There is one thing you cannot escape from in Rome, and that is history. This exciting metropolis oozes with it. But neither will you escape the hectic vibrancy of the place with its anarchic traffic, its noise, its piazzas, its fountains, its fabulous restaurants and all the other idiosyncrasies that make Rome quite simply one of the most remarkable cities in the world. Whether it's Etruscan tombs, Republican meeting rooms, early-Christian churches, Renaissance palaces, Baroque basilicas, the Vatican, or the great swathe of artefacts left by the Roman Empire; the sense of history which Rome provides is all embracing.

It's a bustling city in which a great deal of life takes place outdoors, people mix; for instance, in the Piazzas around Parliament, you might see politicians and journalists chatting with the man sweeping the streets, or pacing up and down outside the bar in Via Uffici del Vicario avidly talking into their mobile phones. Whether it's history, or humanity, Rome is quite simply a feast for the eye.

Teatro Costanzi (dell'Opera)

A major cycle of opera and other classical performances from Rome's main opera house staged at the Teatro Costanzi. Tickets available from the box office in Piazza Beniamino Gigli 1 Tel: 06 4816 0255 For further information www.operabase.com

Galleria Doria Pamphili

The richest art collection in Rome still in private hands features works by Velazquez - a celebrated portrait of Pope Innocent X - Caravaggio, Titan, raphael and many more. Palazzo Doria Pamphili, Piazza del Collegio Romano 2 Tel: 06 679 7323