Twenty million visitors a year can't be wrong; there is something about Rome that fascinates and attracts people, year after year,
and century after century. This incredible hold on the world's imagination has made Rome one of the most fascinating and sought out
tourist destinations in the world. The Eternal City contains layer upon layer of history leaving its mark upon countless monuments,
ruins, museums, and catacombs. Considering the long, impressive history that has molded Rome, the historic centre is actually quite
small and easily visited within a short time, and the city itself can be seen as an enormous open-air museum. Furthermore, art works
as magnificent as Michelangelo's Moses or the Pieta adorn parish churches and basilicas, allowing visitors to admire them completely
free of charge. Rome is home to so many churches that seeing them all, at a rate of one church a day, would take more than a year;
and that is not even mentioning the majesty that is St Peter's and the Vatican.
The winter weather is considerably milder in Italy than in the north and central US. In summer evenings are cool, especially in the
mountains. Summer afternoon thunderstorms are common in Rome.
