Rome's history spans an impressive period of more than 2500 years. In this period the city developed from a small Italian village to the center of a vast empire. Rome was founded as a small village somewhere in the 8th century B.C., around the Palatine Hill.
Surrounding the birth of Christ, Rome was almost 800 years the biggest, richest and most powerful city in the western world, with a dominant role in most of Europe and the Mediterranean area. From the third century the empire began to decline and during the fourth and fifth centuries a definite split in the Western and Eastern Roman Empire followed. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century Rome still retained its importance and wealth. This is partly due to the founding of Rome as the center of the Catholic Church with the Bishop of Rome as ruler.
During the Middle Ages Rome was a major pilgrimage site. The city was dominated by a struggle between the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope. Rome really changed again during the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century. In the 19th century, Rome became the focus of a power struggle with the advent of the Kingdom of Italy. The Papal States remained under French protection in the hands of Rome, but with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 the French troops were forced to leave Rome from 1863 so it definitely belonged to the Kingdom of Italy. Rome has ever since remained the capital of Italy.
With the dismantling of the monarchy and the establishment of the Italian Republic after World War II, the population grew explosively and became the foundation for the modern metropolis Rome is today. Rome is unique to the confluence of styles from the Medieval, Renaissance and modern times that reflect the long history of the city.
The Colosseum - The Colosseum was built between 72 and 80 A.D. and was the center of fights to the death between gladiators, prisoners and animals. The original name is Flavian Amphitheatre. The building suffered a lot of dammage, because of thunderbolts and earthquakes. Because of the financial crisis the games ended around 523. What is left are the imposing ruins.
Address: Piazza del Colosseo, Rome
The Pantheon - Pantheon means "dedicated to all Gods" and thanks it's name to the seven Gods of the planets. It was built between 27 and 25 B.C. and was rebuilt between 118 and 125 A.D. The symbolic dome in the shape of starry sky comes from the dedication to the God Mars and the Goddess Venus. This building is not only beautiful from the outside, but as well from the inside.
Address: Piazza della Rotonda, 14, 00186 Roma
Villa Borghese - Villa Borghese is a public park with beautiful gardens, villas, museums and sculptures. Until 1901 it was privately owned by the Borghese family and now it's in hands of the Rome government. There's also a Biopark with mammals, reptiles and birds.
Official website: Galleriaborghese.it
Address: Piazza di Siena, 00197 Rome
