Julius Caesar, depicted here in his military attire, extended the Roman Republic to the Atlantic Ocean with his conquest of Gallia Comata—Gaul, in what is now France. Caesar became the sole ruler of Rome following the first Roman civil war, after which he had himself named ruler for life.
Caesar's assassination at the hands of his close friend Marcus Brutus spawned Rome's second civil war. Brutus and his co-conspirators were attempting to save the republic from dictatorship. Instead, they ushered in the Roman Empire under Caesar’s nephew and adopted son, Octavian, who would become known as Emperor Caesar Augustus.
Often labeled as poor, rural, and beholden to the Mafia, Sicily insists that change has arrived. Explore this small Italian island—a unique world unto itself.
Lush mountains, turquoise waters and pastel island vistas await travelers on Italy's most scenic coastline. Take the Amalfi Coast drive and become immersed in the Mediterranean landscape.
An enclave of remarkable buildings and art surrounded by the city of Rome, Vatican City is the smallest sovereign nation in the world—and one of the most powerful.
Trapped in the myth of her beauty, Venice beguiles and remains elusive. See why this city has held such sway over artists and romantics for centuries in this gallery.
