Rome Car Hire for discovering the city

Founded around 753 BC, Rome, the capital of Lazio, is a city of world firsts that during the course of its long history have contributed to creating the myth of this city. Not by chance, it is defined as “Urbe” (City), “Caput Mundi” (Capital of the World) and “Città Eterna” (Eternal City).

In the past Rome was the first metropolis of the West, the cradle of the Latin language and the capital of the Roman Empire, while today it is the most populous city in Italy (third in Europe), the only city to host another state within it, the enclave of the Vatican City, and the centre of Catholicism.

Crossed by the river Tiber, Rome has a very large territory with its historic centre located on the famous seven hills (Palatine, Aventine, Capitol, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline and Celio), although the hills of Gianicolo, Pincio and Vatican together with Monte Testaccio and Monte Giordano should also be included in the ancient core of the city.

Spending a holiday in Rome means immersing yourself in a magical place where every building, church and monument tells the story of a timeless city.

What to visit in Rome: a tour of the Eternal City

Given its size, to discover all its attractions we recommend visiting Rome by car. This is the perfect way to explore the surrounding areas of the city in complete freedom.

To rent a car in Rome, go to Maggiore, a specialised company that has many offices in the capital.

In addition to the many offices located in different areas of the city centre, Maggiore also has offices at the airports of Ciampino and Fiumicino. However, if you are on the outskirts of the city, you can go to the Maggiore offices in Civitavecchia and Fiumicino city.

By renting a car with Maggiore, you are guaranteed to be travelling aboard a safe, modern and well-equipped vehicle, which is thoroughly inspected and sanitised before deliv-ery to the customer.

Once you have picked up your car at the Maggiore Office that is most convenient for you, you can start your tour of Rome from its historic centre, which offers so many things to see.

You can “build” the itinerary of your dreams, and there are places that are an absolute must. Stop and admire the grandeur of the Colosseum, the symbol of Rome and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, get lost in the beauty of the Pantheon and the Roman Forum, immerse yourself in the charm of the Palatine Hill or be enchanted by the unique al-lure of St Peter’s Basilica, which houses masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s “La Pietà”.

The things to see in Rome also include its piazzas and palazzos, such as Piazza Venezia with its famous Altare della Patria, Piazza del Campidoglio with Palazzo Senatorio, Palazzo dei Conservatori and Palazzo Nuovo (inside of which are the Capitoline Museums), Piazza Navona, with the beautiful Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of Four Rivers), Neptune’s Fountain and Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor), and Piazza di Spagna that will wow you with its magnificent stairway of Trinità dei Monti (Spanish Steps) and Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Boat).

A tour of the historic centre of the capital, however, is not complete without visiting the Vatican Museums, one of the most important museum complexes in the world, the Sistine Chapel with its beautiful frescoes by Michelangelo, the Villa Borghese Gardens, the green “lung” of the city and home to the Borghese Museum and Gallery, and the Trevi Fountain, famous throughout the world, also thanks to the movie “La Dolce Vita” by Fed-erico Fellini.

Of course, the attractions of Rome do not end here, as your tour could include many other wonderful sights such as the Arch of Constantine, Castel Sant’Angelo, the MAXXI Museum…

A tour around Rome

Visiting the Capital will certainly take time and effort given its rich historical and artistic heritage, but if you want to experience a complete holiday, then don’t miss out on seeing the areas around Rome.

In fact, not far from the capital are hidden magnificent villages, unique natural environ-ments, beautiful villas and little-known castles that would be a shame not to visit.

Starting from the villages near Rome in about 40 minutes by car you arrive in Bracciano, a village of mysterious origins that preserves a vast artistic heritage, well represented by the Duomo of Santo Stefano and, above all, by the imposing Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, one of the most beautiful fortified mansions in Italy.

After taking the A12 motorway, continue for about an hour until you reach Castel Gandolfo, on Lake Albano, a small village known for being the summer residence of the Popes and for its fascinating monuments such as the Collegiata Pontificia di San Tommaso di Villanova, and Rocca di Papa, a picturesque medieval town located in the Park of Castelli Romani.

Since you are in the Park of Castelli Romani, don’t miss a visit to Nemi, just 10 km away, which was awarded an “Orange Flag” by the Italian Touring Club, to Albano Laziale and the famous Tomb of the Orazi and to Genzano di Roma, where you can visit the Colle-giate-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity and Palazzo Sforza Cesarini.

Going further away, you will find some other wonderful places to visit near Rome, such as the medieval village of Orvinio in the Monti Lucretili Natural Regional Park, the town of Castel di Tora and the nearby ghost town of Antuni, Civita di Bagnoregio in the Valley of the Calanchi, also known as “La Città che Muore” (The Dying City) and Labro, known instead as “Paese di Pietra” (Town of Stone).

If you want to immerse yourself in nature, there are many natural wonders to see near the Capital.

Among the most beautiful places are the Cascata dell’Inferno (Hell’s Waterfall), which can be reached only by walking along the Sentiero delle Porcineta, the Garden of Ninfa in Cisterna di Latina, an English-style garden that also houses a WWF oasis, Lake Bolsena in Alto Lazio, one of the cleanest in Italy, and Lake Canterno, a true paradise not far from Fiuggi Fonte.

Some other things to do near Rome are a trip to the Sacred Wood of Bomarzo, a unique monumental complex in the province of Viterbo, a visit to the Polledrara of Cecanibbio, a paleontological site of great importance, and a relaxing dip in the Piscine Carletti.

Renting a car in Rome will give you the opportunity to explore the Capital and its sur-roundings in complete freedom. You will be able to move from the noisy streets of the city centre to the quiet streets of the nearby medieval villages.