| The eternal city of Rome provides the venue | | | | contests held therein. Opened in 80AD, this |
| for many a romantic weekend or holiday break, | | | | marvel of ancient engineering still stands |
| offering a memorable mix of activities and | | | | proudly in the centre of modern-day Rome and |
| sights guaranteed to keep even the | | | | draws millions of visitors each year. The |
| hardest-to-please tourist happy! The capital | | | | Coliseum bears witness to the sheer opulence |
| of Italy is home to great designer shopping, | | | | and decadence prevalent at the height of the |
| a long impressive history and, of course, a | | | | Roman Empire, and leaves many a visitor awed. |
| gorgeous Mediterranean climate. Furthermore, | | | | |
| Rome is currently in the news due to the | | | | There are other notable sights in Rome from |
| election of the Coliseum - its iconic ancient | | | | the same age worth a visit, such as the |
| stadium - as one of the new Seven Wonders of | | | | ancient Pantheon with its massive dome - an |
| the World. | | | | architectural and engineering marvel. Other |
| | | | sites in Rome from a later age that should be |
| The Coliseum is Europe's sole representative | | | | included on a 'must-see' list are the Vatican |
| in the new Seven Wonders list, for which 90 | | | | City and the Trevi Fountain. Indeed, if you |
| million people voted in an online poll. The | | | | leave the city without throwing three coins |
| results, announced during a star-studded | | | | into the fountain, legend dictates that you |
| ceremony in Lisbon in early July, also | | | | will never return. |
| revealed the remaining six of the new Seven | | | | |
| Wonders of the World to be: the Great Wall of | | | | Rome offers a varied range of hotels from |
| China, Machu Picchu in Peru, the Taj Mahal in | | | | cheap and cheerful all the way to top 5-star |
| India, Chichén Itzá in Mexico, the | | | | luxury. Those wishing to visit the Coliseum |
| Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio, Brazil, | | | | on a budget but not wanting to sacrifice |
| and the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. The | | | | comfort should consider renting an apartment |
| poll has attracted criticism in some | | | | in Rome, as such an option can offer an |
| quarters, most notably by UNESCO who has its | | | | affordable alternative to expensive city |
| own list of wonders and argues that a popular | | | | centre hotels and are certainly more |
| vote is not the way to determine the world's | | | | comfortable than budget hotels. You can rent |
| wonders. | | | | fully-furnished, stylish apartments in Rome |
| | | | for stays of as little as one night. |
| However, whether or not you agree with the | | | | |
| poll results, Rome's Coliseum is undeniably | | | | But, wherever you choose to stay in the |
| an impressive ancient wonder. In its heyday | | | | world's eternal city, you must visit the |
| it could accommodate 50,000 spectators seated | | | | Coliseum: one of the new seven modern wonders |
| over three tiers, many of which were | | | | of the world. |
| witnesses to the incredible gladiatorial | | | | |