Also known as the Eternal City, Rome is the capitol of Italy and third most visited city in all of Europe. With a population of 2.8 million, Rome attracts millions of visitors each year from all over the world with its impressive monuments and archaeological sites, delicious cuisine, and lively atmosphere. Earlier in June, I visited there and now understand why the vibrant city is a must-see!
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Ravishing Trevi Fountain. Located in the Quirinale district of Rome, the Trevi Fountain is known as one of the most stunning fountains in the world. It dates back to ancient Roman times and is known as one of the oldest water sources in Rome. Standing a massive 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide, the fountain spills about 2,824,800 cubic feet of water every day! Roughly €3,000 is thrown into it every day as people follow the tradition of throwing coins over their shoulders; this is then donated to a local charity, Caritas.
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Octangular Colosseum. Considered as one of the greatest work of Roman architecture and engineering, the Colosseum in Rome serves as a symbol of the Italian capitol. Measuring 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and a height of more than 48 meters, the Colosseum has over 80 entrances and can accommodate about 50,000 spectators! In ancient times, festivals and deadly games were played in the arena. It is thought that nearly 500,000 people lost their lives and over a million wild animals were killed. Today, the Colosseum is Rome’s most famous attraction with millions of visitors each year.
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Mesmerizing Vatican City. Vatican City is an independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres in Rome. It is an absolute monarchy with the pope at its head. Known as the seat of the Catholic Church, Vatican City contains St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel, and many other holy places. It is the smallest country in the world that operates on its own; however, visitors do not need to show identification when entering. When one enters Vatican City, they are engulfed with breathtaking views, works of art such as Michelangelo’s creation on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the Spirit of the Almighty One.
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Eternal City. Rome received this nickname because Ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened in the rest of the world, the city would always remain standing. Roman writers and poets have historically boasted about their city’s glorious accomplishments and history. With countless references in media, literature, popular culture, and millions of tourists arriving every year, the nickname of this lively city doesn’t appear to be fading out any time soon.
Sources:
Heenan, Samuel. “30 Interesting Facts about the Roman Colosseum,” January 20, 2014. Around Rome Tours. http://www.aroundrometours.com/30-interesting-facts-about-the-roman-colosseum-art10-uid1.htm.
Klein, Christopher. “10 Things You May Not Know About the Vatican City,” History, Oct. 28, 2018. https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-vatican.
Law, Emma. “How did Rome Become Known as the Eternal City?” Culture Trip, Oct. 30, 2017. https://theculturetrip.com/europe/italy/articles/how-did-rome-become-known-as-the-eternal-city/.
“9 Things You Didn’t Know about the Trevi Fountain,” Walks of Italy, https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/rome/9-surprising-facts-trevi-fountain-rome.
the blue eyed blogger 