What to do in Rome?

Question

I am going to rome next tuesday, getting there at 5 30, am near the Trevi fountain, i leave on saturday lunchtime. But i am stuck for ideas of what to do when im there. Im NOT travelling with small children and am interested in the history there. Please suggest ideas and where they are and anything i need to know about them, thanks!

Answer 1

thefreedictionary.com

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This article is about the capital of Italy. For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation).
Comune di Roma
City flag City coat of arms

City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR
(The Senate and the People of Rome)
coordinates: 41°54′N 12°29′E Time Zone: UTC+1
Administration
Subdivisions 19 municipi
Province Rome
Region Latium
Mayor Walter Veltroni ( The Union )
City ( comune ) Characteristics
Area 1,285 km²
Population 2,547,677 (2005 estimate)
Density 1983/km²
Metropolitan area 3,831,959 (2005 estimate)
Commune of Rome official site www.comune.roma.it
National Institute of Statistics of Italy www.istat.it


Location within ItalyRome (Italian and Latin: Roma) is the capital of Italy and of its region, called Latium. It is located across the confluence of the Tiber and Aniene rivers. It was once the capital of the Roman Empire, the most powerful, largest and longest lasting empire of classical Western civilization. The Vatican, a sovereign enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope.

Rome is the largest comune in Italy and it is also one of the largest European capital cities in land area, with an area of 1,285 square kilometers. The comune territory extends up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the district of Ostia, on the south-west, located on the shore. Within the city limits, the population is about 2.5 million; almost 3.8 million live in the general area of Rome, as represented by the province of Rome, making it second in population to Milan. The current mayor of Rome is Walter Veltroni.

With a gross domestic product of €97 billion in the year 2005, the comune of Rome produced 6.7% of Italy's GDP, which is the highest proportion of GDP produced by any single one of Italy's comunes.

The city's history extends nearly 2,800 years, during which time it has been the seat of ancient Rome and, later, the Papal States, Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic (modern Italy). Rome is also called "la Città Eterna" (the Eternal City), "l'Urbe" (the latin for the City pre-eminently) and "The City of the Seven Hills". HistoryMain article: History of Rome


The civilization of ancient Rome originated in the 8th or 9th century BC, when the tribe of the Latini migrated to the Italian peninsula to settle around the River Tiber. For almost a thousand years, Rome was a very important city in the Western world and possibly the largest city in the world, with around 1.5 to 2 million inhabitants, as the capital of the expansive Roman Empire. With the rise of Christianity, Rome became the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the popes. The slow decline of the Roman Empire heralded the beginning of the Middle Ages, but the city regained prominence as the cultural capital of Western Roman Empire for several hundred years leading up to the Renaissance. Rome remains influential today, as the capital of Italy, as center of the Catholic Church, and as a major metropolis.

In Roman mythology, Rome was founded on April 21 753 BC by the twin descendants of the Trojan prince Aeneas, Romulus and Remus. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over where their city was to be located and became the first of seven Kings of Rome, as well as the source of the city's name[1].


See also: Founding of Rome


Central Rome is dominated by the traditional seven hills that hark back to the Latin founding myth of the city. These seven hills are the Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Aventine, Capitoline, and Palatine Hills. The Tiber River and its islands are an important additional component of the city, flowing south through the western portion of the central zone.
Climate
Rome's climate is at its most comfortable from April through June or early July. By August, the temperature during the heat of the day often exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Many businesses close during August, and Romans traditionally abandon the city for cooler climes. The average high temperature in December is about 13 degrees Celsius, 55 Fahrenheit, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.'s Weather Centre site. EconomyToday, Rome has a dynamic and diverse economy with thriving innovation, technologies, communications and service sectors. It produces 6.7% of the national GDP (more than any other city in Italy). Rome grows 4,4% annually and continues to grow at a higher rate than any other city in the rest of the country. Rome's economic growth began to surpass that of its rivals, Naples and Milan after World War II. Tourism is inevitably one of Rome's chief industries, with many notable museums including the Vatican Museum, and the Borghese Gallery. The city is also a centre for banking as well as electronics and aerospace industries.

Many international headquarters, government ministries, conference centres, sports venues and museums are located in Rome's principal business districts: the Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR); the Torrino (further south from the EUR); the Magliana; the Parco de' Medici-Laurentina and the so-called Tiburtina-valley along the ancient Via Tiburtina. EducationRome is a major educational centre of Europe. Roman children must attend school between the ages of 6 and 14, which takes them through junior high school. Along with the four state Universities, there are also many foreign academies and other institutions throughout the city. The First University of Rome (known as La Sapienza) was founded in 1303, and is Europe's largest university, with about 200,000 enrolled students. DemographicsLike most western European capitals, Rome has accumulated a substantial immigrant population. Estimates of non-Italian residents based on the 2001 census and on 2003 population register data range from just over 98,000 to almost 300,000 (or about 4 to 12% of the city's total population), with the largest numbers of foreigners coming from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, and Sri Lanka. [1] ReligionRoman mythology constituted the major religion of the city in antiquity. However, other religions remained represented within its ever-changing boundaries, and Christianity soon spread.

During his reign, Constantine I legalized Christianity. However, it was Theodosius II who made it the official religion of the Roman Empire (contrary to popular belief of it being Constantine I), allowing a rapid spread of the religion which similarly continued to spread thereafter. Rome was established as the center of the Catholic Church. Consequently, a great number of some of the most important religious buildings of Christianity were erected in the city.

Across the river Tiber from the old Roman Forum and its centers of pre-Christian worship is the Vatican City, an autonomous country inside the city and the center of Catholicism. There are currently over 900 churches in Rome, including many world famous locations, housing a wide collection of masterpieces of religious art.

In Rome there is also the largest mosque in Europe, designed by the Italian achitect Paolo Portoghesi and inaugurated on June 21st, 1995. Transportation
The transportation era was started in Rome with the construction of the Via Appia, regina viarum ("queen of the roads").

Rome has an intercontinental airport named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport - FCO, but more commonly known as Fiumicino, which also is Italy's chief airport, and the Giovan-Battista Pastine international airport (commonly referred to as Ciampino Airport), a joint civilian and military airport southeast of the city-center, along the Via Appia, which handles mainly charter flights and regional European flights including some low-cost airlines. A third airport, called Aeroporto dell'Urbe, is located in the north of the city along the ancient Via Salaria and handles mainly helicopters and private flights. A fourth airport, called Aeroporto di Centocelle, in the eastern part of Rome between the Via Prenestina and the Via Casilina, has been abandoned for some years now, but is currently being redeveloped as one of the largest public parks in Rome.

A 2-line subway system operates in Rome called the "Metropolitana" or Rome Metro. Construction works for the first branch started in the 1930s. The line had been planned to quickly connect the main train station (Termini) with the newly planned E42 area in the southern suburbs, where the 1942 World Fair was supposed to be held. The event never took place because of war. The area was later partly redesigned and renamed EUR in the 1950s to serve as a modern business district. The line was finally opened in 1955 and it is now part of the B Line. The A line opened in 1980 from Ottaviano to Anagnina stations, later extended in stages (1999 - 2000) to Battistini. In the 1990s an extension of the B line was opened from Termini to Rebibbia. A new branch of the B line (B1) is under construction, as is a third line, called C. A fourth line, line D, is under development. The frequent archaeological findings delay underground work.

This underground network is generally reliable (although it may become very congested at peak times and during events, especially the A line) as it is relatively short. As of 2005, total length is 38 km. The two existing lines, A & B, only intersect at one point, Termini Station, the main train station in Rome (which also is the largest train station in Europe[citation needed], underneath and around which now exists as a lively shopping center known as the "Forum Termini" with more than 100 shops of various types). Other stations includes: Tiburtina (second-largest, which is currently being redeveloped and enlarged to become the main high-speed train hub in the city), Ostiense, Trastevere, Tuscolana, S. Pietro, Casilina, Torricola.

The Rome Metro is part of an extensive transport network made of a tramway network, several suburban and urban lines in and around the city of Rome, plus an "express line" to Fiumicino Airport. Whereas most FS-Regionale lines (Regional State Railways) do provide mostly a suburban service with more than 20 stations scattered throughout the city, the Roma-Lido (starting at Ostiense station), the Roma-Pantano (starting nearby Termini) and the Roma-Nord (starting at Flaminio station) lines offer a metro-like service.

Rome also has a comprehensive bus and light rail system. The English web site of the ATAC public transportation company allows a route to be calculated using the buses, light rail and subways.[2] The Metrebus integrated fare system allows holders of tickets and integrated passes to travel on all companies vehicles, within the validity time of the ticket purchased.[3]

Chronic congestion caused by cars during the 1970s and 1980s led to the banning of unauthorized traffic from the central part of city during workdays from 6 am to 6 pm. This area is officially called Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). Heavy traffic due to night-life crowds during weekends led in recent years to the creation of other ZTLs in the Trastevere and S. Lorenzo districts during the night, and to experimentation with a new night ZTL also in the city center (plans to create a night ZTL in the Testaccio district as well are underway). In recent years, parking spaces along the streets in wide areas of the city have been converted to pay parking, as new underground parking spread throughout the city. In spite of all these measures, traffic remains an unsolved problem, as in most of the world's cities. Architecture and monumentsMain article:


Within the city of Rome there is a huge number of monuments and interesting ruins, both ancient and modern. A partial list is given here as a quick reference.
The ruins of the Mausoleum of Augustus.
The Medieaval Capocci Tower, near the church of San Martino ai Monti.
The Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Castel Sant'AngeloAncient buildings
Main article: List of Ancient Monuments in Rome
Ara Pacis
Aurelian Walls
Baths of Caracalla
Baths of Diocletian
Bocca della Verità
Catacombs of Rome
Circus Maximus
Forum Romanum
Imperial forums
Colosseum
Curia Hostilia
Cloaca Maxima
Palatine Hill
Pantheon
Trajan's Column
Mausoleum of Augustus
Obelisks
Main article: Obelisks in Rome
Medieval buildings and monuments
Castel Sant'Angelo
Torre dei Conti
Torre delle Milizie
See also: Towers of Rome
Modern buildings and monuments
Capitoline Hill
Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
Palazzo della Cancelleria
Palazzo Farnese
Piazza Navona
Piazza Venezia
Ponte Sant'Angelo
Quirinal Palace
Spanish Steps
Trevi Fountain
Triton Fountain
Villa Borghese
Villa Farnesina
Places of worship
Main article: Churches of Rome


Rome is home to over 900 Christian (most of which are Catholic) churches.
Basilicas
Patriarchal basilicas
San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John in Lateran)
San Pietro in Vaticano'' (St. Peter's)
San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul outside the Walls)
Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major)
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence outside the Walls)
Other basilicas
Sant'Agnese fuori le mura (St. Agnes outside the Walls)
Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles)
San Bernardo alle Terme
San Clemente (St. Clement)
Santi Cosma e Damiano (SS. Cosmas and Damian)
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
San Lorenzo in Lucina
San Marco (St. Mark)
Santa Maria degli Angeli
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
San Martino ai Monti
San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains)
Santa Prassede (St. Praxedis)
San Saba
Santa Sabina
San Sebastiano fuori le mura
Santi Quattro Coronati
Santa Maria in Trastevere
Other important churches
The following do not yet have Wikipedia articles, but are important nonetheless:
San Giovanni dei Fiorentini
Santi Marcellino e Pietro
Santa Maria dei Monti
Other religious edifices
Great Synagogue of Rome
Great Mosque of Rome and Islamic Cultural Center
Administrative subdivision of RomeMain article: Administrative subdivision of Rome


The administrative subdivision of Rome consists of the 19 sub-municipalities (Municipi) of Rome's municipality.
Vatican City
Main article: Vatican City
The city of Rome surrounds the Vatican City, the enclave of the Holy See, which is a separate sovereign state. Province of RomeMain article: Province of Rome


Rome is the capital of a province, with an area of 5,352.6 km², and a total population of 3,700,424 (2001) in 120 comuni. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the town of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by firmly rural landscape, just as towns elsewhere throughout Italy. EventsPlease [ improve] this section according to the posted request for expansion.
Roma Sana April: Mediterranean Trade Fair for Natural Products with exhibitions of biological products, conferences and tasting.
Roman Summers, from June to September: Various events from music to theater, literary meetings and cinema. Events that take place in the most characteristic places in Rome that attract the participation of thousands of artists from all over the world.
Roma Europa Festival, September: Annual appointment for modern art and theatre, music and dance, with artists from of all Europe.
RomeFilmFest, October: Film Festival help in the Auditorium. Official website
Festival Romics, October: Comics and Cartoon Festival: exhibitions, cartoon film showings of designers and publishing companies.
Roma Jazz Festival, October: Festival of jazz music since of 1876. Italian and international artists.
Republic day - June, 2: Military parade on Via dei Fori Imperiali, with "Frecce Tricolori".
Cultural and Religious Events
Rome’s Good Friday Procession in April. On Good Friday, a procession moves from the Via Crucis, from the Colosseum and up Monte Palatino, re-enacting the 14 stations of the cross from the death of Jesus to placement of his body in the tomb.
Literature Festival, from May to June: Readings of works of famous contemporary writers, accompanied by music, in the setting of Basilica di Massenzio. (http://www.festivaldelleletterature.it/index.asp?lang=en)
International Urban Theatre Festival: In September, the Festival Internazionale del Teatreo Urbano that transforms Rome into an urban theatrical stage.
Rome Jazz Festival: In October, international artists gather at various venues for the eclectic Rome Jazz Festival.
Roman Jewish holiday, the Mo’ed di Piombo, stems from 1793 (5553 in the Hebrew calendar). Rome’s Jewish Temple is illuminated at night as the rabbi explains the meaning underscoring the celebration.
White Night
Series of events at venues throughout Rome in September: concerts, special outdoor performances, churches and monuments open to the public at this time, museums open all night with free entrance, shops open all night. ([4]) Sister cities - Beijing, China
- New York City, USA
- Paris, France
- Seoul, South Korea
- Tokyo, Japan
- Cincinnati, USA
- Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Belgrade, Serbia
See alsoEurovision Song Contest 1991
Symbols and Trivia of Rome
Popular Shopping Areas and Markets in Rome
Large Cities Climate Leadership Group
Notes1. ^ Titus Livius (Livy) Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome), Book I

ReferencesReferences and bibliography can be found in the more detailed articles linked to in this article.
External linksCities and Countries (german)
Official Site of the City of Rome (Italiano)
APT (official Tourist Office) of the City of Rome
Rome Museums - Official site (italian)
Vatican Museums (english)
Capitoline Museums (english)
Official site of the RomeFilmFest
Ancient Rome
Rome in the footsteps of an XVIIIth century traveller
Roma Sotterranea/Subterranean Rome
Encyclopædia Romana, by James Grout]
La maquette de Rome
Roma Antica e Roma Moderna, in Italian
"Forum Romanum", a ThinkQuest site
Galleries
Fountains of Rome
Satellite image of Rome at NASA's Earth Observatory
Monument photo of Rome
Fontanelle di Roma, including the aqueducts
PhotoRoma
Vedute di Roma
Pictures of Rome
Arounder.Com (QTVR panoramas)
Some virtual tours in Rome by Tolomeus
A walk in Rome Photography of many districts, past photos and paintings.
Photos of Rome(IPIX panoramas)
Rome Photo Gallery
Rome photos - an unforgettable impact
Maps
Google Maps satellite images of Rome

Lazio · Communes of the province of Rome
Affile | Agosta | Albano Laziale | Allumiere | Anguillara Sabazia | Anticoli Corrado | Anzio | Arcinazzo Romano | Ardea | Ariccia | Arsoli | Artena | Bellegra | Bracciano | Camerata Nuova | Campagnano di Roma | Canale Monterano | Canterano | Capena | Capranica Prenestina | Carpineto Romano | Casape | Castel Gandolfo | Castel Madama | Castel San Pietro Romano | Castelnuovo di Porto | Cave | Cerreto Laziale | Cervara di Roma | Cerveteri | Ciampino | Ciciliano | Cineto Romano | Civitavecchia | Civitella San Paolo | Colleferro | Colonna | Fiano Romano | Filacciano | Fiumicino | Fonte Nuova | Formello | Frascati | Gallicano nel Lazio | Gavignano | Genazzano | Genzano di Roma | Gerano | Gorga | Grottaferrata | Guidonia Montecelio | Jenne | Labico | Ladispoli | Lanuvio | Lariano | Licenza | Magliano Romano | Mandela | Manziana | Marano Equo | Marcellina | Marino | Mazzano Romano | Mentana | Monte Compatri | Monte Porzio Catone | Monteflavio | Montelanico | Montelibretti | Monterotondo | Montorio Romano | Moricone | Morlupo | Nazzano | Nemi | Nerola | Nettuno | Olevano Romano | Palestrina | Palombara Sabina | Percile | Pisoniano | Poli | Pomezia | Ponzano Romano | Riano | Rignano Flaminio | Riofreddo | Rocca Canterano | Rocca Priora | Rocca Santo Stefano | Rocca di Cave | Rocca di Papa | Roccagiovine | Roiate | Rome | Roviano | Sacrofano | Sambuci | San Cesareo | San Gregorio da Sassola | San Polo dei Cavalieri | San Vito Romano | Sant'Angelo Romano | Sant'Oreste | Santa Marinella | Saracinesco | Segni | Subiaco | Tivoli | Tolfa | Torrita Tiberina | Trevignano Romano | Vallepietra | Vallinfreda | Valmontone | Velletri | Vicovaro | Vivaro Romano | Zagarolo




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1896: Athens . 1900: Paris . 1904: St. Louis . 1908: London . 1912: Stockholm . 1920: Antwerp . 1924: Paris . 1928: Amsterdam . 1932: Los Angeles . 1936: Berlin . 1948: London . 1952: Helsinki . 1956: Melbourne . 1960: Rome . 1964: Tokyo . 1968: Mexico City . 1972: Munich . 1976: Montreal . 1980: Moscow . 1984: Los Angeles . 1988: Seoul . 1992: Barcelona . 1996: Atlanta . 2000: Sydney . 2004: Athens . 2008: Beijing . 2012: London



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Copyright © 2006 Farlex, Inc.Source URL: http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Rome

Answer 2

Dear Madie, it's true that you have not enough time to see all the beauties of Rome. But, since you'll live near the Trevi fountain, you can see in the first day Trevi fountain, Piazza di Spania(with spanish steps), Piazza di Navona(here you'll find the sign of watter from Dan Brown's novel "Angels and Demons"), the Pantheon(here is Rafael's tomb) and all the streets between these places. You can spend a full day in Vatican's area visiting St. Pietro church and plazza(here is the sign of the wind), the San Angelo castle with the gorgeous bridge over Tiber and the wonderful building of Justice Palace. Another full day, you can do a visit starting from the center (IL Vittoriano=Altare de la Patria), St. Marco church, Il Corso(a large street full of shops) to Santa Maria Del Popolo(Plazza and church-the earth's sign), just near Vila Borghese (you can visit and relax at the same time).At last, but not the least, visit Santa Vittoria (the fire's sign) and by Via dei Fori Imperiali to the Colosseum and Boca dela Verita (don't put your hand inside !!!!!). I hope I was helpful and I wish you a great vacation !

Answer 3

All of the other suggestions are great! In Rome, most of all, you must see the Trevi Fountain (don't forget to throw a coin in, so you return to Rome, once more, in the future) and take a night time bus tour of the 7 hills of Rome--it is amazing!

Make sure you check out the day-tour from Rome to the ISLE OF CAPRI --- it is something you will never forget ! It is a magnificent PARADISE, which was the highlight of my entire trip. I have been making plans to return to Capri ever since I left, & will finally return next year (& I might even decide to never return home !)


HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ISLE OF CAPRI :

A bus to Sorrento, then a hydrofoil boat to the island; a journey up the mountain to have lunch at San Michele, near the top; a tram ride up to the very top; a courtyard with a statue of Caesar leaning over the cliff; a canoe ride inside the mountain to the "BLUE GROTTO" ----- ABSOLUTELY STUNNING !

CIAO ! !

Answer 4

I just came back from Rome about 4 months ago. I loved it! When took the hop on-hop off bus almost every day. That is the best way to see Roma! The Vatican, Plaza de Spagna (Spanish Steps) are both very neat to see! My daughter and I both wished we could have stayed longer. We were there for a week. The collesum is not very interesting to see inside. The outside is basically the neat part. Don't waste your money going there! Don't take any tours. Go explor by yourself! The Italian people are very nice, so if you need help finding somewhere they will help you. My daughter and I took a tour through the Vatican Mesuem and we didn't like the tour. We did a lot better just walking around by ourselves! Walk, don't take a taxi! Taxi drivers will rip you off! The fountains in Italy are safe to drink out of, unlike the US. Rome gets very wild at night, so if you like to have a fun time, go out at night!

I truely loved Rome and I hope you will to!

Answer 5

The most impressive building in Rome,in my opinion,is the Pantheon. One of the earliest cupolas still in existance. The sun streams throught the hole in the roof and illuminates a circle inside like a spotlight. Built as a temple to all the gods. By Marcus Agrippa if I remember correctly. The bronze doors are the largest I have ever seen. Where is it? Near Trevi I think. Most of the time I was in Rome I was lost....or tipsy.

Answer 6

i went to rome in january and it is a beautiful city besides all the graffiti that is,if you're there on wednesday,you'll be lucky enough to have an audience with the pope,you have to be there early though,no later than 10 to get a ticket,its free,obviously you gotta go to the vatican,its wonderful,st peters bascilica is beautiful but dont choose to walk up the stairs there are literally thousands and i was ill by the time i got to the top!but the view is fab,the trevi fountains lovely too,especially at night,the sistine chappel is a must,its truly awesome,never got to see the colloseum which my intention was seeing,there is a lot to do,but its a great city,the people are friendly and the food is fab if you stay away from the touristy areas.. beware of the beggars,its very hard to walk by them without giving something as most of them are old ladies or woman with young children but at the end of the day you cant give to everyone..enjoy rome!

Answer 7

There are a few musts in my opinion. The forum, next to the Colosseum is superb - this is the ground where all political activity occurred in ancient Rome and apparently where Caesar was assassinated.
A superb place that not many people know about is a place called Ostia (around 8 miles from the centre). This is the site of a desserted village. It was one of the main ports (the corn from England went through there) and was desserted due to mosquito's. The houses, the theatres, the bars etc all still standing. I would place it higher than Pompeii for how impressive it was.
Have fun

Answer 8

Buy a streetmap and walk. There are sights to see around every corner. The PIazza Navona is best visited at night , very lively as is the Campo de Fiore.
Rome can be a cheap place to eat and drink just walk a few yards from the main tourist sights and the prices of food and drink are very reasonable. Eat & drink where the Romans do .

Its a beautiful city I've been too twice,

Enjoy

Answer 9

Rome is awesome. You have short time, so I suggest: walk around the central historical area. Admire the beautiful buildings and avoid paying for anything. When night comes, go to some of the more humble family restaurants near the parliament buildings. You order one of the day's specials and a cheap caraf of wine. Watch the crazy antics of the locals. Then head for the bars and clubs. Party. Next day, go walk some more and sightsee. Eat ice cream.

Answer 10

You can walk to most of the historical sights from where you are going to be. I would recommed the Colliseum, the Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Vatican. I found it fun to just walk the streets and go in to the little shops to find things that you can only get in Rome. When you get there, get a street map and start exploring.

Answer 11

Make sure you go for a walk around Rome at night, things like the Pantheon and Spanish Steps are beautiful at night. Rome is fantastic, its my favourite city. There are too many things to mention, but just get a guide book and go for it. You could spend a month there.

I`m jealous......have fun