Author(s): TIME OUT

Travel

Rome's ancient monuments and spectacular galleries - for centuries a major draw on the international tourism map - are looking more magnificent than ever after the programme of restoration and beautification of recent years. Alongside this facelift of the historic city, contemporary stars of the architectural firmament including Richard Meyer, Zaha Hadid and Odille Decq are contributing to changing the face of 21st-century Rome; while in Renzo Piano's breath-taking Auditorium, the city's arts agenda has shifted into high gear with a packed programme of world-class concerts embracing music for all tastes.