Rome, also known as the ‘eternal city’ is a place of great beauty which is also known for its religious world centre of the Catholic church and fabulous ruins of the Roman Empire. The city is also one of the popular tourist destinations in the world where lots of tourists visit this cultural city in order to witness the architectural and historical beauty, which is the unique feature of the city. Here is what to see while having a Walking Tour of Rome. The city of Rome is not just a famous city in Italy but most probably in the world as well. Rome was built in 753 BC, and during the reign of the Roman Empire over the European continent, it was its capital city. One of the interesting things about Rome is that it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and because of this reason, it is considered one of the best places to spend your holidays. In order to know more about this beautiful city, you can look on http://visitvatican.info/.
HISTORY
According to a legend, Ancient Rome was discovered by two brothers, Romulus, and Remus on 21st April 753 BC. History also claims that after killing his brother, Romulus became the first king of Rome, and this is why the city is named after his name. After him, a line of Sabine, Latin and Etruscan kings followed the succession. There are seven legendary kings of Rome, and they are listed below:
- Romulus
- Numa Pompilius
- Tullus Hostilius
- Ancus Martius
- Lucius Tarquinius Priscus (Tarquin the Elder)
- Servius Tullius and
- Tarquinius Superbus, or Tarquin the Proud
There are other stories as to why the city was named Rome. Other legendary story claims that the city was named after a woman named Roma who travelled with Aeneas and other survivors from Troy. When Roma landed on the banks of the Tiber River, she along with the other women objected when the men wanted to move on. She led the women in the burning of the Trojan ships and stranded the Trojan survivors at the site which eventually came to be known as Rome.
However, Rome’s era as a monarchy came to an end in 509 BC with the removal of the seventh King Tarquinius Superbus, who was portrayed as cruel and tyrannical as compared to the other kings. Also, there is a popular uprising thought to have arisen due to the rape of a virtuous noblewoman, Lucretia by the King’s son. However, whatever the reason may be, Rome turned from a Monarchy to a republic. After this, Rome was derived as res publica or the property of the people.
After the end of the Roman Empire, the power of the monarch passed to the two annually elected magistrates who also served as the Commanders in the Chief of the Army. They were, however, elected by the people largely from the Senate. Politics in the early republic emerged as a long struggle between the Patricians and Plebeians. The Plebeians were known as the common people who seemed to get the political power through years of concessions from Patricians.
Talking about Roman architecture, it has had an everlasting impact on the modern world. However, the rise of the cities was initiated in 312 BC with the transportation of water to the urban areas and improving the public health and sanitation. Walking Tour of Rome is considered one of the most advanced roads in the ancient world. The roads were 1.7 million square miles, and they were interconnected at the pinnacles of its power. Also, the roads had modern innovations and drainage system, which made it a tad advanced. There were about 50,000 miles of road that were built by 200 BC, and the best thing is that some of those roads are used even today.
To know more about this ancient city, you can plan a trip to Rome, and for this, you can read more from Visit Vatican.
What to see in Rome?
If you are visiting Rome, you need to prepare well and trying to see the best of Rome in a single day is not an easy task. However, with advance planning, you can cover up most of the iconic spots in Rome. Here are some of the things you need to see in Rome if you are taking a one-day walking tour in Rome:
- Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum is located in the Vatican City and has been included in the list of the most important museums in the world. While you visit this museum, you can find collections that have been accumulated by the Pope. These collections have become great masterpieces of all time, and they are considered as the precious testimony of an era. Apart from this, Vatican Museums also has great art collections, archaeology and other artefacts which are quite unique and artistically significant. Also, they have the collection of about 70,000 exhibits which belongs to the Catholic Church. Therefore, visiting the Vatican museums is a unique experience that you need to experience if you visit Rome. If you want to know more about the Vatican city or other exciting spots, you can read more on http://visitvatican.info/.
- Palentine Hill
When visiting Rome, you would not want to miss the Palentine Hill which is one of the famous “Seven Hills of Rome” which are the hills that are present near the Tiber river that joins the city. This hill is one of the closest hills to the river and is usually regarded as the founding site of Rome. The hill is considered as the main archaeological area of the Ancient Rome, and it is situated adjacent to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The Palentine Hill is full of archaeological ruins that will fascinate people, especially who are interested in archaeology and learning about the history of a place.
- Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain or commonly known as Fontana di Trevi and this is one of the most popular and well known fountains in Rome. It is an iconic symbol of the city, and it attracts a number of people. It is said that 1,200 people to this site every hour. Most of the tourists visit this fountain in order to toss a coin in the fountain, which is considered as a ritual. There is a belief that when you throw a coin into the Trevi fountain, your return to the city is assured. Throwing the second coin means you will find the love of your life. However, the third coin assures that you will be getting married anytime soon
- Campo de’ Fiori
It is also known as the ‘Field of flowers’ and is one of the most lively and exciting squares in Rome. There is even a myth surrounding the name of this square. According to the legend, general Pompeius here fell in love with Flora, a beautiful woman to whom he built a theatre now destroyed. It is located near the Temple of Venus Victrix and is attached to the Theatre of Pompey. Campo de’ Fiori has a beautiful flower, fruit, and vegetable market. During the evening, the area becomes the best meeting place with the presence of various bars, restaurants, and terraces
- Piazza Navona
The Piazza Navona is one of the areas which is famous among artists and tourists. Apart from the great picturesque appearance, but it is also famous for attractions such as fountains, palaces, cafes etc. The largest building in this piazza is the Palazzo Pambhilj that was built for Pope Innocent X between 1644 and 1650. It is a public square, and so it is free to access. There are many monuments and statues, and it is also one of the most visited areas of Rome. It is close to other great landmarks as well. It is closest to Campo de’ Fiori which is just across the road. Also, it is near Pantheon that is less than a 5-minute Walking Tour of Rome. Apart from this, it is close to Piazza Venezia, which is at a 10-minute walk away and also Trevi Fountain which is less than a 15-minute Walking Tour of Rome.
- Roman Pantheon
The Roman Pantheon is one of the greatest monuments and is the best-preserved with the biggest brick dome and is the forerunner of all modern places of worship. Originally, the Pantheon was a small temple that was dedicated to Roman gods. It was built between 25 and 27 BC. Raising this temple would have been impossible, and it would not have stood strong and would have collapsed. Therefore, the Romans built the dome with a single casting of concrete in subsequent layers. As the concrete was dark and so it was lightened with lighter stones by mixing it with travertine stone and other lighter materials.
Apart from these, there are many other sites and spots in Rome that you can conquer in your trip. This guide can help you to explore Rome in an easy way. You can also have a talk with the tourist guide who can help you in making your trip more exciting.
