Rome, the Eternal City

With tourist season upon us, wouldn’t you like to know a bit more about Rome the Eternal City? In case you find yourself here in the boot in the future!

Rome is often called the Eternal City or Caput Mundi, Latin for capital of the world. Which stems from the long-held Roman view that their city is the world’s capital. During the Roman Empire, Rome was in fact the world’s capital. It has been Italy’s capital since 1871.

6 Fun Facts About Rome

1. Rome’s birthday

Rome celebrates its birthday on April 21. This year makes Rome 2,776 years old! According to legend, it was founded in 753 BC. Italy’s Etruscan ruins date back to the 8th century BC (700 BC). That makes it about 2800 years old. And Rome is, in fact, one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe.

2. Trevi fountain

Toss a coin in the Trevi fountain, and you’ll visit Rome again. At least according to popular belief, that’s what will happen. This belief is so popular that people throw about 3,000 Euros in the Trevi Fountain every day! Beware of taking this money because it belongs to the city. And there is a heavy fine for doing so!

3. Rome’s catacombs

Rome’s catacombs are 13 KM (8 miles) long and contain some 40,000 tombs. Contrary to popular belief, they say the catacombs were not used as hiding places. But as burial grounds, because Roman law forbade burials within the city limits. Christians didn’t follow the heathen tradition of cremation, and land was expensive. So they buried their dead in these enormous underground cemeteries.

4. The seven hills of Rome

Tradition states that Romulus (Rome’s founder) founded the city on Palatine Hill. But Rome started out as seven separate settlements on the seven hills of Rome. Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal. It was only when these communities met for a series of sports events that they started uniting. Then acting together, they drained the surrounding marshlands and turned them into marketplaces. And voilà Rome had begun!

5. Rome: a Unesco site

Rome’s historic center is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. As is the Holy See (the Vatican and St. Paul’s Basilica). Rome is home to the Sistine Chapel and the Coliseum. It is the 14th most visited city in the world and the 3rd in the European Union. It is also Italy’s most popular tourist destination.

6. The Eternal City?

Rome is known as the eternal city because of an ancient Roman belief that the city would endure forever. No matter how many empires would rise and fall, Rome would remain. A faulty theory, because the Roman Empire did fall. But the Eternal City still stands, awaiting your visit. It’s a delightful place so come on over!

Images by our Roman friend Maurizio; all rights reserved.