Travel by numbers: Rome

Angels or demons? As the Red Devils await the Champions League final, Ben Ross keeps score in the Eternal City

3

The number of coins that visitors to the Trevi Fountain should throw into the water to guarantee a return to the eternal city. So popular is the tradition that around €3,000 is deposited each day; the money is collected and donated to charity. For a room with a view of a landmark immortalised in Fellini's La Dolce Vita try Hotel Fontana on Piazza di Trevi, a former convent. Ten of the 25 rooms overlook the fountain; doubles from €215 including breakfast. hotelfontana-trevi.com

2000

The year Dan Brown's best-selling novel, Angels & Demons, was published. The film version staring Tom Hanks was released this month and is set largely within the Vatican, where the Sistine Chapel contains Michelangelo's masterpiece of a ceiling. A ticket for the chapel and museums costs €12. vatican.va

2

The number of lines on Rome's metro system. They intersect at Termini station, which means that the nearby Fawlty Towers Hostel at via Magenta 39 is ideally situated for getting around the city, as well as being competitively priced. Dormitory beds start at €20 per night, not including breakfast. fawltytowers.org

72,000

The capacity of the Stadio Olympico in Rome, home to both the Lazio and Roma football teams. Following previous hosting duties in 1977, 1984 and 1996, this week it's again Rome's turn to hold a European Cup Final, with Manchester United and Barcelona battling for supremacy on Wednesday. Kick off is at 7.45pm. uefa.com

138

The number of stairs which make up the Spanish Steps. Constructed in 1725 and named after the adjacent Piazzi di Spagna – still home to the Spanish Embassy – these days they throng with tourists. For some respite, visit the house where poet John Keats died, just to the right as you begin the climb. It's now known as the Keats-Shelley House, a museum celebrating the lives of the Romantic poets. Admission €4. keats-shelley-house.org

8.50

The price in euros of a ticket (which must be bought in advance) to Galleria Borghese, a lavish palace filled with exquisite art, including several stunning Bernini sculptures. The vast, leafy gardens of Villa Borghese comprise another pleasant diversion. galleriaborghese.it

753

The year BC that Rome is said to have been founded by Romulus and Remus. The city is packed with ancient sites, with the main concentration just south of the city centre, including the Forum, the Colosseum (selected as a New Wonder of the World in a 2007 competition) and Palatine Hill. Entry to the Forum is free; a joint ticket to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill costs €13.50. Pierreci.it