Rome (Italy)

Rome is the capital of Italy and the “eternal city” with a rich history, architectural masterpieces and a unique atmosphere. It is home to the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the Vatican. The city is famous for its delicious cuisine, narrow streets and majestic squares, combining antiquity with modernity. A visit to Rome is an introduction to the entire history of Europe, from antiquity to the Middle Ages, from the Renaissance to modern times.

The history of the city

No other civilization has left such a trace in the history of mankind as the Roman Empire. The city of Rome – founded in 753 BC in the center of the Apennine Peninsula, on the left bank of the Tiber River on seven hills (Capitoline, Palatine, Quirinal, Aventine, Viminal, Esquiline and Caelius), became the center of the greatest civilization that mankind has managed to create so far. “All roads lead to Rome” was the saying of the Roman Empire. It is still true today.

Roman law, Roman architecture, Roman principles of governance, the Latin language, which has become the basis of many of today’s European languages, Roman philosophy – this is not a complete list of those “gifts” that made us Roman civilization. They became the basis of European civilization, and until now we use this heritage every day without even noticing it.

According to legend, the first settlement on Palatine Hill was built by Romulus, one of the legendary twins, sons of the god Mars. Their mother’s brother, who had seized the throne of the kingdom of Alba Longa, fearing legitimate heirs, ordered the newborns to be placed in a basket and set it adrift on the waves of the Tiber. The basket docked on the Palatine, and the children were saved by a she-wolf who fed them with her milk.

The first centuries of its existence, Rome lived under the rule of kings. In 509 BC the Roman Republic was founded. Rome became a huge state by the II century B.C. By this time Carthage had already been defeated and destroyed, Spain, Greece and Macedonia had been annexed. By the beginning of AD Rome, which became an empire, ruled almost the entire Mediterranean, including Asia Minor, Egypt, North Africa. On these territories beautiful cities are built and life boils. The population of the Roman Empire enjoys the many benefits of civilization: good roads, accessible baths (thermae), performances in theaters and sports facilities, admire the magnificent architecture and lavish festivals. All these benefits were concentrated to the highest degree in the capital of the empire. The inhabitants of Rome regularly received help from the state – olive oil, wine, bread, money, as well as enjoyed the right to visit the thermae and performances free of charge.

The weakening of the Roman Empire and its loss of numerous territories did not affect the capital for a long time. It was not until 410 AD that Rome was taken by the Goths of King Alaric. A great admirer of all things Roman, Alarich ordered that the churches not be touched or the city destroyed, and left after receiving tribute. The Vandals in 455 AD were no longer ceremonious – the city was burning and many of its inhabitants were killed.

476 AD is considered the official end of the Roman Empire – then the last emperor Romulus Augustulus was deposed. But life in the Eternal City continued. In the representation of peoples Rome still remained the center of the universe. It was not without reason that the residence of the head of the Christian (now Catholic) Church, the Pope, was established in Rome, and it was here that the emperors of Europe began to be crowned.

Museums and monuments of Rome

The Tiber divides the city into two parts. On the left bank of the river are the oldest monuments of the main city of the Roman Empire – the Roman Forum, the ruins of buildings on the Palatine and Colosseum hills. Here, near Piazza Navona and Piazza del Campo dei Fiori, traces of medieval streets remain. The picturesque streets of the Trastevere district on the eastern slope of the Janiculum hill on the right bank of the Tiber offer tourists a well-deserved rest after a visit to the Vatican and the Castel Sant’Angelo.

Archaeological excavations in Rome are ongoing. Thanks to this it is possible to make an excursion to the ancient Rome of almost all its historical epochs – from the ancient kings to the last emperors. And the Roman catacombs of the first Christians are now available to everyone who is not afraid of darkness and dungeons.

Of course, the most famous place in Rome is the Roman Forum, the political and social center of ancient Rome. The ruins of several ancient temples and the arch of Emperor Titus have been preserved here. For several centuries the fate of the world was decided here.

“Golden House” was built by Nero on the Appian Hill. However, the construction could not be finished – the emperor was killed. In the XV century. at this place began excavations, which continue to this day. It is supposed that the whole Appian Hill will turn into an archeological park. Already now you can visit 32 halls, the walls of which are decorated with amazing ancient Roman paintings.

The modern center of Rome, including the tourist center, is Piazza Venezia, located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. Here is the Museum of the Palace of Venice, where works of art from the Renaissance and other periods of Italian history are exhibited.

The main Roman streets diverge from Piazza Venezia: Avenida Victor Emmanuela (leading to St. Peter’s Cathedral), Via Plebiscita, Via Fori Imperiali (it leads to the Colosseum), Via Corso. That is why most of the tourist routes start from this square. If you follow Via Corso and then Via Condotti, you will reach Piazza España, one of the most famous places in the Eternal City. Café Greco has been here for over two hundred years. It has been visited by Goethe, Stendhal, Andersen and Wagner.

The Capitol Square was designed by the great Michelangelo himself. In its center stands the famous antique equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius made of bronze. Along the perimeter of the square are the Palace of Conservatives, the Palace of Senators and Palazzo Nuovo. The Capitoline Museum, located on the square, is a whole complex of art galleries and exhibition halls with an outstanding collection of ancient art and mosaics.

In the Vatican, tourists most often visit the Sistine Chapel with stunning frescoes by Michelangelo Buonarotti, Signorelli, Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Perugino and St. Peter’s Cathedral. But the Gregorian Museum of the Etruscans and the Egyptian Museum are also worth a look. Near the Vatican is the Castel Sant’Angelo, the former tomb of the Roman emperors. This grandiose structure was turned into a castle by the Roman popes. It was also the famous prison from which the adventurous artist Benvenuto Cellini escaped.

No matter how many days a tour of Rome lasts, it is still unrealistic to cover a small part of the historical and cultural wealth that this city possesses. People come back here again and again. All roads still lead to Rome.

General Information

• Rome is the capital of the Republic of Italy and the region of Lazio.
• Language: Italian.
• Religion: Catholicism.
• River: Tiber.
• Airports: Leonardo da Vinci airport, or Fiumicino: Ciampino, or Giovanni Baggista Pastine: Urbe airport.
• Year of foundation: 753 BC.
• Capital of Italy: since 1871.
• Population: 2,823,873 (2004).
• Area: 1,285 km2.
• Population density: 2197.6 people/km2.

Economy

• The main sectors of the economy are technology, communications and services.
• Rome produces 6.7% of Italy’s GDP – more than any other city in the country.

Climate and weather

• Mediterranean.
• The average temperature ranges from +8ºC…+25ºC and reaches +40ºC in summer.

Attractions

• Roman Forum;
• Ancient Roman palaces on the Palatine Hill;
• Imperial Forums;
• Colosseum;
• Pantheon;
• Thermae of Caracalla;
• Circo Massimo;
• Vatican City;
• Sistine Chapel;
• St. Peter’s Cathedral;
• Castel Sant’Angelo;
• Church of Santa Maria Maggiore;
• Trevi Fountain;
• Villa Borghese Park;
• Trastevere quarter.

Fun Facts

• Many people think that the Vatican, the residence of the Pope, is the world’s smallest state. In fact, the world’s smallest state is the sovereign Order of Malta, which until recently had a single territory – a building in the Vatican. Today the Order, under an agreement with the Republic of Malta, also owns Fort Sant’Angelo in the town of Vittoroise.
• On December 25, 800, during the festive Christmas mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo III crowned the kneeling Frankish King Charles with the imperial crown. The Pope declared Charles the new Caesar Augustus of the revived Western Roman Empire.
• Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564) was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet, thinker, and one of the geniuses of the Renaissance. In the Sistine Chapel he was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling (1508-1512), representing the biblical story from the creation of the world to the Flood. In 1534-1541 already for Pope Paul III Michelangelo created in the Sistine Chapel grandiose fresco “Last Judgment”.
• In ancient times, the Roman Colosseum was the site of gladiatorial battles, and the current Circo Massimo Park (at the foot of Palatine Hill) was the largest Roman hippodrome where chariot races took place.
• The construction of St. Peter’s Basilica lasted more than 100 paws (consecrated in 1626). It is erected on the foundations of the old basilica, built in the IV century by order of Constantine the Great over the tomb of St. Peter. The dome of the cathedral was designed by Michelangelo.