Rome history

Foundation and First Mentions

The legendary date of the city's foundation is 21 April 753 BC, when, according to tradition, Romulus marked out the boundaries of the settlement on the Palatine Hill. However, archaeological evidence suggests that Rome emerged as a result of the gradual unification of scattered pastoral villages. By the 8th century BC, the first fortified communities were already forming here, becoming the core of the future capital of Italy.

Key Factors of Formation

The transformation of a small settlement into a major regional centre was facilitated by a unique combination of geographical and economic conditions:

• Geography and Defence: The city was founded on seven hills, providing natural protection against floods and enemy raids, while maintaining control over the fertile lands of Lazio.
• The Tiber River: This waterway connected the city to the sea, opening opportunities for international trade, while Tiberina Island served as a convenient and safe ford for crossing.
• Crossroads of Routes: The ancient "Via Salaria" (Salt Road) passed through this area, along which a strategically important resource was transported from the coast deep into the peninsula.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

In the early stages of development, the city's culture was formed under the strong influence of its neighbours—the Etruscans and the Greeks—which was reflected in temple architecture, religious rites, and the alphabet. The economy was initially based on agriculture and livestock farming, but thanks to its advantageous position, it quickly reoriented towards trade and crafts. It was during this period that the draining of the marshy lowlands between the hills began, where the Roman Forum—the centre of public life—subsequently emerged.

Timeline of Key Events

• 753 BC — According to legend, Romulus founded Rome on the Palatine Hill, marking the beginning of the history of the Eternal City.
• 509 BC — Following the expulsion of the last king, Tarquin the Proud, the Roman Republic was proclaimed.
• 27 BC — Augustus became the first Roman Emperor, marking the transition from Republic to Empire.
• 64 AD — A Great Fire destroyed a significant part of the residential quarters, after which a massive reconstruction of the city began.
• 80 AD — The Flavian Amphitheatre, known to the world as the Colosseum, was inaugurated.
• 313 — The Edict of Milan by Emperor Constantine legalised Christianity, changing the religious landscape of the capital.
• 476 — The abdication of the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, marked the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
• 800 — The coronation of Charlemagne in St. Peter's Basilica revived the city's status as a political centre of Europe.
• 1506 — Construction began on the new St. Peter's Basilica, which became a symbol of the High Renaissance era.
• 1870 — The city was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia and officially became the capital of a united Italy.
• 1929 — The signing of the Lateran Treaty led to the creation of the independent State of Vatican City.
• 1960 — The capital hosted the XVII Summer Olympic Games, which contributed to the modernisation of urban infrastructure.

Stages of Urban and Cultural Development

The history of the Eternal City is a series of massive transformations, each leaving an indelible mark on its architecture and way of life. Rome has changed its appearance repeatedly, transforming from an ancient metropolis into the religious centre of the world, and then into a modern European capital.

• The "City of Marble" of Emperor Augustus (1st Century BC — 1st Century AD). The first Emperor of Italy initiated a grand reconstruction, replacing brick structures with marble ones. During this period, advanced urban infrastructure was created: new aqueducts, thermal baths, and forums, ensuring a comfortable life for a population of one million and the flourishing of the ancient economy.
• Christianisation of Space (4th Century). Under Emperor Constantine, the construction of monumental basilicas began, such as San Giovanni in Laterano and the old St. Peter's Basilica. This shifted urban planning accents from pagan forums to places of veneration for martyrs, laying the foundation for its future status as a centre of global pilgrimage.
• Papal Reconstruction of the Renaissance (15th–16th Centuries). After the medieval decline, humanist Popes began restoring ancient aqueducts and laying out new streets. Attracting great masters such as Michelangelo and Raphael turned the city into the main art workshop of Europe, giving a powerful impulse to cultural development.
• Baroque Scenography (17th Century). Architects Bernini and Borromini reimagined the urban environment, creating a system of ensembles featuring squares, obelisks, and fountains. This urban reform made the city visually spectacular and convenient for ceremonial processions, forming its recognisable tourist appearance.
• Transformation into a National Capital (Late 19th Century). Obtaining capital status in 1871 led to rapid population growth and a construction boom. Wide avenues were laid out (for example, Via Nazionale), and administrative palaces and new residential districts (Prati, Esquilino) were built, connecting the historic centre with the outskirts.
• Creation of the EUR Business District (20th Century). In the 1930s, the city's development vector was directed south, towards the sea. The construction of the EUR district brought monumental rationalism to the architecture and created a modern business hub, which today plays a key role in the economic life of the metropolis.

Architectural Chronicle of the Centuries

The city's architectural landscape is unique in its multi-layered nature: here, ancient ruins sit alongside Baroque facades, and medieval towers hide in the shadow of Renaissance palaces. Rome is rightfully called an open-air textbook of architecture, where every era has left its monumental mark, forming the unique appearance of the capital of Italy.

Main Styles and Iconic Structures

The urban development of the city proceeded not by demolishing the old, but by adapting and building upon existing structures, creating an amazing stylistic symbiosis.

• Antiquity (1st Century BC — 5th Century AD). An era of engineering breakthroughs: the invention of concrete, the use of arches and domes. The Romans built with imperial scale, paying attention not only to temples but also to public buildings.
  Iconic landmarks: The Colosseum, the Pantheon with its giant dome, the ruins of the Roman Forum, the Baths of Caracalla.
• Middle Ages and Romanesque Style (6th–14th Centuries). A time when the city shrank within its fortress walls. Austere defensive towers and basilicas with magnificent mosaics were built, often utilizing columns from ancient temples.
  Iconic landmarks: Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, Torre delle Milizie.
• Gothic (13th–14th Centuries). This style did not become widespread in Rome, giving way to classical traditions, yet it left several striking examples.
  Iconic landmarks: The Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva — the only example of Gothic church architecture in the city centre.
• Renaissance (15th–16th Centuries). A revival of ancient proportions, symmetry, and the orders system. Popes and nobility built luxurious palazzos, turning the city into a centre of art.
  Iconic landmarks: Palazzo Farnese, Piazza del Campidoglio (designed by Michelangelo), Bramante's Tempietto.
• Baroque (17th–18th Centuries). The style that defined the modern face of the historic centre. It is characterised by theatricality, curved lines, the play of light and shadow, and an abundance of sculptures and fountains.
  Iconic landmarks: Piazza Navona with the Fountain of the Four Rivers, the church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain.
• Neoclassicism and Eclecticism (18th–19th Centuries). A striving for monumentality and a return to strict ancient forms, particularly evident after the unification of the country.
  Iconic landmarks: Piazza del Popolo, the Vittoriano monument (Altar of the Fatherland).
• Modernism and Rationalism (20th Century). In the 1930s, new districts emerged with geometrically strict, concise architecture inspired by the imperial past but in a modern interpretation.
  Iconic landmarks: The World Fair district EUR and the Palace of Italian Civilisation (the "Square Colosseum").
• Postmodernism and High-Tech (21st Century). Modern architects integrate futuristic forms into the ancient context, using glass, steel, and concrete.
  Iconic landmarks: The MAXXI Museum (Zaha Hadid), the Parco della Musica complex (Renzo Piano).

Notable Figures

The history of the Eternal City is inextricably linked with the names of great rulers, creators, and thinkers who were born here or dedicated their best years to this place. Their legacy is captured in stone, on canvases, and in the very atmosphere of the streets.

• Julius Caesar (100–44 BC)
  General and Dictator
  One of the most influential figures of antiquity. His military victories and political reforms laid the foundation for the transformation of the Roman Republic into an Empire. It was he who began the large-scale reconstruction of the city centre, including the construction of a new forum.
• Augustus (63 BC — 14 AD)
  First Roman Emperor
  The adopted son of Caesar, who ended the civil wars and established the "Roman Peace" (Pax Romana). It was said of him: "He found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble." Under him, the Pantheon (original version), the Ara Pacis, and numerous aqueducts were erected.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)
  Sculptor, Painter, and Architect
  A genius of the Renaissance whose works defined the artistic appearance of the Vatican and the capital. He designed the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and created the unique ensemble of Piazza del Campidoglio on the Capitoline Hill.
• Raphael Santi (1483–1520)
  Painter and Architect
  Official artist of the Papal court who supervised excavations of ancient ruins. His frescoes in the Vatican ("Raphael Rooms") are considered the benchmark of Renaissance art. The great master is buried in the Pantheon, which became a sign of the highest recognition of his merits.
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680)
  Architect and Sculptor
  The creator of the Roman Baroque style. The city owes its theatricality to his imagination: he designed the grand colonnade of St. Peter's Square, the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona, and numerous sculptural masterpieces adorning churches and palaces.
• Federico Fellini (1920–1993)
  Film Director
  The maestro of Italian cinema who celebrated modern Rome in his films. His picture "La Dolce Vita" made the Trevi Fountain and Via Veneto worldwide symbols of glamour and the eternal beauty of the Italian capital.
• Alberto Sordi (1920–2003)
  Actor and Director
  A public favourite who became the embodiment of the "Roman character" on screen. His characters—ironic, sometimes cynical, yet charming Romans—helped the world understand the mentality and soul of the inhabitants of this city.