"What the Germans called: Wir sind Papst"

Vatican | Rome | Italy | 2006-11

During my visiting of Rome I spent a lot of hours in the Vatican City. I climbed on top of the St. Peter's Basilica, visited the interiour of it and walked up and down the St Peter's square. Even when I´m not a believing catholic, it is a proud feeling to know that the current pope is born in Germany.

"The tomb of the Roman emperor Hadrian"

Castel Sant'Angelo | Rome | Italy | 2006-11

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building in Rome. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum. Legend holds that the Archangel Michael appeared atop the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign of the end of the plague of 590, thus lending the castle its present name.

"Seen on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin"

Colosseum | Rome | Italy | 2006-11

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

"The capital city of the Roman Kingdom"

Mix | Rome | Italy | 2006-11

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents. In 2007 Rome was the 11th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. The Vatican Museums receiving 4.2 million tourists and the Colosseum receiving 4 million tourists every year.