European Ribbon

📖 Introduction

Rome, Italy’s capital and largest city, is often called the Eternal City. Its history spans nearly three thousand years. Layered with centuries of structures built upon one another. Rome is yet another European capital set upon seven hills, though perhaps it’s best to say it was the first. In antiquity, it was unmatched in power, giving its name to the sprawling Roman Empire that reached across Europe and beyond.

We present our approach to discovering Rome. This is not a guidebook, but more of a companion, meant to inspire and support you on your journey. We organize facts, anchor you in time and events, and add fascinating stories, places, people, and legends. We tie it all together with suggested walking routes enriched by detailed descriptions of select attractions. Additionally, we include our own videos 🎬—thousands of images that could fill volumes. Ready? Welcome to Rome.

The Image of Rome – As Depicted Through History

The Kingdom 👑

The Romans often refer to the divine origins of their city. Throughout Rome’s many ancient sites, one can find traces that lend “credibility” to these stories. The legend of Rome’s founders, the twin brothers Romulus and Remus, is woven into the city’s history. This tale goes even further back, to the siege of Troy, from which the brave Aeneas escaped. After many adventures, he reached Italy and settled near what would become Rome. There, he established a royal line from which the legendary twins would descend.

Romulus and Remus were born despite the efforts of their uncle, King Amulius, who had killed all male heirs of the family to secure his throne. The twins were sons of his niece, Rhea Silvia, who had been forced to take a vow of chastity as a Vestal Virgin. However, seduced by the god Mars, she bore the twins. Enraged, the king ordered the infants to be drowned in the Tiber River. However, their basket became tangled in riverbank brush, sparing them. They were found and suckled by a she-wolf. It is uncertain if it was a real wolf, as “she-wolf” was also a term used for prostitutes who may have served as wet nurses. Eventually, the twins were raised by a poor shepherd.

After Romulus, six more kings ruled Rome. During their reigns, the city grew from a modest settlement into a powerful, fortified city. The kingdom fell with the last king, the arrogant Tarquinius Superbus, who reigned from 534 to 510 B.C. These were difficult times for the Romans—Tarquinius seized power unlawfully, ruling through fear and stirring hatred. The final blow came when his son violated the married Lucretia. In revenge, Lucius Junius Brutus, called “The Liberator” vowed to overthrow the dynasty. He succeeded, ending it and opening the next chapter in Rome’s history.

The Roman Republic 

The next remarkable period in Rome’s history was the Republic, lasting until 27 B.C. In this system, the highest authority rested with two consuls. They served together for one year, with strict limits on reelection. The Senate, an assembly of 600 members, debated laws and enacted legislation.

Initially, this system was innovative and worked well, allowing Rome to expand from a city-state into a powerful empire. Many attribute the Republic’s success to the concept of “citizenship”. The Romans approached this innovatively—each victory expanded their power, and they settled their own citizens on conquered lands. The inhabitants of these territories were often expelled or given Roman citizenship without full rights, yet they retained their own. Over time, they could gain land and wealth by fighting for their new homeland, raising their status—often at the cost of newly conquered lands. This steadily grew the ranks of loyal patriots, and former subjugated peoples often became invaders themselves.

As external threats waned, the Roman Republic began to suffer from its own success. By the mid-2nd century B.C., it was mired in civil wars, as the republican system proved inadequate for managing such a vast empire. The short terms of consuls hindered continuity in reforms and policies requiring sustained effort. The Republic thus reached its end—when Julius Caesar, after a series of tumultuous events, took the title of dictator for life and initiated reforms. Unfortunately, his efforts were cut short by a conspiracy of senators who assassinated him on the famous Ides of March—March 15, 44 B.C.

The Roman Empire 🗺

This marked the start of the Empire in 27 B.C., with supreme power held by the emperor. Leadership was usually passed down within dynasties. The first of these—the Julio-Claudian dynasty—traced its lineage back to Julius Caesar and lasted until 95 A.D. Its first legitimate emperor was Gaius Octavius, granted the title “Augustus” by the Senate, meaning “exalted by the gods.” The last emperor to rule over the unified empire was Theodosius I the Great. After his death in 395, the empire split. The Eastern Roman Empire had its capital in Constantinople. The Western Roman Empire was centered in Milan, then moved to Ravenna in 404. From this point, Rome’s influence gradually began to wane.

In the 5th century, the Visigoths invaded Rome. The fall of the Roman Empire is often symbolically dated to September 4, 476.

Many events from the imperial period left a lasting mark on Rome. As we explore each attraction, we’ll dive into these historical details. Notably, the great fire of Rome occurred during Emperor Nero’s reign in 64 A.D. Nero became famous for building the legendary Golden House, a structure that still captivates with its grandeur as described by ancient writers. He was also known for hosting games that inspired both awe and fear.

We also highlight Emperor Constantine, who in the 4th century saw a vision of the cross in the sky, ending the persecution of Christians and converting himself. It was thanks to him that Christians saw the first basilica built over Saint Peter’s tomb in the Vatican. In 330, Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople.

The Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, Rome changed rulers multiple times. In the mid-8th century, it became the capital of the Papal States and the seat of the popes, though their influence in the city varied. A thousand years after the fall of the empire, the city became depopulated and dangerous. Ancient temples and palaces fell into ruin, and goats and sheep grazed among the ancient forums.

In 1305, due to increasing unrest and violent riots, Pope Clement V, a Frenchman, moved the papal residence to Avignon. This period, known as the “Avignon Papacy”, saw seven consecutive popes reside in Avignon, lasting until 1376. This greatly weakened Rome and led to the Western Schism in the Church. Divided allegiances prevented the election of a single pope, resulting in times with two or even three claimants to the papal office. The schism was finally resolved in 1417 at the Council of Constance with the election of Pope Martin V, who returned the papacy to Rome.

Dramatic events unfolded in 1527 during the infamous “Sack of Rome” (Sacco di Roma). The city was invaded by troops fighting for Emperor Charles V (Charles I of Habsburg), the King of Spain. An army of 34,000 soldiers, mostly Germans, Spaniards, and unpaid mercenaries, rebelled and marched on Rome, intent on capturing and looting it. Defended only by its ancient walls and a mere 5,000 soldiers, the city was vulnerable.

Nearly all defenders perished, and for eight months, Rome was plundered and devastated. The occupation of the Papal States’ capital had tragic effects. The city was ravaged, largely destroyed, and deeply depopulated—about 12,000 people were killed, and a later plague reduced the population from 55,000 to only 10,000. Restoring the population took nearly 40 years.

German soldiers, citing Lutheran beliefs, zealously destroyed Catholic churches and relics. The occupiers left only when food ran out, and there was nothing left to plunder.

The Sack of Rome is often seen as the symbolic end of the Italian Renaissance, a catastrophe that halted cultural progress in this part of the country for many years.

Modern History

In modern history, we’ll focus on the 19th century. In the early years, between 1809 and 1814, Napoleon annexed the Papal States, including Rome, into France. After Napoleon’s defeat, the Congress of Vienna restored these Italian territories to papal rule.

At that time, the Italian Peninsula was a patchwork of various states, often ruled by branches of the Habsburg and Bourbon families. In the central region lay the Papal States, in the north, the Kingdom of Sardinia (also called Piedmont), and in the south, the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The ruler of Piedmont, a constitutional monarchy, was Victor Emmanuel II of the Savoy dynasty, who would become the first king of a unified Italy. Under his leadership, Italians rose against Austria, which controlled the northeastern part of Italy, during the Revolutions of 1848. This movement for unification, known as the Risorgimento, culminated in the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in March 1861.

The Papal States ceased to exist in 1870, after 1,114 years. This marked Italy’s unification and made Rome the nation’s capital. In 1929, an agreement between Pope Pius XI and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini created the independent Vatican City State, securing its sovereignty.