Few places have been the source of more history lessons than Rome, and an Ireland side heavily favoured to retain their Six Nations crown will travel to the Eternal City later this week mindful of their demise at Stadio Olimpico two years ago.

Conor Power dodges the pigeons as he pounds the pavements of the Eternal City while visiting its churches and chapels on the trail of the fast and furious Caravaggio — famed as both genius and sociopath.

Liz O’ Brien ticked off her continental bucket list with a Contiki ‘European Highlights’ tour in London, Paris, Nice, Monaco, the French Riviera, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Rhine Valley, St Goar, Munich, Edam and Amsterdam    

From Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, to the cult of the Italian designer in the 1980s, London’s V&A is paying tribute to the glamour of Italian fashion in a new exhibition.

Italy 20 Scotland 21

Scotland head coach Scott Johnson admits not even a victory over Italy this afternoon will cure the Dark Blues’ problems.

There was no evidence of substance abuse or foul play, a family friend said today.

RBS 6 Nations: Ireland v Italy

The English football fan stabbed by Italian thugs in an apparently anti-semitic ambush today said his attackers “came out of nowhere”.

Two men have been charged with attempted murder after English football fans were attacked in Rome, police said today.

From film to fashion, movies to music, food to travel, our critics reveal their Hot 100 choices for the autumn ahead.

As plans to erect a monument in Killarney to renowned humanitarian Mgr Hugh O’Flaherty progress, a trip to Rome is being organised for devotees of the war hero.

Italy 15 England 19

JESSICA KÜRTEN has been named on the Irish squad for next Friday’s Swiss Nations Cup.

US preacher Harold Camping is again preaching the world is about to end. After miscalculating in 1994, this time around, he’s predicting Doomsday for tea time next Saturday.

Italy prop Andrea Lo Cicero is relishing the prospect of taking on France in Rome on Saturday.

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has expressed his disbelief that Roma captain Francesco Totti escaped severe punishment for the provocative gestures he made at fans of relegation-threatened Lazio on Sunday.

Roma defender Philippe Mexes has dismissed rumours linking him with a move away from the Eternal City this summer.

OF COURSE, I blame the mammy.

WE ALL know that getting to the final of the Champions League is hard but I say that getting away from it is harder still.

LIONEL MESSI’S wonderful goal in Rome not only made him a European champion, but will almost certainly see him tie up the loose ends in a Champions League sub-plot by overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world.

MANCHESTER UNITED or Barcelona would cash in on a €110m windfall by becoming European champions in Rome tonight, according to football finance experts.

UEFA president Michel Platini has reassured Manchester United and Barcelona fans that security arrangements for tomorrow´s Champions League final in Rome are under control, paving the way for a “beautiful game”.

Rafael Nadal cruised into the Internazionale BNL d’Italia final by destroying Fernando Gonzalez of Chile today.

IT’S AN indication of what an instant hit Federico ‘Kiko’ Macheda has been with Reds that we are already scrambling about trying to knock up a song or two for him.

ACCURACY and precision will be top of Wales’ agenda when they look to revive their RBS 6 Nations title bid in Rome on Saturday.

SHAUN EDWARDS has warned Wales cannot run the risk of entering “self-destruct” mode against RBS 6 Nations strugglers Italy on Saturday.

TO arrive at the penultimate phase of the Six Nations championship unbeaten, with a clean bill of health, and competition for places at an all-time high is as much as any coach could have wished for — especially in Declan Kidney’s inaugural season at the helm.

Mirco Bergamasco believes the Italian fans will have a huge role to play in tomorrow's RBS Six Nations game against Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio.

Richard Collins reports on the third Sack of Rome by noble winged knights.

Visitors to Italy’s capital are being told to obey the old maxim – when in Rome do as the Romans do.

Frank Hadden’s men regained the Calcutta Cup with a 15-9 triumph at Murrayfield by virtue of a terrific defensive display reminiscent of the win against England in 2006.

Captain Phil Vickery is set to give injury-ravaged England a timely boost by being declared fit for tomorrow’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash against Italy.

A man threw a bucket of red paint or dye into Rome’s Trevi Fountain today, colouring the waters of the 18th century monument bright red in front of a crowd of astonished tourists and locals, witnesses said.

Roma lifted the Coppa Italia despite going down to a 2-1 defeat to Internazionale in tonight’s second leg of the final.

Early arriving Manchester United fans enjoyed a trouble-free night in Rome despite the row that has erupted over the potential for trouble at tonight’s Champions League tie at the Stadio Olimpico.

Roma skipper Francesco Totti has hit out at Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and English football in general.

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan admitted on Saturday night that he and his players were “a bit down in the mouth” at finishing runners-up to France for the second successive year in the RBS Six Nations Championship in spite of racking up 51 points against Italy at the Stadio Flaminio.

Italy coach Pierre Berbizier feels the Azzurri are not treated with the same respect as other national teams in the RBS 6 Nations.

Italy’s players and officials savoured an historic triumph at the Stadio Flaminio as the Azzurri beat Wales to claim their second consecutive win in the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

ITALIAN rugby supremo Giancarlo Dondi has called on his players to build on their first away victory in the RBS 6 Nations Championship when they take on Wales in Rome on Saturday afternoon.

Italian rugby supremo Giancarlo Dondi has called on his players to build on their first away victory in the RBS 6 Nations Championship when they take on Wales in Rome on Saturday.

YOU’RE AWAKE. Barely. You now have hours left to snag a last-second winner with a sports gift for the special person in your life. Let Michael Moynihan take you by the hand.

Italy’s World Cup winners were welcomed home by scores of ecstatic fans on Monday evening.