Who hasn't heard of the mighty Roman Empire, whose territory stretched far to the west and east, north and south. This is a state that conquered hundreds of peoples and existed for more than one hundred years. We will try to figure out where Rome was located, the first capital of the empire, its heart and soul. Are there any monuments of that majestic era left in modern Italy?
A bit of history and geography
The Eternal City, as historians call it, is truly amazing. Where was Rome, whose dominion over the world lasted over six centuries? Probably every student knows this. This is Italy, part of its modern capital, a place on the banks of the Tiber River. In the past, his influence was so great that the ancients said: "All roads lead to Rome." It was the true center of the universe, because laws were made here, roads were built, amazing temples and palaces were erected, water supply was improved, and the art of war was brought to perfection. Rome became soul and heartcultural and religious life, the cradle of Western civilization. The inhabitants of the city and the empire, although they belonged to the Antique era, differed from the Greeks in practicality and rationality, which allowed them to create an empire that instilled strong fear in enemies for a long time.
Blood City
So, where Rome was and where it is now, every educated person knows. This is the region of Lazio, in the Roman province of Italy. The date of foundation of the city is considered to be April 21, 753 BC, and the legendary brothers Romulus and Remus are the founders. But it is worth noting that, despite all its greatness, the city has always been washed with blood and stood on the bones: everyone here craved power and eliminated rivals and objectionable. From the time of the Etruscan ruler Amulius, who almost killed the babies Romulus and Remus, to Romulus Augustulus, the last emperor of the empire, conspiracies were practiced, the murders of senators and supreme rulers, philosophers and orators, the elimination of all pretenders to the throne by any means.
Heart of the Christian Church
But the place where Rome was was destined to become again the religious center of the world. It is here that the papal residence, the main shrines and museums, the library and the archive of the Catholic Church are located today. The successors of the Apostle Peter, that is, the pope, taking care of the beauty of churches, contributed to the development of culture, art, and architecture. So where is the Vatican? In Rome! This is an enclave, that is, a state within another, the creation of which was officiallyenshrined February 11, 1929.
Sightseeing Cities on the seven hills
The question of where the city of Rome is located does not puzzle anyone today. And if you ask people what interesting things you can see in this city, then there will be a lot of answers. During its long history, the city has collected so many sights that only their list could take more than one page. We will focus on the most interesting of them.
- Vatican, located in the western part of Rome (we mentioned it above). It is worth visiting the Cathedral of St. Peter, Sistine Chapel.
- Colosseum is the visiting card of the Italian capital, a symbol of the greatness and world domination of Rome. Built over three thousand years ago, it still amazes with its colossal size and perfect architectural lines.
- The aqueducts that the Romans still use today date back to ancient times.
- The Capitoline Museum is a complex of galleries located in the historic heart of the city, on Capitol Hill. Founded in 1471 by Pope Sixtus IV.
- Pantheon - a brick building dedicated to all the gods of the Roman pantheon, erected at the beginning of the second century AD. Perfectly preserved to our times.
- Castle of St. Angela - a former papal residence, a palace, a tomb, a castle and a prison, and today a museum.
- The Trevi Fountain is an amazingly beautiful fountain, decorated with exquisite sculptural compositions.
- The Roman Forum - located between the Palatine and the Capitol, the square servedplace of social gatherings.
In addition, the city has countless bridges, columns, triumphal arches, ancient houses and palaces that create a unique atmosphere in the city.
Now the reader knows where ancient Rome was, what was its peculiarity and what it left behind for the coming generations.
