Sometimes Rome can be a little overwhelming even for the most excited of tourists to manage. If you are visiting the city and you find the need to escape for some peace and quiet for a while, you can still combine that need with some sightseeing.

The Villa Borghese gardens provide the ideal escape for such an occasion. To call them gardens is to slightly miss the point on how big they are though; this area is actually a public park and it is the largest one of its kind in all of Rome. In a sense though, calling the area a park or a garden is a clue to its versatile history. In the past it was a vineyard, way back in the 16th century when it was first created.

Today though it is a place where everyone can come and enjoy the peace and tranquillity that the gardens provide. You will get your fair share of water here as well, since the middle of the park is taken up with a large lake. This was created some two centuries after the vineyard first took up residence here.

If you are nearby making your way up the Spanish Steps, you might be interested to know that once you make it to the top you will be very close to the Villa Borghese gardens. You’ll probably need a rest once you’ve negotiated all the steps so it’s the best possible time to do some exploring!

The name of the park comes courtesy of the Cardinal Scipione Borghese. He originally decided to get rid of the vineyard and transform it into a park in the very early years of the 17th century. This was clearly an excellent decision but even he may be surprised that his park is still being used and enjoyed some four hundred years later.

The Villa Borghese gardens are a key part of Rome and a pleasant green area to enjoy as well. It is easy to get caught up in the history of Rome from Roman times, but as you can see there is a lot more to it than that.

When it comes to visiting famous venues in Rome, you certainly have a lot of options to choose from. But one of the most famous of all has to be the Sistine Chapel.

Even the name of this chapel sends shivers down your spine. It doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are; you will want to add this superb destination to your itinerary if you intend to visit Rome for a well deserved break.

The chapel can be found in the Vatican City, which as you will probably know is where the Pope resides. Several famous buildings comprise the Pope’s residence, which is known as the Apostolic Palace. But the Sistine Chapel is perhaps the most famous of them all.

Many famous names are associated with the chapel, not least of which is Michelangelo. Most people will be familiar with the famous painting called the ‘Creation of Adam’, where God brings Adam to life. The forefinger of each touches the other in the most famous and recognisable part of the painting. This adorns the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and in 2011 it will be exactly five hundred years since Michelangelo painted the amazing scene on the ceiling. It is just one of the reasons why a visit to the Sistine Chapel is well worth your time.

If you do intend to visit the chapel you should take heed of the rules that surround such visits. You can book your tickets in advance and indeed this is often the best way to get past the huge queues that can form there. This is after all one of the most popular sights in the whole of Rome, and certainly within the Vatican City.

One of the key things to remember is to dress appropriately for your time in the chapel. You may be wearing shorts every other day in Rome, but they are certainly not going to permit you access to the Sistine Chapel wearing them. Make sure you read up on the rules of attire before you go, so you will not be turned away when you get there. The last thing you want is to miss out on this most amazing sight in Rome.

When you think of Rome you probably think about all the superb ancient monuments and signs of ancient times that exist there. Make no mistake – this is one of the world’s prime sites for revisiting the past.

But it would be easy to think that Rome is all about ancient times and very little else. You will be hard pushed to visit the city without also thinking about some very modern elements of it. One such example – and a very good one it is too – is shopping.

Rome is in Italy after all, and that means haute couture and general clothes shopping is a must do pastime here. If you are visiting Rome you cannot fail to be taken in by all the clothes and shops there are to explore here. Indeed many a city break has been punctuated by numerous visits to some of Rome’s best clothing stores. If this kind of outing would be good for you to enjoy, you will certainly have plenty of delightful hours to spend browsing around all the different kinds of shops you will find there.

If you want to go for the best clothes (and the most expensive price tags) there are plenty of designer stores in Rome. Prada, Gucci and Versace all have stores here, along with the likes of various other well known designers. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to those particular stores you will find lots of individual boutiques as well. This is one of the charms of Rome – it has the ability to offer the most expensive and luxurious clothes alongside those that are ideal for any kind of budget.

Be prepared to wear comfy shoes as you traverse the streets of Rome looking for bargains and expensive luxuries as well. Look out for Via dei Condotti for the expensive designer stores, and also the Via del Corso if you want cheaper and more affordable wares. One thing is certain though – whatever your budget will stretch to, Rome has it all laid out for you to explore. You are bound to enjoy every moment of it.

If you are visiting Rome you really are completely spoiled for choice as to where you will want to go first. One good place to begin – and certainly one place you will want to see before you go – is the Piazza Navona. This is one of the most famous squares, not just in Rome or Europe but in the entire world. You may even recognise it when you first arrive, such is its fame and image.

When you are standing in the square you should be aware of its history too. The square is now occupying the space where an ancient stadium used to stand, and there are still parts of it that can be seen in certain locations. There are fountains that stand in the square now, along with plenty of places to browse round and sit down at for a coffee or two. This is a very welcoming square and one that attracts many visitors right throughout the year.

A baroque church adds more drama to the square and makes it even more appealing. Even if you have seen pictures of the square before you will not be prepared for the views that meet you when you eventually see it for yourself. It is definitely worth looking round the square and spending some time there really appreciating every last aspect of it before you leave. It is quite something to think of how it has changed from the 30,000 seater stadium that was here in ancient times, to the welcoming and charming square that is there now.

When the weather is nice the outdoor cafes are one of the best places to sit back and enjoy everything the square has to offer. You will arguably see even more by viewing the square from a comfortable seat in one of these cafes, because you will be able to relax and sit back to watch what is going on. Tourists tend to fill the square for much of the time, appreciating the fountains and everything else they can see here.

If you visit the Piazza Navona, you may indeed find it difficult to leave.

Whether you have ever been to Rome or not, you will be familiar with St Peter’s Basilica. It is arguably one of the world’s most famous churches and it can be found within the Vatican City. The city itself lies not far to the west of Rome and many of its attractions, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Capitoline Museums.

But why are people drawn to the Basilica? Is it because it lies in the enclave known as the Vatican City? Or are there other reasons why St Peter’s Basilica draws the crowds on a regular basis?

One reason has to be its stunning appearance. To say it is huge is to vastly underestimate its size. Some sixty thousand people can be accommodated inside the church at full capacity, which tells us something about the vastness of the interior. But it is also quite beautiful, and you would probably struggle to find the words to describe just how beautiful it is. The detail of every part of the inside of the Basilica is just amazing, and you will feel small and probably insignificant as well when you see it for yourself. That’s how amazing St Peter’s really is.

It is called St Peter’s because it was built on the very spot where St Peter was laid to rest in 64 AD. The site has long had a shrine – even before St Peter died – but over the years it was developed and the original basilica was eventually built. The one we see there today was not built until the early 1500s.

The good news is that you can see the interior of St Peter’s Basilica completely free of charge. The only charge made is the one for going up into the dome. Some choose not to do this but if you have a head for heights you should definitely try it. You’ll be rewarded with the most amazing views of Rome, thanks to the sheer size and height of the dome you will be peering out of.

When you think about it, there is no way you could visit Rome without seeing the Basilica itself.

If you take a holiday in Rome you are bound to want to explore the many ancient sights in the city. After all, Rome can do ancient landmarks better than most other world cities, so it makes sense to make the most of them.

If this is what you intend to do you should definitely think about walking along the Appian Way. Many of today’s modern roads in the countries Romans went to are based on the original paths the Romans used. But the Appian Way is one of the earliest genuine Roman roads that can still be seen in parts of Italy. When you are in Rome you can indeed do as the Romans did and walk along this very road.

The road itself is fascinating to look at. It is mostly constructed of cobbles and therefore provides a very uneven surface. If you intend to walk along as much of it as possible, ensure you have comfortable walking shoes otherwise you will feel the cobbles beneath your feet!

The road dates back to 312 BC, and it is named after the man who came up with the idea to build it. He was known as Appius Claudius Caesus. No doubt he would be amazed to see the road still there today and still being explored by the many people who visit Rome each year.

As you follow the road you will be walking along a major route through history. This is not just because of the road itself though. Also along parts of the route there are tombs of former residents of Rome. No burials were allowed to take place in the city, and so the major roads leading out from there were used as routes to burial places. Many tombs were constructed just by the roadside, and some can still be seen today.

And beneath the road there lies even more secrets. Catacombs and other curiosities are there beneath your feet as you walk the cobbles, giving another intriguing side of ancient Rome as it was back then. It certainly has much still to reveal to modern day man.

Rome is one of those cities that immediately throws up some obvious and classic sights to see when you pay a visit there. For example you’ve got the likes of the Roman Forum, the Vatican and the Colosseum to name just three.

But it can be all too easy to overlook the less well known places when you go all out to see the famous sights Rome has to offer. This is why one of the best things you can do is to book a place on a tour of Rome.

It’s worth noting though that you’ve got dozens of potential tours to choose from, so you should make every effort to find out what is available before making your choice. For instance not all the tours are walking tours. Some take place over the space of a couple of hours while others last for the whole day. Many of them are also themed so you can take your pick from the many options that are available.

One good example of this is the themed tour which takes in lots of Rome’s crypts and catacombs. It may sound creepy but there is a lot to discover on this tour and some of the best sights in Rome are included in the tour. Watch out for entrance fees that are included in the tour price too – this can make any tour well worth doing from a value for money point of view.

It can also be worthwhile to try an evening tour if you want to see a different side of Rome. Any tour will have the advantage of giving you a knowledgeable guide who will make the whole experience even more memorable. You may be able to learn a lot from guide books but nothing prepares you for the experience of listening to an expert guide.

And since there is plenty of history to find out about in Rome, you can see why a few tours can virtually guarantee you a better trip. Don’t just explore on your own – book onto some tours to find out some of the real secrets of this amazing city.