Rome, Italy

As legend would have it, Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 B.C., but it seems more likely that it evolved naturally from a farming community sometime over the course of the same century. Over time, the city grew into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and finally the Roman Empire. For almost a thousand years, it was the most politically important, richest, and largest city in the Western world. Its political power may have waned in the centuries since, but its mythic stature has not. It's still . . . well, Rome: the eternal city, onetime center of the Western World, seat of the Catholic Church, capital of la dolce vita, etc., etc. As one of the few major European cities to escape World War II relatively unscathed, its essential Renaissance and baroque character remains intact. Hidden piazzas, palaces, and ruins of antiquity have all been absorbed into the bustling, frenetic fabric of modern Rome, offering visitors as many wonderful surprises as there are corners to turn.

Coming Ashore in Rome:

Though the cruise lines don't like harping on it very much, the fact is that Rome is not a coastal city. That being the case, ships actually dock in the port of Civitavecchia, about a 90-minute drive northwest. The town is pleasant enough, but there's really not much to see. Definitely make the schlep into Rome.

Getting Around in Rome:

From the Civitavecchia pier, it's about a 15-minute walk to town; most ships have free shuttle buses running passengers back and forth. The drive to Rome takes about 90 minutes. A much better bet is to use the frequent train service from Civitavecchia's train station (a 10-min. walk from the shuttle's drop-off point; follow the signs -- it's 2 blocks north of Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi) to Rome's Stazione Termini. The train ride takes about an hour and costs about 9€ ($12) round-trip -- substantially less than the cruise lines' shore excursions, though of course you don't get a guide. Depending on the time of day, rail service into Rome runs hourly or twice hourly. Stazione Termini is located less than a mile from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.