Rome: “The Eternal City”
Known throughout the world for its thousand-year history, Rome is the most populous and largest municipality in Italy and is among the largest European capitals by area.
The Lazio Region, of which it is of course the capital, instead extends for a radius of 100 kilometers around Rome and spreads between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the chain of Apennines; it has a territory of 17,203 sq. km. and the population is distributed over 5 provinces (Rome, Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Viterbo).
Of the approximately 5,700,000 inhabitants, more than 3,000,000 live in Rome city; the rest reside in 374 mostly hilly municipalities.
Rome is the city with the highest concentration of architectural riches in the world and is the only city in the world within which there is a state, namely Vatican City, the residence of the Pope and the heart of Catholic Christianity. Therefore, it is also identified as the
capital of two states
.
His downtown, delineated by the Aurelian Walls that collect nearly three thousand years of artwork, is an invaluable testimony to the legacy of the Western European world and In 1980 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list along with the Holy See of the Vatican State and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
More than 16 percent of the world’s cultural treasures are located in Rome (70 percent in all of Italy). It is said that a city can also be described through its scenery, its colors, its scents, its objects or even an idea. It is precisely these nuances, intangible and temporary, that sometimes turn into unforgettable memories. Throughout the centuries, the magic of Rome has been masterfully recounted by poets and writers and beautifully depicted in the works of great artists.
Eternal and mysterious, the Capital envelops those who arrive in a pleasant “Rome sickness” that does not leave. It is no coincidence that millions of tourists rush to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain with the hope of visiting again: because in Rome, remembering Goethe’s words, everything is as we imagined it, and everything is new.
Legend has it that the birth of Rome was due to Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Rhea Silvia and the god Mars, who were abandoned and suckled by a She-wolf and finally adopted by the shepherd Faustulus and Acca Larentia, his wife. Once they grew up, the twins decided to find a city: to determine who should rule, they relied on the will of the gods through the flight of augural birds.
From the Aventine, Remus saw six vultures, while Romulus, from the Palatine, spotted twelve, becoming the first King of Rome in 753 B.C . From the Palatine, the city stretched over the seven hills we all know: Palatine, Aventine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, and Caelian.
Rome “caput sport”
The city of Rome attracts more than 20 million visitors each year because of its artistic, historical and cultural heritage.
È considered to be one of the most attractive tourist destinations due in part to the steady increase in international sporting events held each year, such as the Marathon running through the Imperial Forums, the Seven Hills Swimming Trophy (now in its 58th year) and the Tennis Internationals in the Foro Italico Park, the Piazza di Siena equestrian show at Villa Borghese, the Six Nations Rugby, the Golden Gala of athletics at the Olympic Stadium, i UEFA European Football Championships at the Olympic Stadium, and last but not least, the stage of the Formula E circuit which takes place in the monumental EUR district of Rome.
Rome’s natural areas
Rome is one of the greenest cities in Europe, a treasure chest of art dotted with parks and gardens, rich in lush vegetation and embellished with archaeological remains, sculptures, ponds, fountains and splendid villas. Enchanting green spaces that make the capital a city for all seasons: from magnificent blooms in spring to romantic foliage in autumn, from rejuvenating walks in winter to pleasant relaxation in summer.
In addition to the historic residences of the most important noble families, including. Villa Borghese, Villa Doria Pamphilj, Villa Ada Savoia, Villa Torlonia, the capital has real green lungs of historical-archaeological and naturalistic interest, such as the vast Appia Antica Regional Park, and striking viewpoints over the city, such as the Orange Garden, the Pincio Hill and the Janiculum Hill.
