The history of Rome spans 2800 years of the existence of a city that grew from a small Italian village in the 9th century BC into the centre of a vast civilization that dominated the Mediterranean region for centuries. It is one of the oldest named cities in the world. Its political power was eventually replaced by that of peoples of mostly Germanic origin, marking the beginning of the Middle Ages. Rome became the seat of the Roman Catholi Church and the home of a sovereign state, the Vatican City, within its walls. Today it is the capital of Italy, an international worldwide political and cultural centre, a major global city, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world.The traditional date for the founding of Rome, based on a mythological account, is 21 April 753 BC, and the city and surrounding region of Latium has continued to be inhabited with little interruption since around that time.

•There is archaeological evidence of human occupation of the Rome area from at least 14,000 years, but the dense layer of much younger debris obscures Paleolithic and Neolithic sites. Evidence of stone tools, pottery and stone weapons attest to at least 10,000 years of human presence. The power of the well known tale of Rome's legendary foundation tends also to deflect attention from its actual, and much more ancient, origins.

•The origin of the city's name is thought to be that of the reputed founder and first ruler, the legendary Romulus. It is said that Romulus and his twin brother Remus, orphans who were suckled and raised by a she-wolf, decided to build a city. After an argument, Romulus killed Remus and named the city Rome, after himself. After founding and naming (as the story goes) Rome, he permitted men of all classes to come to Rome as citizens, including slaves and freemen without distinction.After the ensuing war with the Sabines, Romulus shared the kingship with the Sabine king Titus Tatius.Romulus selected 100 of the most noble men to form the Roman senate as an advisory council to the king. These men he called patres, and their descendants became the patricians.• He created three centuries of equites named Ramnes (meaning Romans), Tities (after the Sabine king) and a third called Luceres (Etruscans). He also divided the general populace into thirty curiae, named after thirty of the Sabine women who had intervened to end the war between Romulus and Tatius. The curiae formed the voting units in the Comitia Curiata.

The Province of Rome is located in the region of Lazio, Italy; once a major port of call during the 18th century. Ancient hilltop towns, lakes and beautiful countryside abound. The principal tourist destination in Lazio is Rome, the city that all roads led to for thousands of years. Medieval pilgrims, merchants and tourists made their way to Rome and still do so today. This ancient "Eternal City" is built along the banks of the Tiber on seven hills. The city has a wealth of museums, parks and gardens, a zoo, all in addition to the Colosseum, Catacombs and Pantheon. And the ruins of Pompeii are astounding. Throw some coins in Trevi Fountain, view the Basilica of San Giovanni in Lateran. All this and more. Whether seeking a religious epiphany, a historic tour of ancient ruins or just there for the sights and sounds of the city, a tour of the Vatican City, the food and wine or just passing through, the ambience will overwhelm and delight the senses. This is a map of Italy that identifies the province of Rome. The province of Rome is a part of the Lazio (Latium) region

According to some sources the religion of the very earliest Romans was simple animism: beliefs were centered around spirits which were not personified. Modern sources however have rejected this theory, stating instead that belief in the Roman gods was present in the very earliest religion.

Many Greek gods Many Greek gods and rituals became and rituals became a part of Roman a part of Roman religion, and religion, and through study of through study of Greek art, Greek art, literature and literature and mythology, many mythology, many Greek gods came Greek gods came to be identified to be identified with Roman gods.with Roman gods.The early Romans The early Romans had no religious had no religious temples or statues temples or statues to honor the spirits to honor the spirits or gods. The first or gods. The first temples and temples and statues of gods in statues of gods in Rome were built by Rome were built by Etruscan kings. Etruscan kings. The first of these, The first of these, a temple on a temple on Capitoline hill, was Capitoline hill, was built to honor built to honor Jupiter, Juno, and Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva.Minerva.

Roman clothes were made of wool, spun into cloth by the women of the family. Later on the richer people had slaves to do this work for them. If you could afford to buy clothes, you could buy linen, cotton or silk, which was brought to Rome from other parts of the Empire. Washing clothes was difficult because the Romans did not have washing machines or soap powder. They used either a chemical called sulphur or urine.These are the clothes that Romans woreThe Toga.

This man is wearing a toga. Only male citizens of Rome were allowed to wear togas. They were made out of wool and were very large. The material was not sewn or pinned but was draped around the body and over one arm. Togas were very expensive because of the large amount of material needed to make them and very heavy. It was the law that all citizens wore togas for public events. They were even told which colour of toga they had to wear:A plain white toga was worn by all adult male citizens.An off-white toga with a purple border was worn by magistrates and upper class boysA toga made of dark coloured wool was worn after someone had diedA bleached toga was worn by politiciansA purple toga with gold embroidery was worn by a victorious general and later by emperors.In later times it became more acceptable to wear togas of different colours with embroidery  but this was frowned on by those who preferred to keep to the established order.

JewelleryMen were only allowed to

wear one piece of jewellery - a ring that was used to make

a mark in wax for sealing documents. However, many ignored the rules and wore

several rings and brooches to pin their cloaks.

 Hairstyles

All men had their hair cut short and shaved. After the time of Hadrian some men

began growing beards. 

Its average annual temperature is above 20 °C (68 °F) during the day and 10 °C (50 °F) at night. In the coldest month – January, the average temperature is 12 °C (54 °F) during the day and 3 °C(37 °F) at night. In the warmest months – July and August, the average temperature is 30 °C (86 °F) during the day and 18 °C (64 °F) at night.Traditionally, many businesses were accustomed to closing during August, while Romans flocked to holiday resorts in Italy and abroad. In more recent years, however, in response to growing tourism and changing work habits, the city has been staying open for the whole summer.December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) during the day and 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) at night. Temperatures generally vary between 10 and 15 °C (50 and 59 °F) during the day and between 3 and 5 °C (37 and 41 °F) at night, with colder or warmer spells occurring frequently. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of, with light snow or flurries occurring almost every winter, generally without accumulation, and major snowfalls once every 20 or 25 years (the last one in 2012).

Rome's cuisine has evolved through centuries and periods of social, cultural, and political changes. Rome became a major gastronomical centre during Ancient Rome. Ancient Roman Cuisine was highly influenced by Ancient Greek culture, and after, the empire's enormous expansion exposed Romans to many new, provincial culinary habits and cooking techniques. In the beginning, the differences between social classes were not very great, but disparities developed with the empire's growth. Later, during the Renaissance, Rome became well known as a centre of high-cuisine, since some of the best chefs of the time, worked for the popes. An example of this could be Bartolomeo Scappi, who was a chef, working for Pius IV in the Vatican kitchen, and he acquired fame in 1570 when his cookbook Opera dell'arte del cucinare was published. In the book he lists approximately 1000 recipes of the Renaissance cuisine and describes cooking techniques and tools, giving the first known picture of a fork. Today, the city is home to numerous formidable and traditional Italian dishes. A Jewish influence can be seen, as Jews have lived in Rome since the 1st century BCE. Vegetables, especially globe artichokes, are common. 

Rome is a nation-wide and major international centre for higher education, containing numerous academies, colleges and universities. According to the City Brands Index, Rome is considered the world's second most historically, educationally and culturally of universities and colleges. Its first university, La Sapiens (founded in 1303), is the largest in Europe and the second-largest in the world, with more than 140,000 students attending; in 2005 it ranked as Europe's 33rd best university and currently ranks amongst Europe's 50 and the world's 150 best colleges. In order to decrease the overcrowding of La Sapiens, two new public universities were founded during the last decades: Tor Vergas a in 1982, and Roma Tree in 1992. Rome hosts also the LUISS School of Government, Italy's most important graduate university in the areas of international affairs and European studies.

One place of interest in Rome was built in 126 AD.

The Pantheon, which stands for “Temple of All gods” is

the oldest dome structure in Rome that is still standing.

It was given to the Pope Boniface IV by the Emperor. The Pope converted it to a

church, and in the Renaissance period, it was used as the final resting place for many of Rome’s

famous artists like Raphael. Also buried in the Pantheon

are two Italian kings and one queen.

The Pantheon is the best example and preserved

building from the ancient Roman era. In fact, it has

been studied and copied in buildings all around the

globe.

Drop a coin, and you will be back. The trick here is that you should

face your back to the fountain, and throw the coin over your shoulder and into the fountain. It’s a quaint legend that sound a little silly, but

then just for the heck of, you should. It’s part of the charm of

the Trevi Fountain, and a definite place of interest in Rome.

The Trevi Fountain has been used in so many movies and videos

because of its beauty and magnificence. It is by far, the most wonderful fountain in all of Rome. The backdrop of the fountain has a

sculpture of Neptune riding a chariot that is being pulled by a

couple of sea horses. Each of the two sea horses represent the ever changing

moods you will see on the sea. On the left of Neptune you will see a

statue. This is Abundance. The statue on the right is Salubrity.

The Colosseum, or the Colise originally the Flavian

Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an

elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest

ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works

of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction

started in 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed

in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made

during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium"

derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from

the gens Flavia). Capable of seating 50,000

spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public

spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-

enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology.

•The Seven Hills of Rome east of the river Tiber form the geographical heart of Rome, within the walls of the ancient city.

The seven hills are:

* Aventine Hill (Aventinus)* Caelian Hill (Caelius)* Capitoline Hill (Capitolinus)* Esquiline Hill (Esquilinus)* Palatine Hill (Palatinus)* Quirinal Hill (Quirinalis)* Viminal Hill (Viminalis)

The original city was held by tradition to have been founded by Romulus on the Palatine Hill.

The seven hills of early Rome – the Cermalus, Palatium, and Velia (the three peaks of the Palatine Hill), the Cispius, Fagutalis, and Oppius (the three peaks of the Esquiline Hill), and the Sucusa – figured prominently in Roman mythology, religion, and politics.