Rome Introduction

Introduction

Rome (Italian: Roma) is the capital of Italy. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, within Lazio. The Vatican City is an independent country geographically located within the city boundaries of Rome; the only existing example of a country within a city. For this reason, Rome has been often defined as the capital of two states.

Rome's history spans for more than two and a half thousand years. It is one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Europe. The city successively became the capital of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire, and is regarded as one of the birthplaces of Western civilization. It is referred to as "Roma Aeterna" (The Eternal City) and "Caput Mundi" (Capital of the World), two central notions in ancient Roman culture.

Beginning with the Renaissance, almost all of the popes since, Nicholas V, pursued coherently, along four hundred years, an architectonic and urbanistic program aimed to make Rome the world's artistic and cultural center. Due to that, Rome became the first one of the major centers of the Italian Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism. Famous artists, painters, sculptors, and architects made Rome the center of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout the city.

Rome has the status of a global city. Monuments and museums such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are among the world's most visited tourist destinations. Rome also hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics.

History

The most familiar of the myths about the origin of the city, is the story of Romulus and Remus, the twins who were suckled by a she-wolf. They decided to build a city, but after an argument, Romulus killed his brother and the city took his name. After the legendary foundation by Romulus, Rome was ruled for a period of 244 years by a monarchical system.

In 509 BC the Romans expelled the last king from their city and established an oligarchic republic. After his victory in the civil war, Caesar established himself as dictator for life. His assassination led to another civil war between Octavian and Antony. The former in 27 BC became princeps civitatis and got the title of Augustus, founding the principate. In the second century under the Emperor Trajan, Rome was confirmed as caput Mundi, i.e. the capital of the world, an expression which had already been given in the Republican period.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD, Rome was first under the control of Odoacer and then became part of the Ostrogothic Kingdom before returning to East Roman control after the Gothic War. In 756, Pepin the Short, gave to the Pope temporal jurisdiction over the Roman Duchy and the Exarchate of Ravenna, thus creating the Papal States.

In 1861 Rome was declared capital of Italy even though it was still under the Pope's control. In 1870, Italian troops captured Rome. Afterwards, Pope Pius IX declared himself as prisoner in the Vatican, and in 1871 the capital of Italy was finally moved from Florence to Rome.

Soon after World War I, Rome witnessed the rise of Italian Fascism, led by Benito Mussolini, who marched on the city in 1922. In World War II, due to its art treasuries and the presence of Vatican, Rome largely escaped the tragic destiny of other European cities. The city was occupied by the Germans and declared until its liberation on 4 June 1944.

Italy became a republic after a referendum held on June 2^nd, 1946, a day celebrated since as Republic Day. Victor Emmanuel III's son, Umberto II, was forced to abdicate and subsequently exiled. The Republican Constitution was approved on January 1^st, 1948.

Natural environment

Rome is located in the Lazio region of central Italy on the Tiber River. The Rome of the Kings was built on seven hills. Modern Rome is also crossed by another river, the Aniene, which flows into the Tiber north of the historic centre.

Although the city center is about 24 km inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea, the city territory extends to the shore, where the south-western district of Ostia is located. The altitude of the central part of Rome ranges from 13 m to 139 m above sea level.

Climate

Rome enjoys a Mediterranean climate with cool, humid winters and hot, dry summers. The average relative humidity is 75%, varying from 72% in July to 77% in November. Snowfall is rare but not unheard of, with light snow or flurries occurring almost every winter, generally without accumulation.

Its average annual temperature is above 20 °C during the day and 10 °C at night. In the coldest month – January, the average temperature is 12 °C during the day and 3 °C at night. In the warmest months – July and August, the average temperature is 30 °C during the day and 18 °C at night.

Holidays

Capodanno：New Year's Day, Jan.1st

Epifania：Epiphany，Jan. 6th

Pasqua：Easter

la Pasquetta：Easter Monday

Festa della Liberazione：Liberation Day, Apr.25th

Festa del Lavoro：Labour Day，May 1st

Festa della Repubblica：Republic Day of Italy, June 2nd

San Paolo：June 29th, local holiday

Assunzione della Beata Vergine Maria：Assumption Day, Aug.15th

Tutti i Santi：All Saints’ Day, Nov.1st

Immacolata Concezione：Immaculate Conception, Dec.8th

Natale: Christmas, Dec.25th

S.Stefano: Dec.26th