It is one of the oldest and most magical cities on the planet. Streets that were built by the Ancient Romans are still in use today. There are, though, many things about this mythic city that you really don’t know:
- Rome actually celebrates its own birthday. The brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were raised by a she-wolf, founded the city on April 21, 753 BC. At least that’s the legend.
- With 2.7 million inhabitants, Rome is the European continent’s fourth largest city. Ancient Rome, believe it or not, had over one million people living within that fabled ancient city.
- The ancient Romans were master builders, particularly roads. Many are still in use today. Their stone paved roads were built down at a slight angle from the center to allow the water to run off into side ditches to prevent slickness and mud. All of the roads in the Empire began in Rome and you could walk along any road in the Empire and you could actually follow it all the way into the city.
- Ancient Romans lived with indoor plumbing and central heating. In fact, they invented the system used today for heating the floors.
- Rome is the third most popular tourist city on the continent after London and Paris.
- The Pantheon building is still standing relatively intact because it was declared a Catholic Christian church in 609 AD. The Romans had been famous for destroying a structure and then using those materials to build something else.
- Rome’s most trendiest of neighborhoods, the Testaccio, is located on a large hill just beyond the downtown. This hill was actually built from garbage as it was a major dumping site for the Ancient Romans.
- The legendary Spanish Steps are a major tourist attraction but really don’t have anything to do with the Spaniards. It got its name simply because it is located near Spain’s embassy.
- Rome was the first home of what became shopping malls. It was a massive marketplace built in 100 AD. Remnants of the giant mall are still to be seen to this day.
- Within the confines of the city rests Vatican City. It is a separate and independent nation.
- All over the city there are the letters SPOR. It is Latin for the Senate and the People of Rome.
PHOTO SOURCES: Mrwallpaper.com, Bjjee.com, Tripadvisor.com, Biography.com