Rome is Europe’s most popular city break destination according to users of online travel agency www.citybreaks-direct.co.uk
The extensive television coverage of the funeral of Pope John Paul II last year is credited as one reason for Rome’s renewed popularity ahead of other city break destinations.
"We have been monitoring the search terms customers use when they visit the site, as well as the actual bookings and Rome is the European city that heads the list.” Says Paul Reeve of Citybreaks-Direct.
Demand for Roman holidays is higher than for Amsterdam, Dublin and Prague - previously the top choices. Venice was the most popular Italian city for Citybreaks-direct customers in 2005.
This upsurge of interest is welcome news for the Italian capital. Over eight million Euros was spent by the Roman authorities to enable the city to cope with the unexpected extra visitors and concern was raised that the city had been left “in the red”.
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