Rome, Capital of Italy
The ancient city of Rome,
capital of Italy, stands on the River Tiber (Tevere) midway between the
north and south of the country. Famously built across seven hills, its
buildings span the centuries from the days of classical Rome to the 21st
century, and the entire city is a treasure house of monuments, churches,
palazzi, and superb Baroque fountains. West of the Tiber lies the
Vatican, the Pope's separate city state, and the artisan neighborhood of
Trastevere, now more noted for its nightlife and restaurants. The area
east of the Tiber is roughly dissected by the Via del Corso, which runs
through from the Piazza del Popolo to the Piazza Venezia, a spacious
square dominated by the vast "wedding cake" of the Victor Emmanuel
Monument. South from here are the Forum and the Colosseum - the heart of
classical Rome. Between the Corso and the river lies the centro
storico (historic center), an appealing mix of narrow medieval
streets, Renaissance palaces, and fine squares. East of the Corso, there
are more historic buildings and churches, while to the north the
beautiful Villa Borghese gardens are an oasis of green containing some of
Rome's best museums. There are shopping areas throughout the city, the
smartest being clustered around the Piazza di Spagna, a beautiful square
backed by the famous Spanish Steps. The city is also home to some of the
country's best markets.
Capital City
The President of Italy has his
official residence in the 16th-century Palazzo del Quirinale, while
Italy's two houses of parliament meet in the Palazzo Madama and the
Palazzo Montecitorio. The state employs over half a million office
workers (more than six times Rome's industrial workforce), housed in
ministries throughout the city, while the private and international
business sectors concentrate their workforces either in the heart of the
centro storico or 4 miles (6 km) out in the EUR district, a
Mussolini-inspired area built in the 1940s and 1950s. EUR also provides
venues for trade fairs and conventions, and is the site of the
headquarters of the UN-run FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Local
government is in the hands of the mayor and city council, who have the
task of maximizing the potential revenue from tourism and encouraging
major companies to base themselves in Rome, while running a city under
constant pressure from its physical past. The celebrations for the
millennium provided a huge impetus for restoration all over Rome, and the
benefits of a revamped transportation system, and renovated buildings,
museums, and visitor facilities have benefited Romans and tourists alike.
History of Rome
Legend has it that Rome was
founded by Romulus and Remus, orphan twins suckled by a she-wolf. Dating
from the eighth century BC, Rome became a Republic in 507 BC. By 146 BC
it had become the dominant power in the Mediterranean and riches poured
into the city. The Republic was overturned in 27 BC and around 300 years
of imperial power followed, the city falling to the northern barbarian
tribes in the fifth century. Ruin followed, which was finally reversed by
Pope Gregory I, during and after whose pontificate the city became
recognized as pre-eminent in the Christian world.
Under papal rule the city was
transformed. Ancient monuments were restored and a series of major
building projects, which drew artists of the highest caliber to Rome,
were begun. The Pope remained in power until Italian Reunification in
1870, when the city became the new country's capital. Benito Mussolini
(1883-1945) gained power in 1922, establishing Vatican City as a separate
state in 1929. Since 1945, Rome has been the seat of numerous
governments, and is a major tourist destination.
