In ancient times the city of Rome was the center of one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen. Although the empire eventually disappeared, Rome survived to become the capital of Italy as well as the center of the Roman Catholic church and a destination for art lovers. It is known as the Eternal City. The city is located in central Italy on the Tiber River. It was built on seven hills that were originally separated from each other by marshes. The marshes have dried over the centuries, and the entire area has been built up, but the hills still define the different areas of the city. Places of interestThe Piazza Venezia is in the center of Rome. It sits on the Capitoline hill, which has been the center of Roman politics and government from the earliest days. One feature of the piazza is the large white marble monument named after Italy's first king, Victor Emmanuel. Central Rome's main street is the Via del Corso, which runs north from the Piazza Venezia to the Piazza del Poppolo. The Piazza del Poppolo was designed in the 16th century to serve as a grand entrance to Rome. - The Colosseum, a giant amphitheater in Rome, was completed in AD 82. Among the spectacles …
The Colosseum and the Roman Forum are found south of the Piazza Venezia. In the Colosseum, which was built in the 1st century AD, fighters called gladiators engaged in fierce battles. The Roman Forum was the center of government and commercial activity in ancient Rome. Ruins of many temples and other buildings are visible in the Forum. Overlooking the Roman ruins are the Palatine and Capitoline hills. Another notable building from ancient Rome is the Pantheon, a well-preserved temple from the 2nd century AD. Just west of the Pantheon is the Piazza Navonna, featuring a fountain designed by the sculptor Giovanni Bernini in the 17th century. It is one of Rome's many famous fountains. The water in the Roman fountains comes from aqueducts built 2,000 years ago. Across the Tiber is Vatican City. The popes of the Roman Catholic church make their home in this part of Rome. The city therefore has become the center of the religion. The Vatican, which is actually an independent nation, is also the site of Saint Peter's Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Rome has hundreds of other churches as well. Outside of the city are the catacombs of the early Christians. These burial places are underground in a maze of tunnels going down several stories. CultureAmong the well-known artists who lived and worked in Rome were the painters Raphael and Caravaggio and the sculptor Giovanni Bernini. Their works can be seen throughout the city, in museums, churches, and public squares. The works of Michelangelo are particularly notable, including his paintings on the ceiling and wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, his sculptures in various churches, and the central dome of Saint Peter's Basilica, which he designed. The Capitoline Museum holds some of Rome's finest statues and other objects from its past. Other museums include the Villa Giulia, the national Museum of Rome, and the Vatican Museum. Rome's great art galleries include the Borghese Gallery, featuring several Bernini sculptures; the Doria-Pamphili Gallery, with a collection of paintings by such artists as Diego Velasquez, Titian, and Caravaggio; and the National Gallery of Modern Art. EconomyA large part of the workforce of Rome is employed in construction, tourism, and the government. The chief industries include engineering, electronics, chemicals, printing, clothing, and food processing. HistoryRome was inhabited as early as 1500 BC, though the first permanent settlements were not made until much later. According to legend, the city was founded by two brothers named Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. Although these were mythical figures, historians believe that by the 8th century BC, various groups did begin to settle in small villages on the seven hills. Eventually the areas between the hills filled in, and the individual villages became one. Republic and empireAt first the Romans traded with the wealthy Etruscans, who lived north of the Tiber River. The Etruscans took over Rome in the early 6th century, however, and ruled the city until 509 BC. In that year the Romans forced the Etruscan king out and established the Roman republic. Soon Rome began to expand its control by taking over its neighboring territories. By the 1st century BC the city had become the capital of a mighty empire. However, this power brought with it many social and economic problems. The city became overcrowded, and since it had grown quickly it was not well-planned. Many people lived in unsafe, unsanitary houses, and there was no fire department or police to protect the people. In 27 BC the Roman republic became an empire. The first emperor, Augustus, worked to improve the city. He provided it with many fine public buildings, baths, theaters, temples, and warehouses. Augustus also reorganized the city's government. In the following three centuries, later emperors continued this effort. End of the empireBy the late 3rd century AD, however, Roman power slowly began to decline. In 330 the emperor Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium (now Istanbul). The city of Rome then lost most of its power, though it remained part of the empire. At the same time, however, Constantine gave support to the city's small Christian community. As a result, the church gained power. In the 5th century the city was attacked by groups from the north. As a result the last emperor was forced to leave, bringing an end to the Roman Empire in the West. The invasions continued, however, and the people of Rome looked to the Roman Catholic church for protection. The leaders of the church, the popes, gradually gained control over an area that included Rome. This came to be called the Papal States. The rest of the Italian peninsula was divided into individual kingdoms and small states. Growth of the cityDuring the 15th and 16th centuries Rome became the center of the artistic movement known as the Renaissance. The popes attracted scholars and artists, such as Michelangelo and Raphael, from across Italy. The Renaissance produced many new buildings and great works of art throughout the city. The city went through several periods of decline and renewal after that. During the first half of the 19th century, the different regions of the Italian peninsula began to work toward forming a unified country. The popes resisted this idea, but in 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was declared. Rome, however, was not included and remained under the pope's authority. Finally, in 1870, Italian troops marched into Rome, and the city became the capital of a united Italy. The popes continued to protest, however, and retreated to the Vatican. In 1929 Pope Pius XI and the Italian leader Benito Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty. This document recognized the pope's authority in Vatican City, an independent state within Rome. During the regime of Mussolini in the 1920s and 1930s, Rome became a modern capital, with new grand streets and monuments. In addition, many remains from ancient Rome were discovered and preserved during this period. This helped make Rome a major tourist destination. Population (2000 estimate), 2,643,580. |