Rome means different things to different people. Some associate Rome with its ancient civilization and massive empire; to others, it’s the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the vibrant capital of modern Italy. For many though, it’s the “eternal city,” a metropolis which exemplifies magnificence, art, and culture.

Robert Hughes, the acclaimed Australian art-critic, writer, and documentary filmmaker, has just published a new book–Rome: A Cultural, Visual, and Personal History–paying homage to this most legendary of cities. Please be sure to read an excerpt from the Wall Street Journal Magazine here, and also Professor Simon Schama’s review of the book at Newsweek Magazine, here.