Rome Facts

Rome is the capital of Italy, and its biggest city, with a population of almost three million.
Rome’s Vatican is the home of the Pope.
Vatican City is the smallest independent country in the world covering just 0.4 sq km.
Arenas such as the Colosseum in Rome were built for games where gladiators fought to the death. Up to 80,000 people would have watched these spectacles.
Rome is known as the Eternal City because of its importance within the Roman Empire.
Ancient Rome ruled much of Europe and the lands around the Mediterranean for hundreds of years as the capital of the Roman Empire.
Ancient Rome was famously built on seven hills – the Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal and Viminal.
Rome has one of the richest collections of art treasures and historic buildings in the world. The Trevi is one of its many beautiful fountains.
There are many Ancient Roman relics in Rome including the Colosseum arena and the Pantheon.
St Peter’s Church is located in the Vatican City in Rome.
The Vatican’s Sistine Chapel has a ceiling painted brilliantly by Michelangelo and frescoes (wall paintings) by Botticelli, Ghirlandaio and Perugino.
Rome is now a major centre for film-making, publishing and tourism.

This entry is filed under Interesting Facts.