Rome

Why is it famous?

Rome was the capital of the ancient Roman Empire, one of the largest and most powerful empires the world has ever known.

Today it's often called 'the Eternal City' because its ancient ruins, grand churches, and lively piazzas have drawn visitors for over two thousand years.

A city with a long story

According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BCE by twin brothers named Romulus and Remus, who were said to have been raised by a wolf.

The city grew from a small settlement into the heart of a mighty empire, and even after the empire fell, Rome kept rebuilding itself for centuries, layering new buildings right on top of ancient ones.

Amazing facts

The Pantheon, an ancient Roman temple in the city center, still has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, built almost 1,900 years ago.

Rome is sometimes called 'the City of Seven Hills' because the ancient city was originally built across seven hilltops.

Quick facts

• The Pantheon, an ancient Roman temple in the city center, still has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, built almost 1,900 years ago.
• Rome is sometimes called 'the City of Seven Hills' because the ancient city was originally built across seven hilltops.
• The Roman Forum was once the busy public square at the center of ancient Rome, where people shopped, voted, and gave speeches.
• Vatican City, the world's smallest country, sits entirely inside Rome — you can walk there in just a few minutes.