Cheap Tickets to Rome
Rome, also known as the “Eternal City,” is rich of ancient history, from the Colosseum to majestic Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Because of its history, art , architecture , beauty and …. its famous pasta , Rome is one of our most popular cities in Europe.
Interesting facts about Rome
- Rome was founded in 753 BC. According to mythology, Rome was founded way back in 753 BC by twin brothers Romulus and Remus. It’s believed that the two brothers were raised by a she-wolf after being abandoned on the banks of the Tiber.
Mythology says that they founded Rome on the very place where they were breastfed by the she-wolf. Later on, in a disagreement over which hill to build on, Romulus killed his brother Remus in a and went on to become the first ruler of Rome.
2. Rome has more churches than any other city. There are more than 900 churches in Rome, which is more than any other city in the world. You only have to head to one of the hills and look across the skyline to see how many churches there are. No other city across the globe is as strongly associated with the Catholic religion as Rome is.
Some of the most important churches to include on a visit to Rome are: St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City , San Giovanni in Laterano and the Pantheon.
3. Rome is sometimes called the city of fountains because of the huge number of fountains it has. It’s one of the first things that you’ll notice, as soon as you start exploring the city. There are around 2,000 fountains in Rome some are quite small but others are huge and unmissable.
Two of the most beautiful fountains that you can’t miss while visiting Rome include Quattro Fiumi and Fontana Di Trevi. These fountains were not built just for decorative reasons were originally constructed to carry water for people from outside of the city.The fountains were almost completely destroyed during wars but were renovated to become objects of decoration in the 15th century.
The Trevi Fountain is one of the most popular fountains in Rome. Its unique design, beauty and craftsmanship are more than enough to attract people from across the globe.
You can’t miss this place on your trip to Rome, especially if you dream of finding your soulmate. According to legend, throwing one coin into Trevi Fountain’s water means that you’ll return to the city one day.
If you throw two coins, it means you’ll fall in love with a good-looking local, and throwing three coins will ensure that you get to marry that person.
4. The Spanish steps are one of the most popular and highly visited monuments in Rome. But the name doesn’t quite match the facts. The story of how the Spanish Steps got their name is an interesting fact about the Eternal City.
Italian architect, Francesco de Sanctis, designed the elegant Spanish steps in the 18th century at the request of Étienne Gueffier, a French diplomat.
Etienne Gueffier wanted a dedicated path from the church of Trinita Dei Monti to the square of Piazza di Spagna. So technically, the name of the 138 steps should contain “Roman” or “French”, but obviously they don’t.
The name Spanish steps stuck because there is a piazza of the Spanish embassy where the steps end. At the bottom you’ll find Fontana della Barcaccia , a pretty Baroque-style fountain.
5. Rome is the only city in the world that is home to a country, known as the Vatican City.
Vatican City is a separate and independent country. It’s the home of the Pope and Catholics consider it the religious centre of the world.
It’s the smallest independent country across the globe where passports and postage stamps are issued. St Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City, and is visited by millions of tourists each year.
Don’t miss the Vatican Museum. It has more than 54 different galleries while the total collection of sculptures and paintings consists of 70,000 objects of which about 20,000 are on display. No visit to the Vatican is complete without stepping into the Sistine Chapel.
6. Most of the ancient city is underground.
Much like Pompeii, most of ancient Rome hasn’t been excavated and lies underground. It’s estimated that most of the ancient city is still about 30 feet below the current street level.
7. The Pantheon is the most beautiful and best-preserved structure in the entire city of Rome. It’s a must-see during your trip. It used to be a pagan temple before it was converted into a church.
You will admire the huge dome, the impressive columns and the beautiful fountain.
The roof of the Pantheon acts like a giant sundial letting light into the building through the window in the middle of the dome.
8. Saint Peter’s Basilica is a magnificent building, located in the State of the Vatican City and occupying the original burial site of St Peter the Apostle. His remains are said to lie directly beneath the alter but this has never been proven or disproven. Pope Julius II laid the foundation of this building in 1505 and it took around 150-years to complete the construction.
9. The Colosseum is one of the most famous structures in the world and of course it’s located in Rome.
It’s common knowledge that it’s where the gladiator fights used to take place. Unfortunately more than a million animals and 500,000 people died in The Colosseum.
Emperor Vespasian (9 AD to 79 AD), built the Colosseum with the use of thousands of slaves. It had a warren of underground passages, 36 trap doors, and 80 different entrances.
During its heyday it hosted naval battles, chariot races and wild animals. Over 50,000 spectators would attend to witness the spectacles. The reigning emperors used to offer spectators free food which also attracted the crowds.
Nowadays, over half of the building is no longer there but it’s still one of the most visited places on earth.
10. The Romans built a road network of over 53,000 miles as early as the fourth century. This network of highways played a vital role in the history of Rome, helping them outpace and outmaneuver their enemies as they traveled across Europe conquering everything in sight.
Every time the Romans added another town to their empire, they linked it to Rome, establishing a solid supply network between the conqueror and the conquered.
The Romans maintained and protected these roads well, ensuring them speedy, secure access to anywhere in their Empire. You can visit one of the most famous Roman roads, the Appian Way, during your trip to Rome. So, it is true that all roads lead to Rome without a doubt…
