Ancient Rome, Rome

1 more image

Favorite thing: Baths of Caracalla was my favourite attraction in Rome. I was amazed by the size of the remains. It was amazing to see, the height of the walls was unbelievable especially thinking about how they would have built it all those years ago with no modern machinery!

Favorite thing: One thing you can't miss, in my opinion, in Rome, is walking on some ancient streets. The most famous and wonderful one is the "Appia Antica", but there are some more (like Tiburtina). They have been glorius for centuries, and they used to connect Rome to all places ot its Empire. I'm not saying to walk hundreds miles on them, but inside the city, in suburban areas, there are pedestrians only areas where you can walk on the for a couple miles. Close your eyes and listen to the horses' footsteps, imagine yourself with a Roman typical dress... and... DREAM!

Favorite thing: I think the Roman Forum area is the place to go - the Coloseo, the ruins, the Palantine Hill and the Piazza Campodoglio are the things that MUST be seen to be believed...

Fondest memory: I miss the excitment of seeing a new and amazing thing everytime I turn the corner. Not a lot of cities in the world have that same effect. A wonderful mix of new, old and ancient makes Rome one awe-inspiring ride that keeps going and going and has been since 753 BC...and I don't think it will ever stop....

Fondest memory: This was the first place we had a peek at on our arrival in Rome - its just inbetween Piazza Republica and Termini Station. We had fun in the courtyard trying to pose behind the headless statues here hahaha!

Favorite thing: The area around the station of Ostiense might not be the most elegant but there certainly are interesting sights.

Fondest memory: When I visited Rome for the first time I came in by train from Fiumicino. On the way I suddenly spotted a pyramid on my left hand side.

Wasn't I surprised, was I?

There is a real pyramide in Rome close to the station of Ostiense. It's not as huge as the ones in Egypt, but it's still massive.

Go and have a look at it!

Favorite thing: Probably one of the wilder walks I took while in Rome was from the Baths of Caracalla to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian on what is more commonly known as the Appian Way or Via Appia Antica. The famed road was built in 312 B.C. and led from Rome to the seaport of Brindisi. Much of the road where I walked, especially around the catacombs, was flanked by impressive ancient monuments. Amongst them was a hippodrome, some ancient fortifications and the Tomb of Cecilia Metela. This latter monument was built during the time of Caesar. Cecilia was a wife of one of his more important generals. The tomb is the best preserved of the many tombs along the road.

Fondest memory: Walking along the Appian Way was a crazy event for me. There are no sidewalks!. Cars wiz by a great speeds. Therefore take the bus. Bus 218 will get you to all the catacombs from the San Giovanni Metro stop. I took this bus back. The Tomb of Cecilia of Metela is virtually across the road from the Catacombs of St. Sebastian.

Favorite thing: Trees along a road near Testaccio.Testaccio is a very nice zone of Rome,it's not that acient,but being not far from the centre has got one of the most active night life of the city...there you can find club culture together with old hosterie and even nice concerts to the Villaggio Globale...well,I thing it's the wrong chapter to talk of this.

Favorite thing: According to the legend, Romulus was the founder of Rome and Remus was his twin brother.

Numitor was dethroned by his brother Amulius. Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia, was made a Vestal Virgin by Amulius. But Mars, the god of war, fell in love with her and she gave birth to twin sons.

Amulius was afraid that the boys would grow up to overthrow him and had them thrown into the Tiber. The two boys came ashore and were found by a she-wolf. She nursed them with her milk.

The king's shepherd Faustulus later found the twins and adopted them, calling them Romulus and Remus.

One day Remus, a gangleader, was captured and brought before Numitor. Numitor noticed how unlike a shepherd's son he was, questioned him and realized who he was. Romulus and Remus rose against Amulius, killed him and restored the kingdom to their grandfather.

The boys wanted a town of their own and choose the place where the she-wolf had nursed them. Romulus began to build walls on the Palatine Hill. Remus was telling his brother they were too low, and jumped over them. Romulus killed him in anger .

Romulus continued building the city and named it Roma. It's first citizens were outlaws and fugitives, who settled on the Capitoline Hill. There were not enough wives for all these men, and Romulus decided to steal women from the Sabines. He organised a festival and invited many Sabines to it. While the attention of the men was elsewhere Romulus' men rushed in and carried off the women.

A war was the result. When fighting reached a peak the Sabine women rushed in and begged both sides for peace. The battle was stopped, Romulus and Titus Tatius (the Sabine king) ruled together.

After Titus Tatius died Romulus ruled alone for the rest of his life. According to the legend he did not die, but disappeared one day in a violent storm.

This is all a legend and most likely not true but a copy of a Greek tale, invented to explain the name of Rome and certain customs