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Very few cities are as culturally or historically significant as Rome. From the seat of the Roman Empire, arguably the centre of the Western world at the time, to the modern home of the Catholic Church, Rome is a city with a truly illustrious pedigree. And what better way to make sure you experience all of it than by booking an escorted tour? In this article, we’ll give you a taste of some of the historical highlights this trip has to offer. Hadrian’s Villa Day four of our excursion takes us to the luxurious country home of Hadrian, emperor from 117 to 138 CE. Although he’s perhaps best known in the UK for Hadrian’s Wall, which marks the old Roman boundary between England and Scotland, Hadrian had an interesting background. His parents died when he was just ten years old, and the orphaned boy was brought up by Emperor Trajan, a cousin of his father. Once in power, Hadrian turned his attention to the internal affairs of the empire, moving away from expansion in favour of stability. Given the size of this villa, he also found time to enjoy the perks of rule: the place is absolutely gigantic, over 300 acres wide, and resembles a small town more than it does a country house. Ara Pacis On the fifth day of our escorted tour we come to this monument to Augustus, emperor from 27 BCE to 14 CE. Coming to power after a long period of brutal conflict, Augustus made peace his primary concern, spearheading reconstruction work. Much of the city had either fallen into disrepair or been ruined in conflict, and Augustus deserves credit for restoring its glory. Perhaps fittingly, this monument to his rule was used by later generations as an altar to worship Pax, the god of peace. Trajan’s Market Trajan ruled as emperor from 98 to 117 CE, earning a reputation as a powerful but kind leader, capable of defending Roman power without compromising justice or fairness. The sixth day of our escorted tour brings us to this market, built in 110 CE at the height of Trajan’s reign. Not content with being one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, the market also served as an administrative centre for the Trajan regime, with imperial policy often directed from the higher levels as traders bustled below. Baths of Caracalla Also on day six, our escorted tour takes us to the opulent, lavish Baths of Caracalla. Caracalla, who ruled for the brief period 211-217 CE, is perhaps the biggest ‘character’ of the historical figures featured on this list. While the other emperors strove for peace, stability and kindness, Caracalla was known for his ability to lead men in battle – and his ruthlessness towards his enemies. At the same time, he enjoyed the finer things in life: with the real name Marcus Aurelius Antonius, he got his nickname ‘Caracalla’ from a type of Gallic coat he famously loved to wear. These baths, among the most luxurious in Ancient Rome, were also a remarkable feat of engineering, showcasing incredible advances in heating and drainage. We hope this article has piqued your interest in seeing some of Rome’s historical sites. We’ve given only brief outlines of the historical and cultural significance of these locations, and we haven’t even covered every location on the escorted tour! Make sure you book up to see these Roman ruins brought to life with all the weird and wonderful details of history. John Dixon is an experienced world traveller and the Managing Director of Prestige Holidays. For over 30 years, he has been providing luxury escorted tours, to many destinations around the globe. John tries to visit each of the destinations regularly in order to ensure the quality of his properties, and stay up-to-date about the latest local news and events. He has a taste for the finer things in life and has an interest in arts, history and culture.
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