As the former capital of the Roman Empire, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic church and the capital of modern Italy, it is hardly surprising that Rome has attracted a vast array of talented and important people from all professions.

One former resident who went on to true greatness, as guardian of the gates of Heaven, was St Peter. Christ's disciple came to Rome around AD 42. He was one of the first Christian martyrs and was crucified (upside down as he felt unworthy of dying as Christ had) in AD 67 under Emperor Nero.

The artists who came to Rome include Michelangelo (1475-1564) who was here from 1506. This tempestuous, troubled genius is believed to have been homosexual and always used male models, even when representing women. In contrast, Raphael (1483-1520) who came to Rome in 1508, fell in love with one of his models - the Fornarina (baker's daughter). Caravaggio (1571-1610) was in Rome from 1591 until he had to flee justice in 1606 after killing his tennis opponent in a fight.

Among the monarchs who sought refuge was Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-89) who was welcomed by the Pope after her conversion to Catholicism. In 1715 another Catholic royal, James Edward Stuart (1688-1766), fled here after his unsuccessful attempt to win back the British throne for his family. His son, Charles Edward (Bonnie Prince Charlie), was born here in 1721 and died at Palazzo Balestra near Piazza Venezia in 1788.

Napoleon Bonaparte arrived in Rome at the head of his conquering army in 1797. After his defeat and death in 1821 his family continued to live here.

Visiting writers include Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) who lived on Via del Corso from 1786 to 1788. Henry James (1843-1916) was a frequent visitor, while the English 19th-century poets Keats, Shelley, Byron, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning all knew the city well. Author Alberto Moravia (1907-90) was born in Rome; many of his novels and stories are set here.