Italian Rome is one of the popular tourist destinations. And, in general, it is clear why guests from all over the world tend to visit the Eternal City. Incredible works of art, excellent cuisine, architecture can lure any travel lover, leaving the impression of visiting Rome for a lifetime and giving rise to the desire to return there at least once again.

Why is it said that all roads lead to Rome?

Bemorepanda has collected exciting facts ranging from ancient Rome to today's Rome, which may be the final push to encourage you to put this city on your following trip list. Or you want to learn more about it from other sources - books, online tours, films, which will also be good because knowledge is never extra.

Especially when it comes to a city with such a long history, by the way, if you are still going on a trip, some of our collection's facts will be useful to you, because they will help you protect yourself from violating local laws and traditions.

1. The law in Rome allows cats to live freely where they were born.

There are rules to protect wild cat colonies, as Italians are fond of cats. Cats are allowed to roam freely anywhere, even in famous historical places. Anyone who harms a cat in Italy can be charged with a crime.

By the way, according to some estimates, the cat population in Rome is 300,000 individuals. For cat lovers, there is a particular part of Rome that is a must-see on any visit. Among the ancient ruins of Largo di Torre, Argentina, is a cat sanctuary that currently houses over 250 cats.

2. Bruschetta originates in ancient Rome when olive growers spread their oil on a slice of bread.

It is generally accepted that bruschetta was created in Italy in the 15th century. However, the origins of this dish date back to Ancient Rome, when olive growers would take their olives to the nearest olive press and taste the freshly pressed oil using a slice of bread. Bruschetta is still a popular appetizer in Rome today.

3. Rome has over 2,000 fountains

Rome has more fountains than any other city, with over 2,000 in total, including 50 monumental fountains and hundreds of smaller fountains.

4. Nearly 1.5 million euros worth of coins are thrown into the Trevi Fountain in Rome yearly.

You must have heard of the Trevi Fountain coin tradition: with their backs turned to the fountain, visitors must toss a coin over their shoulder, hoping it will fall into the fountain. According to legend, if you throw one cash into the fountain, then you will return to Rome; if you throw two coins, then you will return and fall in love; and if you throw three coins, then you will return, fall in love and get married!

But what happens to all this money? Are other people tempted to take them out of the water? This is the case, as back in 2001, the then mayor of Rome issued a decree that the coins from the fountain would be collected by the municipality and then donated to charity.

Regularly assigned officers collect coins with a brush and a suction hose while police officers are on duty nearby.

5. In ancient Rome, only freeborn men were allowed to wear the toga, a sign of Roman citizenship.

Putting on the toga was easy, if manageable. A strip of fabric was folded lengthwise; one end was thrown over the left shoulder, the toga was thrown over the back, and the other end was passed under the right shoulder and thrown over the left shoulder in front. Wealthier citizens had a particular slave (vestiplik), which made this challenging task easier for them.

By the way, the length of the toga was from 3.7 to 6.1 m, so it is not surprising that an assistant was required to put it on. However, because putting on a toga was such a complicated matter, and besides, the outfit itself was costly, it gradually fell into disuse, first among citizens of the lower class, then among the representatives of the middle class, and began to be worn by the upper class only on solemn occasions.

6. Rome became the capital of a united Italy in 1870, taking over the title from Florence.

Rome was a candidate for the title of capital because of its symbolic importance in the history of Italy as a territory of the former Roman Empire and its even more advantageous position. The migration to Rome was in full swing when the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870.

7. St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is the largest Christian church ever built.

Although St. Peter's Basilica is a revered gathering place and the leading tourist destination in the Vatican, it has another purpose. It is claimed to be the final resting place of Saint Peter, whose tomb is said to be under the basilica's main altar.

In addition, several generations of great masters worked on its creation: Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini - therefore, it is not surprising that St. Peter's Basilica is the most famous work of Renaissance architecture.

8. Cinecittà Studios, the largest film studio in Europe, is located in Rome

Roman Holiday (1953), Ben Hur (1959), La Dolce Vita (1960), Cleopatra (1963), Romeo and Juliet (1968), and many other famous films were made at Cinecittà. As you can see, the film studio is used for both American and Italian film production. Therefore, it is very likely that the film you like was made at this film studio!

More than 3,000 films have been filmed here, 90 of which have been nominated for an Oscar, and 47 have won. In the 1950s, several international productions led to Rome being nicknamed "Hollywood on the Tiber."

9. Rome has a museum entirely dedicated to pasta.

It makes sense that the world's only pasta museum is in Rome, Italy, as the country is known for its perfect combination of flour, water, and salt.

10. Paris is the only official sister city of Rome.

With the motto “Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris,” Rome and Paris have been the only sister cities since 1956.

Twinning between the two cities is, first of all, a symbol of cooperation and mutual assistance. However, in addition to the character, this partnership allows Parisians free access to many of Rome's museums (Musei Capitolini, Galleria d'arte moderna, Museo Civico di Zoologia, Museo di Roma) and vice versa (free admission for Romans to the typically paid temporary exhibitions of Paris museums).

11. Not a single building in the center of Rome can be higher than St. Peter's Basilica (136 meters) in the Vatican

No building in the central area of Rome, bounded by the walls of Aurelian, can be higher than the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, which rises to 136 meters. Torre Eurosky (Eurosky Tower), a skyscraper built in the EUR area (EUR) in 2012 (outside the prohibition zone), has a height of 155 meters and is the only building exceeding this limit.

12. There are over 900 churches in Rome

Rome has over 900 churches, which is no surprise given that no other city is so closely associated with the Catholic faith.

13. Trajan's market is believed to be the world's first indoor shopping center. A variety of goods were sold there, including groceries.

14. There are at least 40 ancient catacombs under Rome.

While many Romans built ornate roadside tombs, Christians buried their dead in the labyrinths of the catacombs. By excavating pliable tuff (light, cemented, porous rock), miles of underground tunnels were laid, which became the graves for many ordinary Christians, saints and martyrs.

15. Smoking is prohibited in all public places in Rome

Smoking is prohibited in closed public places and workplaces, such as government, medical and educational institutions, and places frequented by minors. However, smoking is allowed in designated smoking areas in some public places and workplaces such as bars and nightclubs.

16. The Spanish stairs are not Spanish

These 18th-century Baroque steps that descend from the Trinita dei Monti church to the Piazza di Spagna below were created by an Italian architect at the request of a French diplomat. The square and the staircase owe their name to the Palazzo di Spagna (Palace of Spain), the residence of the Spanish ambassador to the Holy See in the Vatican.

17. The symbol of Rome is a she-wolf who took care of the brothers Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome

According to the Roman founding myth, the twins Romulus and Remus were left in the forest under the command of King Amulius of Alba Longa. They were fed and protected by a she-wolf until they were found by a shepherd named Faustulus.

The image of a she-wolf breastfeeding twins has been a symbol of Rome since ancient times and is one of the most recognizable icons of ancient mythology.

18. Women in ancient Rome dyed their hair with goat fat and beech tree ash.

Roman women were very fond of dyeing their hair. The most popular colors were red, black and blond. Even by law, prostitutes had to be blonde to distinguish themselves from ordinary Roman women. However, despite this, the locals continued to dye their hair. Various substances were used to create different colors, including goat fat, beech ash, henna, saffron, and bleach.

Numerous methods for obtaining dyes also included boiled and crushed walnuts, burnt and charred ant eggs, rotting remains of game, or various types of xia with soaked and rotten leeches that were aged in red wine for 40 days.

19. Rome's first university, La Sapienza, founded in 1303 AD, is one of the largest universities in Europe

Sapienza served as the leading educational institution for most of the Italian aristocracy. Numerous Nobel Prize winners, Presidents of the European Parliament and European Commissioners, heads of several countries, prominent religious figures, scientists and astronauts are just some of the notable Sapienza alumni.

20. Rome was founded in 753 BC.

Romulus and his twin brother Remus are said to have founded Rome on April 21, 753 BC. just in the place where they were nursed by a she-wolf when they were orphaned babies.

21. The Vatican, the smallest country in the world, is located inside Rome

The Vatican, with an area of only 49 hectares, is the smallest country in the world. In addition, it is the only country in the world located inside another city.

The Vatican has religious and cultural attractions such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The Vatican's unique economy is supported financially by donations from the faithful, the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, museum admission fees, and the sale of publications. There are no taxes in the Vatican and goods are sold duty-free.

22. All roads really led to Rome

The idiom "All roads lead to Rome" implies that all decisions, strategies or actions lead to the same result. However, this remark had a more literal meaning throughout the early Roman era. All the important highways of the Roman Empire did indeed lead directly to the capital, which was served by a developed network of roads.

At the peak of Rome's development, no less than 29 great military roads diverged from the capital, and 113 provinces of the late empire were connected by 372 great roads. In total, more than 400,000 kilometers of roads were laid, of which more than 80,500 kilometers were paved with stone.

23. Frascati and Castelli Romani are the most famous white wines in Rome

Frascati wines, the most revered of the nine Castelli Romani (Roman castles), are often called "golden wine" by locals because of their golden hue and high price. The fermentation process that takes place in this area while the grapes are still in their skins is what gives the wine its color.

24. Italians call their capital Roma

In the Latin used in ancient Rome, the original name of the city was Roma. Most likely, the city owes its name to Romulus, who founded it.

25. The flag of Rome consists of vertical stripes of red and yellow, the two colors of the city.

According to the consummate urban portraitist Renzo Vespignani, the color of Rome is the yellow ocher of burnt bread, which, unsurprisingly, is a combination of red and gold.

26. Oscar Wilde called Rome the "Scarlet Woman" and "The Only City of the Soul"

The already well-known Oscar Wilde considered honeymooning his fiancee Constance in Rome in 1884, but decided to take her to Normandy and Paris instead. Wilde did not spend much time in Rome until almost the end of his life.

27. There are about 60 museums in Rome

Rome is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, and museums are a great way to experience its history and culture. The museums of Rome also contain masterpieces by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Caravaggio, Cavallini and many others.

28. Rome has only hosted the Olympics once: the 1960 Summer Olympics

The XVII Olympiad, or 1960 Olympic Games, was held in Rome, Italy from August 25 to September 11, 1960. There were many innovations at these Olympic Games, for example, they were shown on television for the first time, the Olympic anthem was played for the first time, and for the first time an Olympic winner ran barefoot!

By the way, the Soviet Union won the most gold and overall medals at the 1960 Games.

29. Rome Termini train station is one of the busiest stations in Europe, serving more than 180 million passengers annually

Rome Termini is likely to be a stopover on your itinerary whether you arrive in Rome by plane, train or ship. The name of the station comes from the Termini area, which takes its name from the Roman baths (thermae) that once stood there.

Termini Station is the second largest railway station in Europe after the Gare du Nord of Paris, which receives 200 million passengers every year.

30. In 2016, Rome for the first time in its history and an Italian political party) faced nationwide polls two years later, when it received almost twice as many votes as its closest rival.

31. Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world

Rome tops the list of Italian cities most loved by travelers from all over the world, hosting 25 million foreign visitors annually. The Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica and the Trevi Fountain are just a few reasons why the Italian capital is still considered the Eternal City.

Like other Italian cities, Rome levies a tourist tax that helps maintain public transport and infrastructure. It varies from 3 to 7 euros per person per night depending on the hotel or other type of accommodation used (children under 10 years old are exempt from the tax and the tax is no longer charged after 10 days).

32. Rome has one of the smallest inhabited islands in the world.

Isola Tiberina (Tiber Island), a small island in the Tiber River, is located in Rome. It is tiny and barely reaches 270 meters in length. However, the Ponte Cestio and Ponte Fabrizio bridges make it easier to access.

33. Rome ranks 4th in terms of population in the European Union - 2.8 million people live within the city

In addition, Rome held the title of the largest city in the world for 550 years, from 100 BC. to 450 AD This includes a 250-year period at the beginning of the first millennium, when the population of the Italian capital reached 1 million.

The municipality of Rome is made up of 15 districts, each with over 100,000 inhabitants, while its metropolitan area is made up of 120 municipalities and has 4.4 million inhabitants, more than in other major European metropolitan areas.

34. The mayor of Rome officially opens the Christmas season by lighting the Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia.

The celebration of Christmas in the city officially begins with the lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza Venezia. All this marks the beginning of the holiday season.

When you get behind the wheel of a car, you are not only responsible for yourself and for those who are in the cabin, but also become a road user, literally trusting your life to other drivers, and being responsible for the safety of their lives and the lives of pedestrians. However, some drivers absolutely do not care about the rules of the road, because they have their own.

In Belgrade, only two cars on the road managed to crash into each other

We have a couple of questions

A greedy motorist bought 5 cans of gasoline in anticipation of a shortage. I put them in the car and lit a cigarette. Hammer destroyed

When the traffic jam is caused by a car parked in the wrong place

No you can't do it

Some not too smart motorist decided to take a ride on a bridge under construction and shear bolts damaged the chassis of his car

Why keep your distance at all?

I was in this smashed car, and, fortunately, I survived. Some idiot fell asleep at the wheel and drifted into my lane

Let's not get in the way, let them tan

So that's why these cars have doors like this

What's going on here?

"My Forgetful Neighbor"

The motorist decided that freshly laid cement was a good place to drive.

The road is lava

Look at this forward-looking driver who unscrewed his license plate and reattached it to the load for everyone to see.

Why hire a truck when you can stuff everything in the trunk?

“This idiot hit my car as he drove out of the gas station. He said he didn't see me. Why am I not surprised? "

When it is not the horse that carries you, but you