Rome, capital of Italy, is a great cosmopolitan city with an artistic, architectural and cultural history that has influenced the whole world and that dates back almost 3000 years. The ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum testify to the power of the ancient Roman Empire. In the Vatican City, home to the Catholic Church, there are the Basilica of San Pietro and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as the Sistine Chapel frescoed by Michelangelo.