See Rome but DON'T Die! Enjoy the Sites.

More destination articles from my favourite author. Rome certainly sounds a good place to visit. However, be careful of street crime and pickpokets.

Despite what you hear about the Mafia, most of the crime you're likely to come across in Italy is of the small-time variety, prevalent in the major cities and the south of the country, where gangs of scippatori or "snatchers" operate. Crowded streets or markets and packed tourist sights are the places to be wary of; scippatori work on foot or on scooters, disappearing before you've had time to react. As well as handbags, they whip wallets, tear off visible jewellery and, if they're really adroit, unstrap watches.

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Pantheon
Originally the Pantheon was built around 27 BC under the consulship of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, as a temple to the Gods. The building is still in use today as a Christian church. Its spectacular domed roof is awesome - built probably to represent the arched vault of the heavens. There are many famous people buried here including Raphael.

Vatican City
No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican - the centre of Christianity. The Vatican is the smallest, richest state on the planet. At its centre is the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle over which is built the Basilica. This is the largest religious building in the world. You will be awe struck by the sheer volume of priceless art and artefacts on display. The Sistine Chapel is a must see with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo himself.

Coliseum
This magnificent piece of Roman architecture was built nearly two thousand years ago as a venue for entertaining the citizens of Rome. Gory, gladiatorial contests took place here attended by up to fifty thousand spectators. It must have been a glorious sight complete with its huge canopy to protect the crowds from adverse weather.

Trevi Fountain
The film 'Three Coins in a Fountain' fuelled the popularity of the beautiful baroque fountain set in the Quirinale district. Legend has it that if you turn your back and toss a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will always return to Rome.The sculptures in the fountain were originally designed by Bernini and completed by Salvi in 1792. They mark the end of the aqua duct Aqua Virgo. The figure of Neptune - God of the sea - dominates the scene which represents the many moods of the sea.

The Baths of Caracalla
It was in the Bathhouses that much of Roman business and social life took place. The baths of Caracalla were huge, holding up to 1600 people. It was an extremely luxurious place needing the work of many slaves to keep it running. Here the Roman citizens would enjoy hot and cold pools, a stroll in the beautiful gardens or browsing through the extensive library. Brothels were also provided to feed the decadence of ancient Rome.The design of these baths inspired modern structures including Pennsylvania Station in New York.

Roman Forum
This is located in a valley between the hills of Rome. It was the political and economic centre of Rome during the Republic. Remains of many of the judicial buildings can be seen here, alongside major temples such as 'The Temple of Castor and Pollux'. This is a huge site worth taking the time to fully explore.

The Eternal City
Rome is an exciting, vibrant city. Experience 'la Dolce Vita' as only the Italians know how. Indulge yourself in the home of the pizza and ice-cream. Visit one of the opera houses or go to an open air performance with the coliseum as a backdrop. Enjoy sitting outside one of the many cafes and bars and just watch the world go by. Called the 'Eternal City', Rome has a timeless quality. Its ancient treasures are unsurpassed. Millions of tourists visit Rome every year making it one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Ann Coveney is a freelance writer and part time school teacher. She can be hired to write articles on a wide range of topics. The web site she uses the most for low cost travel and hotel booking is http://www.AskVicki.co.uk