Rome; also called as Roma, is a capital city of Italy. Rome is often referred to as the City of Seven Hills due to its geographic location, and also as the “Eternal City”. Rome is generally considered to be the “cradle of Western civilisation and Christian culture”, and the centre of the Catholic Church. Rome is the most visited city in the world and the oldest where the history spans 28 centuries. According to the Ancient Romans myth, the name Roma came from the city’s founder and first king Romulus.
Rome is known for the fountains since it has large nos. of fountains in the world. Nearly 700,000 euros worth of coins are tossed into Rome’s Trevi Fountain each year.
The Romans were the first in the world laying roads and had built a road network of 53,000 miles by the early fourth century. Each Roman mile was about 4,800 feet and marked by a milestone, giving birth to the saying “All roads lead to Rome.” The first ever shopping mall was built in Rome between 107 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan. It sold a wide variety of goods and grocery items.
Rome’s first university, La Sapienza, established in 1303 AD, is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world. Rome has a museum dedicated entirely to pasta. St Peter’s basilica inside Vatican City is the largest church ever constructed.
The Vatican City
There is a place in the Rome city; Vatican City, which has a status of a country and is the smallest country in the world and Rome is technically capital city of two states. With an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of over 500, it is the smallest state in the world both by area and population. As governed by the Holy See, Vatican City State is ruled by the pope who is the bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church.
The St. Peter’s Basilica is the most important of the four major Basilica’s in Rome which makes it the most important Catholic Church on Earth. St. Peter’s Basilica is the centre of Christianity and one of the holi city for Catholic. It is one of the important archaeological structure in Roman. It is more than 500 years old structure standing tall and is a major attraction in Italy.
It took 120 years to built the entire structure and it is the largest church and the tallest dome on Earth.
There are 91 Popes buried under the Basilica. The paintings inside the dome are actually Mosaic paintings.
Colosseum
Perhaps one of the most famous landmarks in Italy and an iconic symbol of the Eternal City is the Colosseum, which is more than 2000 years old structure. Colosseum was constructed as an oval shaped auditorium which showcased gladiator battles and wild animal brawls. It is the largest amphitheater and one of the 7 man made wonders in the world. Despite falling into disrepair, Colosseum’s ruins are still one of the best places to see in the world.
The Colosseum was made as a gift from emperor to Roman people for the entertainment purpose. It could accommodate around 50,000 spectators for a variety of events. These included gladiator contests, animal hunts and re-enactments of famous battles. There were even mock sea battles and the Colosseum were flooded with water.
It’s estimated that over 400,000 gladiators and over a million wild animals were killed during the battles and the games took place in Colosseum.
Below the Colosseum were around 80 rooms and underground passages. Here is where the animals and gladiators were kept, waiting to meet their fate in the arena above.
Ruins of Rome
Two hours of walk into the Roman ruins (The Roman Forum) gives you a real feel of what the city was 2000 years ago. The historic ruins include arches, churches, and the pillars. You get to wander around the ancient town. Visit the Amphitheater, walk the central road, visit the warehouses and temples. This is really what a smaller Roman city looked like in ancient times without the traffic and the hordes of tourists. The Roman Forum was the political epicentre of the evolution of ancient Rome and it played a crucial role in the growing trade and commerce of the city.
Highlights of a visit to the Roman Forum in Rome are:
House of Vestal Virgins & Temple of Vesta
Temple of Castor & Pullox
Arch of Titus
Temple of Saturn
Temple of Antoninus Pius
The Senate House
The Palatine Hill is another attraction in Rome. Located 40 meters above the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill is the most central of the seven hills of Rome and forms one of the oldest parts of the city.
The Palatine Hill is considered to be the birthplace of the Italian capital and is believed to have been inhabited since the year 1000 B.C.
In Ancient Rome it was considered one of the most desirable neighborhood in the city, and was the home of aristocrats and emperors.
The Palatine offers a nice view of Rome City. In fact, it’s the only place in the center of Rome from where you can have the breathtaking full views of the Circus Maximus, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Famous Rome Landmarks
Altare Della Patria
This grand building in Rome’s very centre is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the eternal flame burning, as well as a stunning viewpoint right at the top of the landmark.
The Spanish Steps
The Spanish Steps are some of the most romantic steps in the world and are a site of many selfies and picture-perfect moments. Whether you sit and watch the world go by, or bring a picnic, these steps are a great location to rest and recover during a busy day of sightseeing.
The 135 steps date back to 1725 and were designed by Francesco de Sanctis and have been an iconic landmark of Rome ever since.
Piazza Navona
Piazza Navona is one of the most famous squares in Rome and has been a space of commerce and trade since the 15th century when the local market was moved there from Campidoglio.
During this time the square underwent considerable improvements and a stunning baroque facelift. In the square, you can see the baroque fountain and many other churches surrounding it, as well as Pamphili Palace around the corner.
Castle Sant Angelo
Other Monuments in Rome
Rome City Galary
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