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Five cool things to do in Rome during the sweltering summer

Rome’s more than 2,500 years of history makes it a tourist favourite. During the summer, the crowds and the high temperatures can make it tiring. Here are cool ways to experience the Eternal City

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Ceiling of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican Museum, Vatican City. Photo: Shutterstock
Jamie Carter

A visit to Rome requires time, money and dedication. The Colosseum, the Forum, Palatine Hill, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, St Peter's Cathedral and the Vatican – the must-see list goes on, and seeing all of it can be exhausting in the summer heat.

So, book a hotel for a week, pack some comfortable walking shoes, get to the big attractions as early in the day as possible, and make the most of this summer’s events to enjoy what remains one of Europe’s best city breaks.

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The Colosseum at night. Photo: Shutterstock
The Colosseum at night. Photo: Shutterstock

View the moon from the Colosseum

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Until recently, Rome's iconic 2,000-year old amphitheatre was really looking its age. However, a three-year clean-up by architects and archaeologists has seen its walls returned to their original colour. Along with a new look comes a new way of visiting; until October 31 it is possible to visit the Colosseum at night on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. This La luna sul Colosseo – the moon on the Colosseum – is proving a popular way to beat the crowds and the heat, so book ahead. Tickets cost €20 (US$23.50).

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