Painting: 1952 - 2008)
The first Italian retrospective dedicated to this poet of the sea, Greek artist Basil Theocharakis. Divided into different sections, such as abstract works, paintings dedicated to 'Mount Athos', or depicting 'Clouds', 'Marshes', stupendous 'Landscapes', 'Marine landscapes' and 'Built-up areas', this exhibition explores the themes that inhabit the artist's watercolours. His pieces appear enchanted by the world around us and imbued with a desire to record it in all its authentic essence, through great details, brushstrokes that are both thick and thin, and the use of fresh and bright colours. Tue-sun h9-19. Admission free

Casa dei Teatri, Villa Doria Pamphilj - Villino Corsini. Largo 3 giugno 1849, angolo via di San Pancrazio - ingresso Arco dei Quattro Venti. Info 060608; 0645460693
Until 11 Jan 2009: Pupazzi con rabbia e sentimento. Una mostra di arte e di teatro di Dario Fo e Franca Rame (Puppets of anger and sentiment. A show of art and theatre by Dario Fo and Franca Rame)
"Grabbing hold of a canvas or a piece of cardboard, starting to draw, throwing down colours and scratching a freshly painted board is the only way of resolving a complex or abstruse scene or staging dilemma." So said theatrical supremo and creative powerhouse Dario Fo before this exhibition was inaugurated. Franca Rame, Fo's wife, helped put together this amazing collection of watercolours, tempera paintings, oils on canvas and etchings created by the eclectic Lombard artist with major enthusiasm ever since childhood. By making "una frappàta di belle figure (a smattering of beautiful figures)" as Fo said himself, or the puppets of the exhibition's title, he started to take his first steps in the world of figurative art, slowly developing a highly visual language that he considered to be the key to his creative originality. Deepen your knowledge of an artist who speaks through the language of colour through these 100 paintings, backdrops, stage costumes and wall hangings. Tue-sun h10-17. Admission free

Musei di Villa Torlonia, Casino dei Principi. Via Nomentana, 70. Info 060608
Until 11 Jan 2009: Scuola Romana. Artisti a Roma tra le due guerre (Roman School. Artists in Rome between the two wars)
After periods spent at the museums and Italian cultural institutes of Tirana, Belgrade, Fiume and Bucharest, this exhibition finally comes to Rome. This show examines the period between the two wars, a period that was culturally very lively. About fifty works by the biggest names in figurative art - such as Guttuso, Mafai and Scipione - and by some lesser-known artists - such as Francalancia, Capogrossi and Cavalli (self-portrait) - are on display. The show is divided into three sections. The first is dedicated to the artist and the creative process; the second is centred on the perceptual subjectivity of places as seen by the individual artists; the third examines the body and its physicality. Tue-sun h9-16,30. €9, reduced €5,50

Casa di Goethe, via del Corso, 18. Info 0632650412
Until 18 Jan 2009: Italiani a Weimar. Disegni italiani dal XVI al XIX secolo dalle collezioni della Klassik Stiftung Weimar (Italians in Weimar. Italian drawings from the 16th to the 19th centuries from the Klassik Stiftung Weimar collections)
This exhibition shows works on loan from the Klassik Stiftung Weimar collection and includes pieces by Giorgio Vasari, Perino del Vaga, the Cavalier d'Arpino, Annibale Carracci, Guercino, Salvator Rosa, Bartolomeo Pinelli and Giovanni Volpato... For many of the paintings coming back to Rome is particularly significant since it represents a return home: the Eternal City is, in fact, the subject of many of these works, such as "The apotheosis of Romulus" by Domenico Maria Canuti. Curator: Ursula Verena Fischer Pace. Tue-sun h10-18. €4, reduced €3

Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, Lungotevere di Castello, 50
Until 25 Jan 2009: Loghi d'Italia - storie dell'arte di eccellere (Loghi d'Italia - the history of the art of excelling)
This exhibition tells the story of four major Italian firms - Amarelli, Peroni, Lagostina and Perugina - and is an event that advertising aficionados will be loath to miss. "Loghi d'Italia" uses photos and objects to tell the story of big Italian firms, the products they sell and the people involved in making them who they are today. Special mention must go to the documentaries by Antonioni and Bertolucci and pieces by artists such as Guttuso and Dalì. Tue-sun h9-19. €8

Fondazione Memmo - Palazzo Ruspoli, via del Corso, 418. Info 066874704
Until 1 Feb 2009: Jean-Michel Basquiat. Fantasmi da scacciare (Jean-Michel Basquiat. Shadows that haunt)
The poet of graffiti art made his name in the carriages of New York's metro trains and later in the hippest art galleries. The hard-living and fast-dying Basquiat ? who boasted collaborations with the iconic Andy Warhol ? painted a dark and fragmented urban humanity and created creatures impregnated by an atmosphere of social disintegration. His artistic language was strong and pure, his perspective was philosophical, and his message was as withering as the signature he invented (SAMO - Same old Shit) to sign off his work... Just like his many fans and collectors around the world, you too will fall in love with the "shadows that haunt" the works of this wild artist! Tue-thu h10-19,30; fri-sun h10-20,30. €10, reduced €8

Museo dell'Ara Pacis, lungotevere in Augusta, info 060608
Until 22 Feb 2009: Bruno Munari
Ten years after his death, the city of Rome celebrates this great Milanese artist and designer who affected the language of modernity deeply, through a series of initiatives, activities, mini-exhibitions, workshops for children, and above all a rich display of his work. Sculptures and graphic pieces will allow us to get to know this refined designer, who made experimentation and intuition his distinctive traits. Tue-sun h11-19. €5

Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo, Lungotevere di Castello, 50
Until 22 Feb 2009: Artisti a Roma - Ritratti ed autoritratti, scultori ed architetti dal Rinascimento al 700 (Artists in Rome - Portraits and self-portraits, sculptors and architects from the Renaissance to the 18th century)
"Papi in posa", "La Porpora Romana" and "Il Principe Romano" are all shows dedicated to the art of portraiture, as is "Artisti a Roma". This show examines the art of portaiture and self-portraiture and highlights the importance of the pose adopted by the sitter, their way of thinking and their social status. Among the many works on display are the bronze bust of Michelangelo by Giambologna, self-portraits by Bernini and Vanvitelli, and a heretofore unseen portrait of the poet Metastasio by Martin van Meytens. Tue-sun h9-19

Musei di San Salvatore in Lauro, piazza Di San Salvatore In Lauro, 15. Info 066865493
Until 22 Feb 2009: Visioni del Grand Tour dall'Ermitage (1640-1880). Paesaggi e gente d'Italia nelle collezioni russe - Visions of the Grand Tour from the Hermitage (1640-1880). The landscapes and people of Italy in the Russian collections
Sergej Androsov, Vladimir Matveev and Lorenzo Zichichi are the curators of this show that brings many works to Italy for the first time. A major thanks is owed to the Russian collectors who gathered paintings and watercolours by Dutch, Italian and German artists for decades, and made this show possible. The work of photographer Enrica Scalfari is also on show. She shot the landscapes and places represented in the paintings from the Hermitage, offering visitors the chance to see how the places in question have changed in the course of time. Tue-sun h11-19. €5

MACRO - Museo Arte Contemporanea Roma, via Reggio Emilia, 54. Info 06671070400
Until 28 Feb 2009: Ernesto Neto
The installation is dedicated to Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1964 and on show in an Italian museum for the first time ever. This fluctuating architectural project, with its organic and floral forms, were especially conceived for the Macro Hall space. The artist invites the public to walk through the work and interact with them. The installation will use all the space of the Museum's Glass Gallery (galleria vetrata). Tue-sun h9-19. €1

Museo della Civiltà Romana, piazza G. Agnelli, 10. Info 060608
Until 1 Mar 2009: Il divo è tratto. A passeggio con Gilles Chaillet, tra segni e disegni, nella Roma dei Cesari (Il divo è tratto. Ambling around the Rome of the Caesars in the company of Gilles Chaillet)
The Rome of the Caesars, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Circus Maximus, the streets and alleys of ancient Rome: you can try and conjure all this up in our heads, or... you can go see it at the Museum of Roman Civilisation! These 20 wood tables by the master Gilles Chaillet - laid out chronologically - show ancient Rome at its most enchanting. A series of interactive stations are also available and allow visitors to travel back in time. Workshops will also be held to accompany the exhibition. Tue-fri h9-14; sat and sun h9-19. €6,50, reduced €4,50

Museo di Roma Palazzo Braschi, piazza San Pantaleo, 1. Info 060608
Until 19 Apr 2009: Roma, la magnifica visione. Vedute panoramiche del XVIII e XIX secolo dalle collezioni del Museo di Roma (Rome the magnificent. Panoramic views of the city between the 18th and 19th centuries from the Museum of Rome collection)
A selection of 35 works on loan from the Museum of Rome - water-colours, temperas and paintings - show us how Rome looked to the eyes of travellers and artists: it was a city rich in stupendous monuments, beautiful nature and landscapes. Villa Ludovisi, the Aventine and Monte Mario are three of the places in Rome that come up most frequently in the paintings. Some of the most famous works on show are views of Rome by Samuel Rawle, John Newbolt and Ippolito Caffi. Curators: Patrizia Masini, Anna Aletta and Fabio Betti. Tue-sun h9-19 (closed: 25 Dec and 1 Jan 2009). €8, reduced €6

Rome Tour: Rome Walking Tour Maps-Heart of Rome-Walk Heart of Rome Map

This map of Rome's heart, the centro storico, is the Rome walking tour map we like to follow upon arrival in Rome to get our legs back while walking and sightseeing in the heart of Rome's centro storico.

Of course, this idea of walking in Rome is not new to the Romans. The passeggiata, the evening stroll, is as old as Rome itself. An Italian social ritual like penguins on parade, la passeggiata is the art of taking an evening walk in Rome.

When going to Rome, bring band-aids and VERY comfortable shoes. Or rent a motorino!

Rome Map: Rome sightseeing tour walk Via Arenula to Campo De' Fiori

This walking tour of Rome's heart, the centro storico, begins at Largo Argentina, the bus stop in Rome's centro storico, on Vittorio Emanuele and Via Arenula. From there we walk south to the little park on the west side - the right side of the street. There we take right, going west down Via dei Giubbonari, to Campo de' Fiori.

Rome Map: Via Arenula and Via del Falegnami to Campo de' Fiori.

This walk takes about 7 minutes or all afternoon depending on the pace.


Campo de' Fiori to Piazza Farnese to Michelangelo Arch Via Giulia
From Campo de’Fiori to Piazza Farnese is one minute, with a walk down to Via Giulia and Michelangelo’s Arch about 5 minutes.

Rome Map: Campo de' Fiori to Piazza Farnese, Via Giulia and Michelangelo's Arch:



Via Giulia to Vatican
From this point walking on Via Giulia to the Vatican walking west, across Ponte Vittorio Emanuele takes about 25 minutes.

Rome Map: Via Giulia Michelangelo's Arch to Vatican City St Peter's Square:



Campo de' Fiori to Piazza Navona
Exit Campo de'Fiori walking west on Via dei Cappellari for the longer route to Via del Governo Vecchio and Piazza Navona, 10 minutes.

Rome Map: Campo de' Fiori to Piazza Navona:



or exit Campo de’ Fiori north west side to Via di Pasquino for quicker route to Piazza Navona and Via del Governo Vecchio, 4 minutes walking by foot.

Rome Map: Campo de' Fiori to Via di Pasquino and Piazza Navona:



On Via del Governo Vecchio you’ll find caffes etc For dinner I would eat like a Roman with Romans going off Governo Vecchio north on Via del Corallo to Piazza Fico for dinner at Da Francesco trattoria. Another good one off Governo Vecchio north on Via di Parione is Cucina Romana Virginiae.

Either way you go from Campo de' Fiori to Piazza Navona, cross Vittorio Emanuele II, which to the west brings you to Vatican in 25 minutes by foot.

Rome Map: Largo Argentina to Vatican City, St. Peter's Square and Basilica:



From Piazza Fico and Via Corallo we stroll toward Via della Pace and Via Parione for a drink with the hipsters at Caffe della Pace, or continuing straight into the Piazza Navona on Via de Tor Millina

Rome Map: Piazza Fico and Via della Pace to Piazza Navona to Pantheon:



Exit Piazza Navona opposite side on Corsia Agonale – cross the main street there Rinasciemento, take left, then first right – Via del Salvatore – walk straight and then you are in for the treat of your life when you see the greatest of Roman buildings, Brunelleschi’s inspiration for Il Dumo in Firenze, the Pantheon at night.

Rome Map: Piazza Navona to Pantheon:



Pantheon to Largo Argentina
If you stand in square, looking at Pantheon, the street to the right of Pantheon, running parallel – follow that straight, crossing Vittorio Emanuele, you will find the starting point due south. (5 minutes)

Rome Map: Pantheon to Vittorio Emanuele, Largo Argentina, and Ghetto neighborhood:



To the left of Pantheon is Santa Maria Minerva, in front is Bernini-designed elephant with an Egyptian obelisk on top - Pulcino della Monerva, an ancient and baroque mix. The Latin inscription on the base, chosen by the pope who commissioned the sculpture to support the obelisk found on the site, Alexander VII, says "...a strong mind is needed to support a solid knowledge".

Pantheon to Spanish Steps
If you still have legs, go opposite direction toward Campo Marzo, then on to Piazza San Lorenzo, and on to Via dei Condotti (15 minutes). There a few good gelato shops along the route, plenty of nice boutiques and a real pleasant walk.

Rome Map: Pantheon to Campo Marzo and Piazza San Lorenzo:



When you get to Via Condotti, take right to Spanish Steps. Walk down Rome’s high fashion runway to Piazza Spagna. (7 minutes)

Rome Map: Campo Marzo and Pantheon to Piazza Spagna (Spanish Steps):



From Spanish Steps to the left is Piazza Popolo, where among other sites is a wonderful Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit

Rome Map: Piazza Spagna to Piazza Popolo:



Via Margutta, well known for its art galleries, very high end fashion and from the film Roman Holiday, is a very pretty street for a stroll on the way to Piazza Popolo from Piazza Spagna (4 minutes). You'll find art studios above galleries, boutique fashion stores, and modern Roman restaurants.

Rome Map: Via Margutta:



Great spot for lunch opposite direction from Spanish Steps is Settimio all’Arancio on Via Arancio. After lunch cross Tiber on Ponte Cavour, where you are 10 minutes from Castel Sant'Angelo and 20 minutes from Vatican.

From Spanish steps we walk toward Trevi Fountain (Fontana Trevi) by winding our way through the streets.

Rome Map: Piazza Spagna (Spanish Steps) to Trevi Fountain. (10 minutes



Exit Trevi on Via de Crociferi, or Via della Muratte if you like street markets, to the Via del Corso, taking right then left into Piazza Colonna –The Column of Marcus Aurelius, a Doric column with a spiral relief, built in honor of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and modeled on Trajan's Column. Built in 200, it still stands on its original site, the heart of Rome in front of Palazzo Chigi – one of our favorites. (5 minutes)

Rome Map: Trevi Fountain to Piazza Colonna - Heart of Rome:

Rome Map: Campo Marzo is west of Piazza Colonna (1 minute):

Piazza Colonna to Pantheon (5 minutes):

From there you can head toward Via di Sant’Ignazio – do go inside to see the “Dome”. (5 minutes)



Excellent restaurant in front of Sant’Ignazio. Between Piazza Colonna and Sant’Ignazio is Via di Pietra, with an ancient temple under restoration.

Vittoria Emanuele II and Via Arenula from Sant'Iganzio to complete the walking tour of Rome's centro storico, wind through Rome's medieval streets to Largo Argentina and the ancient ruins (15 minutes):



Rome Map-Centro Storico:


This walking circle around Rome's centro storico may be tightened and widened using similar pattern. Rome by foot is a great way to explore the ancient city's streets. You may spend days in Rome exploring it by winding and unwinding in a spiral fashion.

On New Years Day in Rome, the Romans are on parade walking down the closed Via del Corso eating fava beans for good luck the passeggiata really finds it meaning. And then each day of the year Romans give thanks and stay in shape by taking a Passeggiata each evening. Enjoy Rome by foot.

WebVisionItaly's walking maps of Rome below. WebVisionItaly's Google walking maps of Rome may be toggled so you that one map with all the highlights may be printed.

• WebVisionItaly's Walking in Rome Map - Rome Restaurants,
• WebVisionItaly's Walking in Rome Map - Rome Shopping,
• WebVisionItaly's Walking in Rome Map - Bernini's Rome
  

For more maps of Italy and video of Italy visit www.webvisionitaly.com, the only Internet TV network in English about Italy travel.

Ancient Rome in 3D on Google Earth

Google Earth revives ancient Rome

The Colosseum is just one of many ancient buildings users can tour.

Google has added to its popular 3D map tool, Google Earth, offering millions of users the chance to visit a virtual ancient Rome.

Google Earth provides a reconstruction of the sprawling city - inhabited by more than one million people as long ago as 3 BC, under the reign of Augustus.

Users may zoom around the map to visit the Forum of Julius Caesar, stand in the centre of the Colosseum or swoop over the Basilica.

Researchers behind the project say it adds to five centuries of knowledge.

"This is another step in creating a virtual time machine," said Bernard Frischer of the University of Virginia, which worked with Google on the Roman reconstruction.

"The project is a continuation of five centuries of research by scholars, architects and artists since the Renaissance, who have attempted to restore the ruins of the ancient city with words, maps and images," he said.

Also involved was Past Perfect Productions, which reconstructs archaeological and historical sites through virtual reality.

Joel Myers, the firm's chief executive, said: "Cultural heritage, although based in the past, lives in the present, as it forms our identity.

"It is therefore our responsibility to ensure its conservation, to nourish it and make it accessible, with the objective of promoting global understanding. Ancient Rome in 3D is a major step towards this goal," he added.

Google's blog said that the Ancient Rome model contains more than 6,700 buildings, with more than 250 place marks linking to key sites in a variety of languages.

"Whether you are a student taking your first ancient history class, a historian who spends your life researching ancient civilisations, or just a history buff, access to this 3D model in Google Earth will help everyone learn more about ancient Rome," said Bruce Polderman, Google Earth 3D production manager.

Within ancient Rome there are some 200 buildings scholars know a lot about - classified as Class 1, which Google says have been rendered as faithfully as possible.

The 3D models are based on a physical model of the city called the Plastico di Roma Antica.

The model was created by archaeologists and model-makers between 1933 to 1974 and housed in a special gallery in Rome's Museum of Roman Civilization.

The new map was unveiled at an event in the Italian capital, and the modern day Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, praised the project.

"It's an incredible opportunity to share the stunning greatness of ancient Rome, a perfect example of how the new technologies can be ideal allies of our history, archaeology and cultural identity," Mr Alemanno said.

To learn more about Italy, its culture, its people, the distinct regions, and modern day Italy visit WebVisionItaly.com, the only Internet television network about Italy.

Ancient Rome in 3D on Google Earth

Google Earth revives ancient Rome

The Colosseum is just one of many ancient buildings users can tour.

Google has added to its popular 3D map tool, Google Earth, offering millions of users the chance to visit a virtual ancient Rome.

Google Earth provides a reconstruction of the sprawling city - inhabited by more than one million people as long ago as AD320, the date given as the founding of Rome.

Users may zoom around the map to visit the Forum of Julius Caesar, stand in the centre of the Colosseum or swoop over the Basilica.

Researchers behind the project say it adds to five centuries of knowledge.

"This is another step in creating a virtual time machine," said Bernard Frischer of the University of Virginia, which worked with Google on the Roman reconstruction.

"The project is a continuation of five centuries of research by scholars, architects and artists since the Renaissance, who have attempted to restore the ruins of the ancient city with words, maps and images," he said.

Also involved was Past Perfect Productions, which reconstructs archaeological and historical sites through virtual reality.

Joel Myers, the firm's chief executive, said: "Cultural heritage, although based in the past, lives in the present, as it forms our identity.

"It is therefore our responsibility to ensure its conservation, to nourish it and make it accessible, with the objective of promoting global understanding. Ancient Rome in 3D is a major step towards this goal," he added.

Google's blog said that the Ancient Rome model contains more than 6,700 buildings, with more than 250 place marks linking to key sites in a variety of languages.

"Whether you are a student taking your first ancient history class, a historian who spends your life researching ancient civilisations, or just a history buff, access to this 3D model in Google Earth will help everyone learn more about ancient Rome," said Bruce Polderman, Google Earth 3D production manager.

Within ancient Rome there are some 200 buildings scholars know a lot about - classified as Class 1, which Google says have been rendered as faithfully as possible.

The 3D models are based on a physical model of the city called the Plastico di Roma Antica.

The model was created by archaeologists and model-makers between 1933 to 1974 and housed in a special gallery in Rome's Museum of Roman Civilization.

The new map was unveiled at an event in the Italian capital, and the modern day Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, praised the project.

"It's an incredible opportunity to share the stunning greatness of ancient Rome, a perfect example of how the new technologies can be ideal allies of our history, archaeology and cultural identity," Mr Alemanno said.

To learn more about Italy, its culture, its people, the distinct regions, and modern day Italy visit WebVisionItaly.com, the only Internet television network about Italy.