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About Rome
Rome (Italian and Latin: Roma) is the capital of Italy and of its region, called Latium. It is located across the confluence of the Tiber and Aniene rivers. It was once the capital of the Roman Empire, the most powerful, largest and longest lasting empire of classical Western civilization.
In Roman mythology, Rome was built on April 21, 753 BC by the twin descendants of the Trojan prince Aeneas, Romulus and Remus. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over where their city was to be located and became the first of seven Kings of Rome, as well as the source of the city's name.
The civilization of ancient Rome originated in the 8th or 9th century BC, when the tribe of the Latini migrated to the Italian peninsula to settle around the River Tiber. The city was politically unified by the early 6th century BC. It became the capital of the Roman Empire.
The Romans gradually conquered the Italian peninsula, extended their dominion over the entire Mediterranean basin, and expanded their empire into continental Europe. Rome's influence was extended over Syria, Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Gaul. After the Battle of Actium, all Roman lands were controlled by Octavian (Augustus), the first Roman emperor. As the imperial capital, Rome became the site of magnificent public buildings, including palaces, temples, public baths, theatres, and stadiums.
For almost a thousand years, Rome was a very important city in the Western world and possibly the largest city in the world, with around 1.5 to 2 million inhabitants. With the rise of Christianity, Rome became the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the popes. The slow decline of the Roman Empire heralded the beginning of the Middle Ages, but the city regained prominence as the cultural capital of Western Roman Empire for several hundred years. The city flourished during the Renaissance and was the seat of the papacy and the Papal States. In 1870 it became the capital of a united Italy. It was transformed into a modern capital in the 1920s and '30s and is Italy's administrative, cultural, and transportation centre. Rome remains influential today, as the capital of Italy and as center of the Catholic Church.
Central Rome is dominated by the traditional seven hills that hark back to the Latin founding myth of the city. These seven hills are the Quirinale, Viminael, Esquilino, Celio, Aventino, Capitolino, and Palatino. The Tiber River and its islands are an important additional component of the city, flowing south through the western portion of the central zone.
Much of Rome is located within the old city walls. The wall is almost 12 miles long and was the wall Italian forces had to breach in 1870. The wall is still largely intact.
The ancient city within the walls covers about 4 percent of the modern municipality's 582 square miles. The walled city center is made up of 22 rioni (districts), surrounding it are 35 quartieri urbani (urban sectors), and within the city limits are six large suburbi (suburbs).
A belt highway describes a huge circle around the capital about six miles out from the city center. The circle ties together the antique roads that led to Rome: the Via Flaminia, the Via Aurelia and Via Appia.
Though small, the old city center contains about 300 hotels and 300 pensioni, over 200 palaces, 20 churches, eight of Rome's major parks, the residence of the Italian president, the houses of the Parliament, offices of the city and city government, and many great and well-known monuments. The old city also contains thousands of workshops, offices, bars, and restaurants. Millions of tourists annually flock to this area.
Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano), also known as the Holy See (Santa Sede), a sovereign enclave within the city of Rome and the world's smallest state , is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. Outside the Vatican City itself, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, also enjoy extraterritorial rights.
Places to see
Roman Empire structures:
The Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill are all in very close proximity to each other.
The Colosseum - Symbol of the eternal city, the Colosseum is probably the most important monument of Roman Empire. The first amphitheatre of the antiquity made of stone, the Colosseum is recognized as the symbol of the grandeur of the Roman Empire.
The Pantheon - A marvel of ancient architecture, this ancient temple to all the gods is celebrated for its large dome, copied during Greek and Roman revival periods by such designers as Thomas Jefferson, who modeled his Monticello and the Rotunda at the University of Virginia on it. As it is still a functioning church, silence is requested during your visit.
Roman Forum - These hallowed ruins were the most powerful seat of government in the world.
Palatine Hill - Right next to the Roman Forum, contains the ruins of several large villas that belonged to wealthy Roman families.
Fori Imperiali - The inside of the fort is very similar to a museum, with a lot of rooms containing items in glass cases. It is a bit of a maze and takes time to orient yourself, but it is worth climbing to very top for a view of the city and the Vatican.
Museums:
The Capitoline Museums - Also contain a good collection of classical art, as well as ancient sculpture. The Capitoline piazza, between the two museum buildings, designed by Michelangelo, is beautiful.
Galleria Borghese - A small museum with some very notable works by Antonio Canova and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Villa Giulia Museum - The most extensive collection of Etruscan art and artifacts anywhere. A difficult museum to find, but a lovely display in a beautiful villa setting.
Churches:
If you aren't familiar with Roman Catholic churches, take a look inside of any one of these. Please note that some churches in Rome deny admission to people who are dressed inappropriately. Bare shoulders, short skirts, and shorts are not allowed. The no shorts rule applies to men too, which often catches many tourists by surprise. However, few other churches in Rome enforce dress codes. It is, however, good to keep one's dress tasteful, as these are still churches and houses of prayer for many people.
St. Pietro - St Peter's - Where the Pope resides, said to be the finest church on the planet.
San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane - A very small and beautiful church, the first design commission of Francesco Borromini.
Sant' Ivo della Sapienza - This little church is hard to find but well worth the extra effort. It is located only a block from Piazza Navona, but not usually visible from the street, as one must enter the courtyard of an old palazzo to reach the church. Sant' Ivo is a small church shaped like the Star of David, with an amazing star-shaped dome and whimsical steeple.
Santa Maria del Popolo - With a couple of paintings by Caravaggio.
San Luigi dei Francesi - This church is roughly halfway between Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. It is most notable for a side chapel which contains three Caravaggio paintings, including The Calling of St. Matthew.
San Giovanni in Laterano - This is the cathedral church of Rome and first of the major basilicas. It's also the Pope's (as Bishop of Rome) Church. Be sure to check out the fourth century baptistry (still in use) and the medieval cloister.
Santa Maria Maggiore - This ancient basilica crowns the top of the Esquiline Hill. Tons of gold decorate the interior.
San Paolo fuori le Mura - also known as St Paul's Outside the Walls. This is on the outskirts of Rome in an otherwise drab modern neighborhood. The church is a faithful reconstruction of the ancient basilica which burned down in the early 1800s. Don't miss the medieval cloister, which survived the fire.
San Clemente - A great little cathedral to visit, with an excavated older church below and a pagan temple below that. The only place in Rome to hear the underground river that flows beneath the city. Very close to the Colosseum.
Santa Maria in Trastevere - One of the oldest churches in the city. The nave is lined with a mismatched collection of columns taken from ancient Roman buildings. The apse is covered in gold mosaics from the 13th century, arguably the finest mosaics in the city.
Santa Maria degli Angeli - This church was built inside the former baths of Diocletian.
San Pietro in Vincoli - The chains that held St. Peter are displayed in a case before the altar. Also contains a statue of Moses created by Michelangelo. It's close to the Colosseum.
Santissima Trinità dei Monti - Up above the Spanish Steps.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli - Ballroom-like church which crowns part of the Capitoline Hill. Don't be fooled by the plain stone exterior.
Santa Maria alla Minerva - This church is literally right behind the Pantheon and it is Rome's only gothic church.
Il Gesu - Not far from Piazza Venezia. The interior is pure Baroque art.
Sant'Ignazio - Not far from the Pantheon. Another example of Baroque art.
Capuchin Monastery - On Via Veneto, right by Piazza Barberini. The crypt of the church contains a macabre display - a series of chapels constructed out of the bones of thousands of dead monks.
Public squares:
Piazza di Trevi - Where you can find the famous Fontana di Trevi. It's not a very big piazza and gets very crowded very quickly.
Piazza di Spagna - Under the Spanish Steps.
Piazza Navona - Used to be an ancient stadium built by the emperor Domitian and still retains the shape. The fountains are by Bernini and are very notable.
Campo de' Fiori - Not far from Piazza Navona. Used as a marketplace.
Piazza del Popolo - With the twin churches.
Piazza della Minerva - A small piazza just behind the Pantheon. The centerpiece is a statue of an elephant by Bernini with an ancient obelisk on its back.
Piazza di Sant'Ignazio- Small and attractive piazza tucked away in a neighborhood near Pantheon.
Piazza Montecitorio - Where you can find the building of the House of Representatives.
Piazza Colonna - Where there is the building of the Italian Government, Palazzo Chigi. Also there is a marvelous carved column (hence the name) dating back to Imperial Rome.
Piazza Barberini - With the famous fountain. Via Veneto starts here too.
Piazza della Rotonda - Where you can see the Pantheon.
Piazza Venezia - More of an enormous traffic circle than a piazza, but a good central location. The centerpiece is the enormous Vittorio Emanuele Monument (aka the Wedding Cake) with the Capitoline hill next door.
Piazza del Campidoglio - On top of the Capitol hill, it was designed by Michelangelo. The Capitoline Museum is housed in the palaces flanking the piazza.
Historical Buildings:
Castel Sant'Angelo - Originally built between 135 and 139 AD by the emperor Hadrian for use as his mausoleum, it rivalled Augustus' mausoleum just across the Tiber (Tevere) River. The mausoleum was later used as a fortress and a prison until 1870, but now houses a museum.
Palazzo Venezia - In the very heart of the city center, the building once served as the embassy of the Republic of Venice. Today it houses a museum and galleries art.
Palazzo Taverna - Via di Monte Giordano. The building is located in one of the most set-apart corners of the city center among the Navona square and Castel Sant Angelo.
Palazzo Spada - Piazza Capo di Ferro. This building was erected in the 16th century by Giulio Merisi Caravaggio for Cardinal Capodiferro. One century later it was acquired by another powerful Cardinal, Bernardino Spada and was restored by Borromini.
Villa Farnesina - This Renaissance house is in Trastevere, very close to the river and not far from the Vatican. You can tour several beautiful rooms covered in frescoes, including some by Raffaello.
Palazzo Crivelli - Via dei Banchi vecchi. This building also known as the Doll House was built in the 16th century.
Palazzo della Cancelleria
Palazzo Farnese
Palazzo della Sapienza
Palazzo Altemps
Palazzo Barberini
