Saint Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, is one of the holiest sites in Christianity and the largest church in the world by interior measure. It stands on the traditional burial site of Saint Peter, one of Jesus’ apostles and the first Bishop of Rome, considered the first Pope. Catholic tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome around 64 AD during Nero’s persecutions and buried on Vatican Hill, near the Circus of Nero.

The original Old Saint Peter’s Basilica dates back to the 4th century. Around 326–360 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman emperor, commissioned a five-aisled structure with a central nave and atrium over Peter’s tomb.

This building served as a major pilgrimage site for over 1,200 years, hosting papal coronations such as Charlemagne’s as Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD, and accumulating numerous tombs, relics, and artworks. By the 15th century, however, it had fallen into severe disrepair, with leaning walls prompting plans for ...

Nestled in the heart of Rome, between the Capitoline Hill and the Circus Maximus, the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum together form the ancient core of the city—a place where myth, history, and imperial ambition intertwine. According to legend, it was on the Palatine Hill that Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC, after slaying his brother Remus, and where the she-wolf nurtured the twins in the Lupercal cave. This centermost of Rome’s seven hills quickly became the most desirable address, evolving from modest Iron Age huts to the opulent residences of the elite during the Republic, and finally to the sprawling palaces of emperors like Augustus, Tiberius, Nero, and Domitian. The word “palace” itself derives from “Palatine,” a testament to its enduring association with power and luxury.

Below the hill lies the Roman Forum, once a marshy valley reclaimed in the 7th century BC to become the bustling political, religious, commercial, and social center of the ancient world. For over a ...

The Mercatino di Natale (Christmas market) in Piazza Navona is one of Rome’s oldest and most beloved traditions, often called the Mercatino della Befana. Its roots trace back over 200 years, evolving from seasonal street sellers. The piazza hosted a daily food market from 1477 until 1869 (later moved to Campo de’ Fiori), but by the late 19th century (around 1876), it became dedicated to an annual Christmas fair—initially toys, sweets, and nativity figures tied to Epiphany celebrations.

Today, it’s a festive, family-oriented market filling the piazza with wooden stalls selling artisanal Christmas decorations, handmade nativity scenes (presepi), wooden toys, leather goods, ceramics, books, regional sweets (like panettone and roasted chestnuts), and gift items.

Attractions include a vintage carousel, street performers, puppet shows, and workshops for children. The atmosphere is magical at night with twinkling lights framing the Baroque fountains and palaces.

It typically runs from early ...