The modern city of Rome, according to legend was built on seven hills. A city that is accustomed to foreign influences, it is known for its architectural treasures. There are many more in Rome than we know. Here are some interesting facts to give you an overview of the Roman culture, history and treasures.
First The birth of the Eternal City, Rome, founded in 753BC, is held annually by the Romans, 21 April celebrated. The festivities include fireworks, gladiator shows, traditional Roman banquets and parades.
Second The Pantheon was built in 27 BC. BC. Of Marcus Agrippa is the only monument belonging to ancient Rome, which still remains intact. What is less known is that he buried the king of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II and his successor, Umberto I.
Third A park in Rome as “the Monster Park.” Not because it is a haunted place, but because it is full of grotesque figures like a crude Hercules killing an Amazon and an ogre face with a mouth so big that people can even go through him!
4th The Baths of Caracalla, though in poor condition today, were once in the first few days spread over 27 acres and could handle 1600 bathers at once. Built in the 3rd Century, they are the largest survivors of Rome’s imperial period.
5th Rome has a museum that is dedicated to pasta. Pasta is a unique museum of its kind in the world and presents a variety of pasta machines, as well as paintings related to pasta by contemporary artists.
6th St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is the largest church ever built.
7th The Colosseum in Rome, a huge amphitheater that can accommodate 50,000 people, has offered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
8th The Campo Santo of the Capuchins used the bones of more than 4,000 Capuchin, some skeletons fully intact, symbolic works of art in its series of chapels.
9th The Vatican Museums is a huge museum complex with more than 1,000 museums and galleries like the Gallery of Tapestries and Etruscan and Egyptian museums are full of masterpieces collected by successive popes. It is the world’s largest museum complex.
10th St. Peter’s Basilica was a structure that was nearly 1,000 years until it neared collapse and was rebuilt by the years 1500 and 1600 again. It is an overwhelming structure which displays the work of some of the greatest Italian artists such as Raphael, Michelangelo and Maderno.
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Rome apartments & accommodation rentals and Holiday and Vacation Rentals.