Once again I have taken the liberty of using a paragraph from the Wikipedia files, which explains a little about Rome, my thanks to them.

Rome's history spans 28 centuries. While Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer, making it a major human settlement for almost three millennia and one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. The city's early population originated from a mix of Latins, Etruscans, and Sabines. Eventually, the city successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire, and is regarded by many as the first-ever Imperial city and metropolis. It was first called The Eternal City (Latin: Urbs Aeterna; Italian: La Città Eterna) by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC, and the expression was also taken up by Ovid, Virgil, and Livy. Rome is also called "Caput Mundi" (Capital of the World). After the fall of the Empire in the west, which marked the beginning of the Middle Ages, Rome slowly fell under the political control of the Papacy, and in the 8th century, it became the capital of the Papal States, which lasted until 1870. Beginning with the Renaissance, almost all popes since Nicholas V (1447–1455) pursued a coherent architectural and urban programme over four hundred years, aimed at making the city the artistic and cultural centre of the world. In this way, Rome became first one of the major centres of the Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors, and architects made Rome the centre of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout the city. In 1871, Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which, in 1946, became the Italian Republic.

Click on the pictures to see a larger image shown in a 'lightbox' click again anywhere outside of the lightbox to close the image.

We departed Sardinia and headed directly for the Italian port of Fiumicino which has the honour of being called the Port of Rome as it is located at the estruary of the River Tiger just about 30 miles from Rome.

Here a very pleasant but unexpected incident occurred. When we moored alongside the quay at the weekend, no-one bothered us at all. However, we were told on the Sunday evening that we would have to move as the company who owned the mooring was scheduled to return to work the next day. It was suggested to us that we might move up river to just below the rising bridge (on the Starbord side looking up river). We thanked the people who advised us and moved up the quay as directed.

After a day or two alongside, we were then suprised to see a young matelot of the Italian Navy on the quay asking us to accompany him to meet with his Commanding Officer and the Officer of the Day. We met with the officers and they questioned us about who we were and where we had come from and where we intended going from here. During the conversation, the Commanding Officer asked if I were Royal Navy, I said that I had been Royal Navy but some years ago. He kindly told me that my manner in addressing the naval staff and the way in which I answered their questions had led them to believe I was certainly ex Navy.

They then proceeded to tell me that we were welcome to stay on their Naval berth alongside the quay for a while with no cost whatsoever. A wonderful reception and a most gracious offer, which we did accept.