A holiday to remember forever, not forget after a week

The word holiday tends to be associated with sun, sea and sand. Many of us crave time relaxing on the beach after months of hard work and grey skies at home. The resorts of the Mediterranean, with their British pubs and crowded beaches, can be a lot of fun, but there is something unsettling about spending time and money travelling abroad only to find yourself in a hotter, sandier version of home. If you’re sick of staring at rows of sunbeds on holiday, why not take a city trip instead? Europe is full of cities that are bursting with culture and history – none more so than Rome. The ‘eternal city’ once ruled an empire and today is still a major world centre of artistic, historical, political and religious importance.

With a week in Rome, you’ll have time to check out some of the world’s most fascinating historical sights, eat some fantastic food and sample some chic nightlife. When it comes to hotels Rome offers plenty of choice. You can stay in a small, family run B&B or go right to the top with a stay in an elegant five-star hotel, which will often come complete with a view of one of Rome’s iconic sights. If you’re used to drab London hotels, you’ll find the classy Italian style enticing.

There are so many must-see sights in Rome that it’s hard to know where to start. Everywhere you turn, you find incredible architecture – the opulence of St Peter’s Basilica, the majesty of the Colosseum, the mystery of the Pantheon. Make sure you see all these, but also delve a little deeper into the city and see Rome as the Romans do. Eat fresh pasta at a backstreet trattoria, gulp down an espresso at a corner coffee bar and see young Romans at play in the trendy bars. Don’t expect to be able to see everything in this city but cut through all its layers for a trip you’ll never forget.