Rome, Italy

There is a saying that ‘Rome was not built in a day. The saying means that the city did not happen overnight and did not become great in a single day. Rather, if we want to learn about the greatness of this historical city, we must understand the fact that it took hundreds of years, the effort and skill of millions and a lot of exceptionally talented minds to build one of the most beloved, prosperous and cultural marvels of the world. Julius Caesar was responsible for transforming this republic into an empire. An empire is so great that it is still talked about today. Through many great political reforms, capturing lands, and winning many battles, the Roman empire grew in size and power. The empire was famous for its outstanding architectural ventures, military, social institutions, etc. Major emperors like Augustus (first emperor of the Roman empire), Claudius, Vespasian, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius all contributed to the glory and success of the roman empire and made it a powerhouse. Rome’s cultural impact on art, architecture, learning programs are still widely popular and important. The entirety of Europe’s civilization is greatly influenced by the Roman empire. Rome is so popular that historians say that Rome is the pinnacle of artistic and intellectual achievements. During and after the world wars, under the rule of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, Rome wanted to revive its powers but failed in the long run. After many political clashes and arguments between other Italian cities, Rome regained economic and cultural powers in the late 20th and early 21st centuries when proper planning and developmental activities were implemented.

Climate and Geography

Climate- Rome, Italy experiences hot summers (24˚C), and a local wind from the Tyrrhenian Sea (about 15 miles away) blows from the west. In the winters, the temperature goes down to 10˚C and gains, a local wind is known as the Tramontana (cold and dry) blows from the north and hits the city. Rome gets moderate amounts of rainfall (30 inches0 and the autumns and springs get to experience most rainfall. 

Geography- Located in central-western Italy, Rome, interestingly is surrounded by seven hills (Aventine, Palatine, Capitoline, Caelian, Esquiline, Quirinal, and Viminal). These hills gave Rome a great geographical advantage during the days of building the empire. The city is situated on the east of the river Tiber. 

Culture

The history of Rome and how it was founded goes back to about 28 centuries. As mentioned in the introduction itself, Rome became an empire from just a republic and became the pinnacle of artistic work and intellectual initiatives. Its architecture is beyond imagination and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Some of the greatest and most popular architectural designs in Rome are:

• The Colosseum
• Marcello Theater
• Altare della Patria
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Sistine Chapel
• Pantheon
• MAXXI
• Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
• Pyramid of Cestius
• Trajan’s Market
• Palazzo della Civilta Italiana

The Colosseum- The Colosseum is probably the most popular of the lot among all the architectural sites. The image of the Colosseum is almost synonymous with Rome and is one of the seven wonders of the World. After it was constructed, it was mainly used for exotic animal exhibitions, prisoner executions, and gladiator battles. The Colosseum has witnessed the rise and fall of many gladiators and witnessed many historic events over the years. Emperor Titus was the first to start the ‘100 days of games for entertainment purposes and more than 2000 gladiators were killed during epic battles. The Colosseum is popularly known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. Tourists who come to Italy make it an absolute must visit this wonder once and every year, about six million people visit here. 

Conclusion

Rome is the capital of Italy and earns a lot of revenue from tourism. Culturally, it is one of the most important places on earth with rich history and tradition that goes back to over 28 centuries. Julius Caesar was responsible for transforming a republic into an empire. Through many great political reforms, capturing lands, and winning many battles, the Roman empire grew in size and power. Rome’s architecture and art are one of a kind and its impact has reached all over the world. Entire Europe’s civilization is lying on the base formed by the Roman empire.