In Ancient Rome, as today, Romans have always felt special, a race apart, really quite different from the rest of Italy. This is not arrogance, but merely a supreme and certain knowledge that their city has always had a significant impact on the rest of the world. Its influence spans thousands of years and, as the centre of the Roman Empire and more recently of the Catholic Church, it has moulded world history, like few other cities.

Even if you are not usually a great lover of history, you will not fail to be enthralled by the sheer mass of it in Rome. It brings every layer to life, in a way that no book ever could. Its force hits you in the face and is unavoidable – you won't want to avoid it, but to investigate it avidly. You will be fascinated by the juxtaposition of one era with another; the marriage of ancient with modern; the contrast of empire and religion. There is Classical Roman and early Christian; Romanesque and Renaissance; Rococo and Baroque; and the autonomous Vatican State, in all its splendour. There are also prestigious art galleries and museums, which crave your attention and deserve a visit.

A mecca for tourists from all over the world, Rome is almost always busy and lively. It is easily negotiable on foot and indeed one of its major attractions for us is that you can wander gently from one famous sight to the other, absorbing the atmosphere as you go, and with a feeling of safety.

One of our favourite pastimes, when we are there, has to be to sightsee at night. Of course, you cannot access all of the sights at night, but there is nothing better than to see some of the most famous - the Trevi Fountain lit up and romantic, the Spanish Steps stretching gloriously up towards an evening sky, the incredible Piazza Navona or the monumental Pantheon, all with far fewer tourists than during the day.

If you cannot resist shopping, then take plenty of money with you - the designer shops will beckon with a vengeance!! It is a delight, too, to saunter through the old streets, where interesting shops rub shoulders with beautiful architecture and famous places of interest.

Eating out is a serious and important business in Rome. A crucial part of any self-respecting Roman's social life, eating is combined with watching and being watched. Restaurants stretch their terraces onto pavements and into alleyways and diners are entertained by the hustle and bustle going on around them. Meals are enjoyed late into the warm, balmy nights. If you love to eat and drink well, then be prepared to be spoiled, and it does not have to cost a fortune.

The green and wooded Lazio countryside, surrounding this glorious city, should not be overlooked either. Between the Tiber and the gentle slopes of the Sabine Hills, north of Rome, the landscape is barely touched by tourism. Providing a welcome retreat from the bustle of the city and with small, rural villages; lovely stretches of golden, sandy beach, with sea to entice you after a day's sightseeing (only about 28km away); fresh water lakes, with restaurants at their edge; many well-known Etruscan sites – all such a contrast, but only a short drive from the city.