From the glory days of the Roman Empire and the artistic wonders of the Renaissance to the modern era, Rome is saturated with monuments, churches and palaces, all effortlessly absorbed into daily life.

Crumbling ruins, world-class museums, cobbled streets, ornate fountains and shaded piazzas all testify to the city’s remarkable history. 

It’s gorgeous, chic, romantic and utterly chaotic. It’s Rome and we’re sure you’ll love it.

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Which stars might I see?
A-listers come here for romance. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes stayed here before their wedding, as did Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, who were spotted dining at Sabatini.

Julia Roberts shot spy thriller Duplicity and Eat Pray Love in the city, while George Clooney and Brad Pitt were in town to film Ocean’s Twelve.

Last autumn Penélope Cruz filmed Venuto Al Mondo here, accompanied by husband Javier Bardem and baby Leo.

A good time to star spot is during the October Film Festival – Renée Zellweger, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman are past attendees.

Where can I stay?
OK! checked into one of Rome’s most glamorous hotels, the Cavalieri, a 370-room Waldorf Astoria property which Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Penélope Cruz and Take That have visited.

Around two miles from Vatican City, this tranquil five-star retreat is set in 15 acres of lush parkland with two tennis courts and several pools.

The hotel’s grand marble interiors and magnificent art collection are more reminiscent of a museum, than a hotel.

A highlight for OK! was standing on our balcony admiring the breathtaking views of Rome and Vatican City.

Our marble bathroom was equally impressive, featuring a new line of Salvatore Ferragamo potions, while our enormous bed with Frette linens came complete with a pillow menu.

The perfect way to end a day of sightseeing is to be pampered in the hotel’s Grand Spa, where you can enjoy La Prairie’s famous Swiss treatments.

Where can I shop?
Fashionistas should make a beeline to Via Condotti and Via del Corso, two narrow streets that lead off from the Spanish Steps, where you’ll find high-end labels such as Versace, Gucci, Armani and Bulgari. For local artworks head over to Piazza Navona, for books browse the Via del Pellegrino, while antique hunters will be in heaven along Via dei Coronari.

If you like your labels but can’t afford the price tag, make your way to Il Discount dell’Alta Moda (Via Gesù e Maria 16a), where you can find discounts of 50 per cent off the likes of Armani and Versace.

For High Street shopping head to Via del Corso, while bargain hunters should browse the market stalls on Piazza Testaccio.

We loved the swordfish carpaccio, handmade pasta with truffles and oven-baked sea bass with crusted salt.

Eat alfresco on the terrace as it’s the perfect place to people watch. We also dined at the Hotel Cavalieri’s famed L’Uliveto restaurant, which overlooks the gorgeous pool and stunning gardens.

Here we feasted on spaghetti with cheese and peppers, a Roman speciality. Next time we want to try the hotel’s three Michelin-starred restaurant La Pergola with its award-winning menu and ornate dining room.

If you’re a coffee devotee, don’t miss out on an espresso at Caffé le Sant’Eustachio.

Another must is to have an ice cream from a traditional gelateria. Gelateria al Teatro, near Piazza Navona, uses only natural ingredients and everything is made on site.

Traditional flavours sit beside creations such as pear caramel, apple cinnamon and white peach.

Having a pizza is another must – we were intrigued by the queues of Romans lining up outside a simple pizzeria called Pizzeria da Baffetto.

The waiters are fairly brusque and the ambiance non-existent, but the pizzas shouldn’t be missed!

Where can I drink?
For glamorous cocktails and fabulous views, head to the Hotel Eden’s rooftop terrace bar, La Terrazza.

From there you can stroll to the cool Stravinsky Bar at the Hotel de Russie, which Tom Cruise frequents.

For something more jeans-friendly, try Fluid on the hip Via del Governo Vecchio, which attracts foreign students and hip Italians.

This Art Deco-style cocktail bar is famous for its Italian tapas and the lava lamps on the tables.

The young crowd also flock to the many bars in the Campo de’ Fiori and boho area of Trastevere.

What sights must I see?
If your time is limited, ask Helen at Italy With Us (www.italywithus.com) to organise a bespoke itinerary for you.

Our first tour started with an evening walk from the Piazza Navona to the Pantheon, a medieval temple that claims to be Europe’s oldest standing domed structure.

Fountains are omnipresent in Rome and, despite the tourist crowds, a trip to admire the opulence of the Trevi Fountain is a must.

Legend has it that if you throw a coin over your shoulder and it lands within the waters of the fountain, you’ll return to Rome.

Another sight not to be missed are the famed Spanish Steps on the Piazza di Spagna, immortalised by Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in the film Roman Holiday.

OK! also enjoyed a semi-private VIP tour (no waiting in queues for us!) of the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel, where we were blown away by Michelangelo’s celebrated ceiling frescos.

Next stop was the adjacent St Peter’s Basilica, where we marvelled at its sheer scale, and Michelangelo’s famous Pieta statue of Mary holding the broken body of Christ.

Last but not least we visited the ancient ruins of the Colosseum, home to many bloody gladiatorial combats and familiar to many as the backdrop to the film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe.

Here our guide gave us a tour of the amphitheatre and regaled us with stories of the brave warriors.

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How do I get there?
Leading Italy specialist Citalia (www.citalia.com; 0844 415 1956) can tailor-make packages to all areas of Italy, including Rome.

A three-night package, including return flights from London Gatwick to Rome and daily breakfast, staying at the five-star Rome Cavalieri, costs from £515pp. Price based on two people sharing a room and departing on February 26 2012.