Rome

With a history dating back 28 centuries, Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world. Legend has it that two twins Romulus and Remus were abandoned by the King Amulius of Alba Longa, an ancient Latin city in central Italy. These twins were cared for in the wild by a she-wolf. In 753 BC, the twins decided to build a city, but after an argument, Romulus killed Remus, and therefore the city took his name.

After the city’s founding in 753 BC, Rome became the capital of the Roman Kingdom. Little of known of this period, other than that there were seven kings of Latin, Etruscan and Sabine origin: Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Servius Tullius, and Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. It is during this period that the first major settlements around Palatine Hill and the Tiber river emerged.

In 509 BC, the last king was expelled from the city, and the Roman Republic was established. During this period, a series of oligarchs led numerous wars and expanded Rome’s hegemony over the Italian peninsula, the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Around 60 BC, the First Triumvirate was established. It started as an informal alliance between three prominent Roman politicians: Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompeus Magnus, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. However, from 58-50 BC, Julius Caesar gained tremendous power and popularity as he led the Roman armies to victory in the Gallic wars, invaded Britain, and built a bridge across the river Rhine. At the end of these wars, the Roman Senate ordered Caesar to step down as general and return to Rome. Caesar defied this order, and crossed the Rubicon, the river that marked the boundary between Gaul and Italy, starting Caesar’s civil war, which resulted in him crowning himself dictator perpetuo (perpetual dictator) of Rome in 44 BC.

During his dictatorship, Caesar pursued several social and governmental reforms. He established the Julian calendar, gave Roman citizenship to several residents of far regions of the Roman Republic, initiated land reforms, and centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic. Angered by his populist reforms and his growing power, on 15th March 44 BC, a date known as the Ides of March, a group of rebellious senators led by Brutus and Cassius assassinated Caesar by stabbing him to death. The site of his cremation is still visible today in the Roman Forum. After Caesar’s assassination, Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted heir, Octavian, founded the Second Triumvirate along with Mark Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. However, the triumvirate did not last long, with civil war breaking out between Octavian and Mark Antony. In 27 BC, Octavian took the name Augustus and became princeps civitatis of new Roman principate.

Augustus dramatically expanded the Roman Empire annexing Egypt, Dalmatia, and expanding its territory in Africa, He also reformed the Roman system of taxation, developed a network of roads, established a standing army and official police and fire-fighting services for Rome, and rebuilt much of the city during his reign. After his death in 14 AD he was succeeded by Tiberius, who reigned till 37 AD. He was succeeded by Caligula who was assassinated in 41 AD. From 41 AD to 54 AD, the Roman Empire was ruled by Claudius, Caligula’s uncle. Under Claudius, the Empire underwent its first major expansion since the reign of Augustus. The provinces of Thrace (modern day Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey), Lycia (modern day southern Turkey), and Judea (southern part of modern day Israel and part of the West Bank) were annexed during his term. He also launched Rome’s conquest of Britain, which went on for 40 years. Claudius was succeeded by Nero, who is most famous for having played the fiddle while more than two-thirds of Rome burned down during the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD. The Roman empire however, continued to expand, reaching its peak during the reign of Trajan from 98 to 117 AD.

From here on, the Roman Empire steadily declined, but Rome eventually gained new glory as the fountainhead of Christianity and a major center for the arts. During the Renaissance period from the mid-15th to 16th centuries, Rome attracted artists like Michelangelo and Raphael, sculptors like Donatello and architects like Filippo Brunelleschi.

In its modern history, Rome was one of the last cities to join a unified Italy in 1870. Rome was made the capital of Italy, however, the Catholic Church refused to accept Italian authority, until a compromise was reached in 1929 by fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, with the Vatican being recognized as a sovereign city-state. Rome fell to the Germans during World War II, but since then, it has emerged as one of the most important European capitals and most charismatic cities in the world.

With a dizzying array of historical monuments from the Colosseum, to the Roman Forum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, Castel Sant’Angelo, and the Vatican, along with several vibrant cafes and restaurants, and spellbinding museums with world-renowned art and sculptures, Rome is a must-see destination on everybody’s bucket list.

Destinations

Key sights to see

The Colosseum

Constructed between 72 AD and 80 AD during the reign of Emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests, where armed combatants had violent confrontations with other gladiators and wild animals. With a capacity of 50,000 to 80,000, it was the largest amphitheater built at the time. By the 5th to 10th century AD, the building was used for other purposes, including housing, a fortress and even a Christian shrine.

Roman Forum

Dating back to around 500 B.C or earlier, the Roman Forum is a rectangular plaza situated between the Palatine and Capitoline Hill which once housed ancient Rome's most important temples, monuments and political venues and where public events like elections, speeches, criminal trials, religious ceremonies, educational events, and trade and commerce were conducted. It is also the cremation site of Julius Caesar.

St. Peter’s Square, The Vatican

St. Peter's Square is the heart of Vatican city, an independent city state under the exclusive authority of the Holy See. Above the colonnade on the right side of the square is The Apostolic Palace, which contains the Papal apartments, the world-famous Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling frescos are considered Michelangelo's masterpiece. At the rear of the square is St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world.

Castel Sant’Angelo

The Castel Sant'Angelo, erected on the right bank of the Tiber river between 134 and 139 AD, was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. His remains, as well as the remains of other emperors like Caracalla are placed here, but most of the tomb's contents and decorations were lost when the building was converted to a military fortress in 401 AD, then converted to a castle, a prison, and finally, a museum.

Spanish Steps

Built between 1723-1726, the Spanish Steps are a set of 135 steps that go up a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the bottom, and the Piazza Trinita dei Monti at the top. Piazza di Spagna is where the Barcaccia Fountain (built in 1508), and some of the most prestigious boutiques like Prada, Valentino and Gucci are located. The piazza at the top of the steps is dominated by the Trinita dei Monti, a Roman Catholic, late Renaissance church.

Fontana di Trevi

The Fontana di Trevi is one of the most iconic and famous fountains in the world. The origins of the fountain date back to the year 19 BC, when the fountain, located at the junction of three roads (tre vie), marked the terminal point of the Aqua Virgo, one of the aqueducts that supplied water to ancient Rome. The current version of the fountain dates back to around 1762. Visitors from all around the world come to the fountain to throw coins in it.

Piazza Venezia

Piazza Venezia is where the largest thoroughfares in the city intersect, including the Via dei Fori Imperiali and the Via del Corso. The Piazza is named after the Palazzo Venezia, which overlooks the square. The most imposing part of the piazza however is the outstanding Monument of Victor Emanuel II ('Il Vittoriano'), the first king of Italy, which was built between 1855 and 1911 to celebrate Italian unification.

Piazza del Popolo (People’s Square)

The Piazza del Popolo is located at the beginning of Via Flaminia, which was the main entrance to the city during the Roman Empire. The layout of the square was designed between 1811 and 1822 in neoclassical style. It is famous for the Basilica Santa Maria del Popolo, two other churches that look onto the square, and the Egyptian obelisk in the center, dedicated to Ramses II.

Piazza Navona

Defined during the fifteenth century, and built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian once stood, the Baroque-style Piazza Navona is one of the most charming and popular squares in Rome. The Piazza is famous for its three fountains designed during the papacy of Gregory XIII, the obelisk in the middle of the square, the many restaurants and terraces surrounding it, and the many street performers like magicians and dancers.

Circo Massimo

The Circo Massimo, 600 meters in length and 225 meters in width, with space for 300,000 spectators, was the largest circus in Rome, ahead of the Circus of Flaminius and the Circus of Maxentius. The most famous competitions here were the chariot races, in which slaves fighting for their liberty, tried to complete seven laps. During the public games, equestrian exhibitions also took place which simulated various famous battles.

Pantheon of Rome

The Pantheon of Rome, completed in 126 AD by Emperior Hadrian on the site of an earlier temple commissioned by Marcus Agrippa between 27 BC - 14 AD, is a former a Roman temple and now a Catholic Church. It is one of the best preserved architectural masterpieces of ancient Rome. The tombs of numerous Italian kings and the Renaissance painter and architect Raphael are found inside the Pantheon.

Baths of Caracalla

Built by Emperor Caracalla, between 212 - 216 AD, the Baths of Caracalla were one of the most spectacular thermal complexes in ancient times. Romans visited the baths to maintain hygiene, exercise, visit the library, or walk through the gardens. After operating for more than three hundred years, the baths were closed in 537 AD when the aqueducts that supplied water to the city were destroyed by the barbarians.

Rome

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