Rome
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation).
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| City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) | |||||
| Founded | 21 April 753 BC mythical, 1st millennium BC | ||||
| Region | Latium | ||||
| Area - City Proper | 1285 km² | ||||
| Population - City (2004) - Metropolitan - Density (city proper) | 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1.987/km² | ||||
| Time zone | CET, UTC+1 | ||||
| Coordinates | Template:Coor dm | ||||
| Telephone Prefix | 06 | ||||
| Postal code | from 00121 to 00199 | ||||
| Gentilic | Romani | ||||
| Patron saints | Sts. Peter and Paul | ||||
| 21 April and |June 29 | |||||
| Mayor | Walter Veltroni (Left-Wing Democrats) | ||||
| Official site | www.comune.roma.it | ||||
| Image:Lightmatter colosseum.jpg The Colosseum is the international symbol of Rome. | |||||
Template:ITdot Rome (Italian and Latin: Roma) is the capital of Italy and of its Latium region. It is located across the confluence of the Tiber and Aniene rivers. The Vatican City, a sovereign enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope.
Rome is the largest city and comune in Italy and it also is the largest among European capital cities, with an area of 1,290 square kilometers. The commune territory extends up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the district of Ostia, on the south-west, located on the shore. Within the city limits, the population is 2,669,873 (2005); almost 3.5 million live in the general area of Rome as represented by the province of Rome. The current mayor of Rome is Walter Veltroni.
With a GDP of €97 billion in the year 2005, the comune of Rome produced 6.7% of Italy's total GDP, the highest rate among all of Italy's cities.
The city's history extends nearly 2,800 years, during which time it has been the seat of ancient Rome (the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire), and later the Papal States, Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic. Rome is also called "la Città Eterna" (the Eternal City).
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History
The civilization of ancient Rome originated in the 8th or 9th century BC, when northern tribes migrated to the Italian peninsula to settle around the River Tiber. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the most important city in the Western world and the largest city in the world (the first to reach and surpass 1,5 million inhabitants), as the capital of the expansive Roman Empire. With the rise of Christianity, Rome became the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Popes. The slow decline of the Roman Empire heralded the beginning of the Middle Ages, but the city regained prominence as the political capital of Europe for several hundred years leading up to the Renaissance. Rome remains influential today, as the capital of Italy, of the Catholic Church and as a major world class metropolis.
In Roman mythology, Rome was founded on April 21 753 BC by the twin descendants of the Trojan prince Aeneas, Romulus and Remus. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over where their city was to be located and became the first of seven Kings of Rome, as well as the source of the city's nameTemplate:Ref.
Geography
Climate
Economy
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]
Today Rome has a dynamic and diverse economy concentrating on innovation, technologies, communications and the service sector. It produces 6.7% of the national GDP (more than any other city in Italy) and continues to grow at a higher rate than those in the rest of the country (4,4% yearly). Tourism is inevitably one of Rome's chief industries. The city is also a centre for banking, publishing, insurance, fashion, high-tech industries, housing, cinema (particularly at the famous Cinecittà studios, dubbed the "Hollywood on the Tiber"), and the aerospace industries.
Many international headquarters, government ministries, conference centres, sports venues and museums are located in Rome's principal business districts: the EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma); the Torrino (further south from the EUR); the Magliana; the Parco de' Medici-Laurentina and the so-called Tiburtina-valley along the ancient Via Tiburtina.
Education
Template:Expandsect Rome is one of the major educational centres of Italy.
Transport
Rome has an intercontinental airport named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport - FCO, but more commonly known as Fiumicino, which also is Italy's chief airport, and the Giovan-Battista Pastine international airport (commonly referred to as Ciampino Airport), a joint civilian and military airport southeast of the city-center, along the Via Appia, which handles mainly charter flights and regional European flights including some low-cost airlines. A third airport, called Aeroporto dell'Urbe, is located in the north of the city along the ancient Via Salaria and handles mainly helicopters and private flights. A fourth airport, called Aeroporto di Centocelle, in the eastern part of Rome between the Via Prenestina and the Via Casilina, has been abandoned for some years now, but is currently being redeveloped as one of the largest public parks in Rome.
A 2-line subway system operates in Rome called the "Metropolitana" or Rome Metro. Construction works for the first branch started in the 1930s. The line had been planned to quickly connect the main train station (Termini) with the newly planned E42 area in the southern suburbs, where the 1942 World Fair was supposed to be held. The event never took place because of war. The area was later partly redesigned and renamed EUR in the 1950s to serve as a modern business district. The line was finally opened in 1955 and it is now part of the B Line. The A line opened in 1980 from Ottaviano to Anagnina stations, later extended in stages (1999 - 2000) to Battistini. In the 1990s an extension of the B line was opened from Termini to Rebibbia. A new branch of the B line (B1) is under construction, as is a third line, called C. A fourth line, line D, is under development.
The frequent archaeological findings delay underground work. This underground network is generally reliable (although it may become very congested at peak times and during events, especially the A line) as it is relatively short. As of 2005, total length is 38 km. The two existing lines, A & B, only intersect at one point, Termini Station, the main train station in Rome (which also is the largest train station in Europe, underneath and around which exists now a lively shopping center known as the "Forum Termini" with more than 100 shops of various types). Other stations includes: Tiburtina (second-largest, which is currently being redeveloped and enlarged to become the main high-speed train hub in the city), Ostiense, Trastevere, Tuscolana, S. Pietro, Casilina, Torricola.
The Rome Metro is part of an extensive transport network made of a tramway network, several suburban and urban lines in and around the city of Rome, plus an "express line" to Fiumicino Airport. Whereas most FS-Regionale lines (Regional State Railways) do provide mostly a suburban service with more than 20 stations scattered throughout the city, the Roma-Lido (starting at Ostiense station), the Roma-Pantano (starting nearby Termini) and the Roma-Nord (starting at Flaminio station) lines offer a metro-like service.
Rome also has a comprehensive bus system. The web site (translated in English) of the public transportation company (ATAC) allows a route to be calculated using the buses and subways. Metrebus integrated fare system allows holders of tickets and integrated passes to travel on all companies vehicles, within the validity time of the ticket purchased.
Chronic congestion caused by cars during the 1970s and 1980s led to the banning of unauthorized traffic from the central part of city during workdays from 6 a.m to 6 p.m. (this area is officially called Zona a Traffico Limitato, Z.T.L. in short). Heavy traffic due to night-life crowds during week-ends led in recent years to the creation of other Z.T.L.s in the Trastevere and S. Lorenzo districts during the night, and to the experimentation of a new night Z.T.L. also in the city center (plans to create a night Z.T.L. in the Testaccio district as well are underway). In recent years, parking-spaces along the streets in wide areas of the city have been converted to pay-parkings, as new underground parkings spread throughout the city. In spite of all these measures, traffic remains an unsolved problem, as in most of the world's cities.
Monuments
Rome houses countless monuments and interesting remains from ancient to modern times. A partial list is given here as quick reference. Image:Mausolée-d'Auguste.jpg
Ancient buildings
- Ara Pacis
- Baths of Caracalla
- Baths of Diocletian
- Catacombs of Rome
- Circus Maximus
- Forum Romanum
- Imperial forums
- Colosseum
- Curia Hostilia
- Cloaca Maxima
- Palatine Hill
- Pantheon
- Trajan's Column
Image:001126 1 torre capocci 1.JPG Image:Sicht vom petersdom roma.jpg
Medieval buildings and monuments
Modern buildings and monuments
- Capitoline Hill
- Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II
- Palazzo della Cancelleria
- Palazzo Farnese
- Piazza Navona
- Ponte Sant'Angelo
- Quirinal Palace
- Spanish Steps
- Triton Fountain
- Villa Borghese
- Villa Farnesina
Places of worship
Rome is home to over 900 Catholic and Christian churches.
Basilicas
Patriarchal basilicas
- San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John in Lateran)
- San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's)
- San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul outside the Walls)
- Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major)
- San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence outside the Walls)
Other basilicas
- Sant'Agnese fuori le mura (St. Agnes outside the Walls)
- Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
- Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles)
- San Bernardo alle Terme
- San Clemente (St. Clement)
- Santi Cosma e Damiano (SS. Cosmas and Damian)
- Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
- San Lorenzo in Lucina
- San Marco (St. Mark)
- Santa Maria degli Angeli
- Santa Maria in Aracoeli
- Santa Maria sopra Minerva
- San Martino ai Monti
- San Pietro in Vincoli (St. Peter in Chains)
- Santa Prassede (St. Praxedis)
- San Saba
- Santa Sabina
- San Sebastiano fuori le mura
- Santi Quattro Coronati
- Santa Maria in Trastevere
Other important churches
The following do not yet have Wikipedia articles, but are important nonetheless:
Other religions edifices
Administrative subdivision of Rome
The Administrative subdivision of Rome consists in the division of the large territory of Rome into nineteen Districts.
Province of Rome
Rome is the capital of a province, with an area of 5,352 sq. km, and a total population of 3,700,424 (2001) in 120 comuni. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the town of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by firmly rural landscape, just as towns elsewhere throughout Italy.
Markets and shopping areas
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Porta Portese
Street market on Sunday mornings, from very early to around 1pm, on the left bank of the Tiber, between Porta Portese and Stazione Trastevere, centered on Via Portuense. The wares are mainly clothes, both old and new. The second-hand clothing stalls are by far the more popular, with the clothes sorted by type (leathers and furs, jeans, coats, children’s clothes, etc) and piled on large tables with everything at the same (low) price. Tables start at 50 cent, and range up to 20 euro for high-quality leather and fur.
Campo de' Fiori
Campo de' Fiori is one of the oldest markets in Rome, where food and flowers are most frequently found. Though the name literally means "field of flowers," there are no fields in sight; it's in the middle of downtown Rome, off of the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. The market is open every morning of the week except Sunday. Campo de' Fiori, surrounded by many bars and restaurants, is also a popular destination at night for locals and foreigners alike.
Via Frattina
Image:Pasquino 1.JPG A parallel of Via Condotti begins at Piazza di Spagna as this it's closed to traffic. A concentration of shops of various type.
Symbols and trivia
Rome is commonly identified by several proper symbols, including the Colosseum, the she-wolf (Lupa capitolina), the imperial eagle, and the symbols of Christianity. The famous acronym SPQR recalls the ancient age and the unity between Roman Senate and Roman people.
Rome is called "L'Urbe" (The City), "Caput mundi" (head of the world), "Città Eterna" (eternal city), and "Limen Apostolorum" (the threshold of the apostles).
The town's colors are golden yellow and red (garnet): they stand, respectively, for Christian and Imperial dignities.
Rome has two holidays of its own: April 21 (the founding of Rome), and June 29 (the feast of its patron saints, Peter and Paul). Other locally important dates are December 8 (the Immaculate Conception) and January 6 (Epiphany).
Rome was once surrounded by the toll-free beltway called The Grande Raccordo Anulare (commonly shortened "Il GRA" or "Il Raccordo"), which is 68 km long. This beltway has since been outgrown by the city, and the city has other districts well beyond it. Examples are Casalpalocco, Mostacciano, Infernetto among others.
Some proverbs about the Eternal City:
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
- All roads lead to Rome.
- Rome wasn't built in a day.
During its long history, Rome has always had a scarcity of native inhabitants, so by tradition a "true" Roman is one whose family has lived in Rome for no fewer than 7 generations: this is the original "Romano de Roma" (in romanesco, the local dialect of Italian).
For the Northern federalist party Lega Nord, Rome is the symbol of the allegedly parasitic Italian central government, crystalized in their slogan Roma ladrona ("Thief Rome").
Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Events
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]- Roma Europa Festival, September: Annual appointment for modern art and theatre, music and dance, with artists from of all Europe.
- Festival Romics, October: Comics and Cartoon Festival: exhibitions, cartoon film showings of designers and publishing companies.
- Roma Jazz Festival, October: Festival of jazz music since of 1876. Italian and international artists.
- Roman Summers, from June to September: Various events from music to theater, literary meetings and cinema. Events that take place in the most characteristic places in Rome that attract the participation of thousands of artists from all over the world.
- Literature Festival, from May to June: Readings of works of famous contemporary writers, accompanied by music, in the setting of Basilica di Massenzio. ([1])
Cultural Events
International Urban Theatre Festival In september the Festival Internazionale del Teatreo Urbano that transforms Rome into an urban theatrical stage. Rome Jazz Festival In october international artists gather at various venues for the eclectic Rome Jazz Festival.
White Night
Series of events at venues throughout Rome on September: concerts, special outdoor performances, churches and monuments open to the public during, museums open all night with free entrance, shops open all nights. ([2])
Sister cities
See also
Notes
- Template:Note Titus Livius (Livy) Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome), Book I
References
- References and bibliography can be found in the more detailed articles linked to in this article.
External links
Template:Commons Template:Wikibooks Template:Wiktionary Template:Wikitravel
- Official Site of the City of Rome (Italiano)
- Bill Thayer's Gazetteer of Rome
- Rome Travel Guide
- Rome for Beginners
Ancient Rome
- Roma Sotterranea/Subterranean Rome
- Rome in the footsteps of an XVIIIth Century traveller
- Encyclopædia Romana, by James Grout
- La maquette de Rome
- Roma Antica e Roma Moderna, in Italian
- "Forum Romanum", a ThinkQuest site
- "Forum Romanum" Project at VRoma
- Andrea Pollett's Virtual Roma
- Titus Livius (Livy) Roman Historian (59 BC-AD 17)
Christian Rome
Galleries
- Fountains of Rome
- Satellite image of Rome at NASA's Earth Observatory
- Fontanelle di Roma, including the aqueducts
- Free Rome Pictures
- PhotoRoma
- Vedute di Roma
- Pictures of Rome
- Arounder.Com (QTVR panoramas)
- Some virtual tours in Rome by Tolomeus
Maps
- Rome and environs (Lazio)
- downtown Rome (WalkingRome)
- Interactive map (Activitaly)
- Map of Ancient Rome
- Google Maps satellite images of Rome
- Maps and Transports of Rome
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