Say ciao to Italy's ancient capital on city breaks to Rome and feast your senses on jaw-dropping classical buildings, sunny piazzas and plates piled high with spaghetti alla carbonara.

The snaking River Tiber splits the walled Vatican City from Ancient Rome on the east bank. Here, spanning the volcanic Seven Hills of Rome, you'll stumble upon Roman Empire gems like the giant Colosseum and the towering Roman Forum marketplace ruins. You can get a taste for the dolce vita in Rome's hub, the bustling Piazza Venezia where regal Renaissance palaces are two a penny.

Best of Rome city breaks for...

• Romance: Get swept away on romantic short breaks to Rome by Michelangelo's intricate brushstrokes on the ceiling of the Renaissance Sistine Chapel. His four paintings show lovebirds Adam and Eve sneaking a forbidden fruit.
• Free & cheap: For just a few Euros, you can imagine yourself on an ancient Roman night out from your tiered seat in the colossal Colosseum. In ancient times the amphitheatre ruins staged feisty gladiator punch-ups, which were free for Rome residents to watch.
• Families: Kids love hearing the mythical legends about Neptune and his seahorses, while they gawk at the marble statues in the Trevi Fountain. Make sure you bring spare change - you can throw three coins into the water over your left shoulder for good luck.
• Active types: Lace up your walking shoes to climb the 320-step spiral staircase to the viewing platform in St Peter's Basilica. Your reward is the spectacular view of the rotund Pantheon's dome and the colonnades circling St Peter's Square.
• Shopping: As you sweep down the 18th-century Spanish Steps onto super-glamorous Piazza di Spagna you'll find a window shopper's heaven of Fendi handbags, Missoni scarves and Versace couture.
  
  

Getting into Rome from Leonardo da Vinci Airport

• Zip into central Roma Termini main station on the non-stop Leonardo Express train, which takes just 35 minutes.
• Regular Terravision shuttle buses will whiz you around Rome's ring road to Roma Termini in a little over an hour.
  
  

Getting around on weekend breaks in Rome

• Public transport: Pick up a B.I.G. travel card at newsagents and local stations for a day exploring Rome on Rome's Metro, the Metropolitana, and public buses.
• Tram: Do as the Romans do and make short journeys outside the centre on the orange and green trams. Your Metro and bus tickets are valid on these services.