Rome

   

For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation).
The Roman Colosseum
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The Roman Colosseum

Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. It is located on the lower Tiber river, near the Mediterranean Sea, at 41°50'N, 12°15'E. The Vatican City State, a sovereign enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and its ruler the Pope.

The largest city in Italy, Rome has a population of 2,546,804 (2004) with 3.3 million living in the metropolitan area. The current mayor of Rome is Walter Veltroni.

The city's history extends nearly 3,000 years, during which time it has been the seat of the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.

Rome's skyline
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Rome's skyline

History

According to tradition, Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC, by Romulus, who killed his twin brother Remus in the process. This date was the basis for the Roman calendar and the Julian calendar (Ab urbe condita). Romulus and Remus were allegedly sons of the god Mars and the priestess Rea Silvia, daughter of Numitor, king of Albalonga. The boys were abandoned to save them from the hate of Amulius, a pretender to Albalonga's throne, and taken care of by a she-wolf, even today one of the symbols of Rome. Romulus later killed Remus and became the first ruler of Rome; see founding of Rome.

The origin of the city's name is unknown, with several theories already circulating in Antiquity; the least likely and the most jingoistic is to derive it from Greek Ρώμη meaning braveness, courage; more probably the connection is with a root *rum-, "teat", with possible reference to the totem wolf (Latin lupa, a word also meaning "prostitute") that gave suck to the cognately-named twins Romulus and Remus.

A picture of the Roman Colosseum
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A picture of the Roman Colosseum

For the civilisation, history, geographical expansion, and political system born in the ancient city of Rome, see Ancient Rome.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Ostrogoths ruled the city from their capital at Ravenna. The Eastern Roman Empire, ruled by Justinian I, captured Rome in 536. In 546, the Ostrogoths under Totila recaptured and sacked the city. The Byzantine general Belisarius recaptured Rome but the Ostrogoths took it again in 549. Belisarius was replaced by Narses, who captured Rome from the Ostrogoths for good in 552.

Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I (reigned 527–565) regularly granted Rome the subsidy needed for the maintenance of public buildings, aqueducts and bridges. He also styled himself the patron of its remaining scholars, orators, physicians and lawyers in the stated hope that in time more youths would seek for a better education. However the city was only the seat of a prefect while the center of Byzantine authority in Italy was moved to Ravenna.

The reign of his nephew and successor Justin II (reigned 565–578) would see the invasion of the Lombards under Alboin (568). By capturing the regions of Benevento, Lombardy, Piedmont, Spoleto and Tuscany, the invaders effectively restricted imperial authority to small islands of land surrounding Ravenna, Naples, Rome and the various port cities. In 578 and again in 580, the restored Roman Senate had to ask for the support of Tiberius II Constantine (reigned 578–582) against the approaching dukes, Faroald of Spoleto and Zotto of Benevento.

Maurice I (reigned 582–602) added a new factor in the continuing conflict by creating an alliance with Childebert II of Austrasia (reigned 575–595). The armies of the Frankish King invaded the Lombard territories in 584, 585, 588 and 590. Rome had suffered badly from a disastrous flood of the Tiber in 589, followed by a plague in 590. The later is notable for the legend of the angel seen , while the newly elected Pope Gregory I (term 590‑604) was passing in procession by Hadrian's Tomb, to hover over the building and to sheathe his flaming sword as a sign that the pestilence was about to cease. But the city was safe from capture at least.

Agilulf, however, the new Lombard King (reigned 591 to c. 616), managed to secure peace with Childebert, reorganized his territories and resumed activities against both Naples and Rome by 592. With the Emperor preoccupied with wars in the eastern borders and the various succeeding Exarchs unable to secure Rome from invasion, Gregory took a personal initiative of starting negotiations for a peace treaty. It was completed during the autumn of 598 and was only after recognized by Maurice. But it would last till the end of his reign.

Map of downtown Rome during the time of the Roman Empire
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Map of downtown Rome during the time of the Roman Empire

The position of the Patriarch of Rome was further strengthened under the usurper Phocas (reigned 602–610). Phocas recognized their primacy over that of the Patriarch of Constantinople and even decreed Pope Boniface III (607) to be "the head of all the Churches".

When Pepin III defeated the Lombards in 756, Rome became the capital city of the Papal States, a territorial entity at least nominally ruled by the Papacy. In practice, however, the government of the city was hotly contested between various factions of Roman nobility, the Pope, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the occasional republican insurrection until following the suppression of the republic of 1434, the Papacy folded the government of Rome into the ecclesiastical bureaucracy, where it remained until the unification of Italy under the king of Sardinia in 1870. During this period Rome became the worldwide centre of Christianity and increasingly developed a relevant political role that made it one of the most important towns of the Old Continent. In art, although Florence became the center of humanism and the Rinascimento (Renaissance), Rome was the center of baroque, and architecture deeply affected its central areas.

In the 16th century a central area was delimited around the Porticus Octaviae, for the creation of the famous Roman Ghetto, an area which the Jews were forced to live in.

Some of the most famous views of Rome in the 18th century were etched by Giovanni Battista Piranesi. His grand vision of classic Rome inspired many to visit the city and examine the ruins themselves.

The Roman urban form reflects the stratification of the succeeding epochs, with a wide historical center; this today contains many areas from Ancient Rome, very few areas from Quattrocento (mainly around piazza Farnese), and lots of churches and palaces from baroque times. The historical centre is identified as within the limits of ancient imperial walls. Some central areas were reorganised after the unification (1880–1910 - Roma Umbertina), and some important additions and adaptations made during the fascism, with the discussed creation of Fori Imperiali and the founding of new quartieri (among which Eur, San Basilio, Garbatella, Cinecittą and, on the coast, the restructuring of Ostia) and the inclusion of bordering villages (Labaro, Osteria del Curato, Quarto Miglio, Capannelle, Pisana, Torrevecchia, Ottavia, Casalotti). These expansions were needed to face the huge increase of population due to the centralisation of the Italian state.

During WWII Rome suffered some heavy bombings (notably at San Lorenzo fuori le Mura) and battles (Porta San Paolo, La Storta) and was considered an "open town" (as in the film by Roberto Rossellini). Rome fell to the Allies on June 4, 1944. It was the first capital of an Axis nation to fall.

1888 German map of Rome under Augustus
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1888 German map of Rome under Augustus

After the war Rome continued to expand, mainly for a similar reason of increased number of inhabitants (this time due to the development of the state administrations and the progressive turning of general national economy from mainly agricultural to modern industrial schemes), with the creation of new quartieri and suburbs; the current estimated number of inhabitants is appr. 3,5 millions, but it has been estimated that in working time more than 5 million people are in the town. They were 138,000 in 1825, 244,000 in 1871, 692,000 in 1921, 1,600,000 in 1961.

Rome organised the 1960 Summer Olympics, using many ancient sites, such as the Villa Borghese and the Thermae of Caracalla as venues or surroundings.

Many of the monuments of Rome were restored by the Italian state and by the Vatican for the 2000 Jubilee.

The Grande Raccordo Anulare, the round motorway that surrounds most part of it, is more than 80 km long.

Being the capital city of Italy, Rome hosts all the principal institutions of the nation, like the Presidency of the Republic, the government (and its single Ministeri), the Parliament, the main judicial Courts, and the diplomatic representatives of all the countries for the states of Italy and the Vatican City (curiously, Rome also hosts, in the Italian part of its territory, the Embassy of Italy for the Vatican City, a unique case of an Embassy within the boundaries of its own country). Many international institutions are based in Rome, notably cultural and scientific ones, or humanitarian like the FAO.

See Also: Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire

Rome today

Rome is today one of the most important tourist destinations of the world, due to its immense heritage of archaeological and artistic treasures, as well as for its unique traditions and the beauty of its views and its "villas" (parks). Among the most interesting resources, plenty of museums (Musei Capitolini, the Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, and a great many others), churches, historical buildings, the monuments and ruins such as the Roman Forum or the Catacombs.

Senatus Populusque Romanus, Flag Image copyright NovaRoma Inc.
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Senatus Populusque Romanus, Flag Image copyright NovaRoma Inc.

It is commonly identified by several proper symbols, including the Colosseum, the she-wolf (Lupa), the imperial eagle, and the symbols of Christianity. The famous acronym SPQR recalls the ancient age and the unity between Roman Senate and population.

It is called "The Urbs", "caput mundi" (head of the world), "Cittą Eterna" (eternal city), and "Limen Apostolorum" (the threshold of the apostles).

The town's colors are yellow and red (garnet).

Rome has two holidays of its own: April 21 (the founding of Rome), and June 29 (the feast of its patron saints, Peter and Paul). Other locally important dates are December 8 (the Immaculate Conception) and January 6 (Epiphany).

Among its hundreds of churches, Rome contains the five Major Basilicas of the Catholic church: San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran, Rome's cathedral), San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica), San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul outside the Walls), Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), and San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence outside the Walls). The Bishop of Rome is the Pope, in his pastoral activity strictly applicable to the city, he is assisted by a vicar (usually a cardinal).

Economy

Tourism is Rome's principal industry. The city is also a centre of the banking, publishing, insurance and fashion industries.

Transportation

Rome has an airport formally named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport, but more commonly known as Fiumicino. A second CityAirport is located in Ciampino, Southeast of the citycentre.

A subway system operates in Rome called the "Metropolitana" or Rome Metro which was opened in 1955. There are 2 lines (A & B) and a third under construction. (Today 35 km) Rome also has a comprehensive bus system. The web site of the public transportation company (ATAC) (http://infopoint.atac.roma.it) allows to calculate the path with buses and subways.

Chronic congestion caused by cars during the 1970s and 80s lead to the banning of traffic in certain part of the city.

Education

Amongst the prestigious educational establishments in Rome is the University of Rome (founded 1303) and the Accademia di Santa Cecilia - the world's oldest academy of music (founded 1584).

The city is also home to the colleges of the church, and several academies of fine arts.

Monuments and sites

Churches

Another simulated-color satellite image of Rome taken on the Landsat 7. This image zooms closer into the heart of the city
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Another simulated-color satellite image of Rome taken on the Landsat 7. This image zooms closer into the heart of the city

Proverbs about Rome

  • When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
  • All roads lead to Rome.
  • Rome wasn't built in a day.

During its long history, Rome has always had a scarcity of native inhabitants, so by tradition a "true" Roman is one whose family has lived in Rome for no less than 7 generations: this is the original "Romano de Roma" (in Romanesco, the local dialect of Italian).

External links


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