La Città Eterna

medieval house attached to a modern building

The thing more than anything else that makes Rome such an interesting place to be are the many layers of history that make the fabric of Rome what it is today. This city has been the center of one of the most powerful empires of all time, and even though it’s had some low points since then, it is still a thriving metropolis. Fortunately for us, the Romans understand the significance of the past, and have preserved many of the relics that survive. You can find traces of rovine pretty much anywhere in the city, as modern structures have been built around/ on top of many of them. Here are some of the more prominent examples that you may know

Largo Argentina

This site was discovered while the city was trying to build something else in its place. When they ran into it while excavating to lay the foundation, they stopped the project (a frequent occurrence here), fully excavated the site, and put it on display in the middle of a piazza. It is now home to 70% of Rome’s stray cats. No joke.

The Coliseum

As one of the most iconic buildings in Rome, this ruin probably gets more visits than any other. Apparently, the admissions collected are enough to pay for the upkeep of ALL of the city’s historic sites. Clearly it is in a more skeletal state than it was during its heyday. It has been said that half the travertine in Rome was plundered from the Coliseum during the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

The Roman Forum

A stone’s throw from the Coliseum, the Forum played a major role in Ancient Roman religious and social life.

Capitoline Hill

This has been an important site for millennia. It was the center of the city that was the center of the world. Whenever the Romans were victorious, they would have a victory procession through the forum, and up to the top of Capitoline hill where they would deposit their booty in front of the temple of Jupiter. Its present state is a result of Michelangelo’s commission during the renaissance to once restore the site its importance.

ancient statue of the goddess "Roma"

Theater of Marcellus

Down the street from the Capitoline is the Theater of Marcellus. It amazes me that this ancient theater is still in use today…as an apartment complex. Yet another example of how present day Rome is a direct result of its past.

The Temple of Hercules and the Temple of Fortuna are right next to each other, and even more interesting, they are right next to 2 important medieval churches. The city has always been about religion and politics. Its interesting to see symbols of each from two drastically different periods right next to eachother

Temple of Fortuna

Temple of Hercules

The Pantheon is probably the most direct example of how religion and power affect the fate of a building. It was originally built as a pagan church (by Hadrian I think?), and after the rise of Christianity, it was converted to a Christian church. Because of its change in function, it has been one of the best preserved structures from ancient Rome. Its true savior was its magnificent dome, which was the largest ever constructed in the world for about 1500 years.