Culture of Rome

The culture of Rome in Italy is rich and varied, touching on many areas of life such as arts, language, religion, politics, libraries, food, buildings, and styles of dress. Rome, which people believe was founded in 753 BC, has played a huge role in history. It was the center of the Roman Empire, a key place for Christianity, home to the Roman Catholic Church, and later the capital of the Italian Republic. Because of its long and important history, Rome has often been called the Caput Mundi, meaning "capital of the world." Today, the city continues to draw visitors and residents who are interested in its amazing history and lively modern culture.

The arts

Main article: Arts in Rome

Rome is a beautiful city full of amazing art and architecture. It has many important buildings, artworks, and places that show its rich history.

Architecture and city layout

Main article: Architecture of Rome

Column of Marcus Aurelius

Ancient Rome

Main article: Roman architecture

One of Rome’s most famous symbols is the Colosseum, built between 70-80 AD. It was the largest amphitheatre ever built in the Roman Empire and could hold up to 60,000 people. It was used for exciting gladiatorial combat. Other important ancient sites include the Roman Forum, the Domus Aurea, the Pantheon, Trajan's Column, Trajan's Market, Ostia Antica, many catacombs area, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant'Angelo, the Mausoleum of Augustus, the Ara Pacis, the Arch of Constantine, the Pyramid of Cestius, the Appia Antica Archaeological Park with old Roman aqueducts, villas, and tombs, and the Bocca della Verità, meaning “Mouth of Truth.”

Medieval

Vatican City

Main article: Vatican City

Rome surrounds Vatican City, a small independent country inside the city. It has Saint Peter's Square and the Saint Peter's Basilica. The space in front of the basilica was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1656 and 1667 so that many people could see the Pope. Vatican City also has the Vatican Library, Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, and many artworks by famous artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Giotto, and Botticelli.

Museums and galleries

Ponte Sant'Angelo

Main article: List of museums in Rome

Rome has many museums with treasures from thousands of years of history. As the center of the Roman Empire for a long time, Rome collected artworks and artifacts from all over the empire, especially from Greece, Egypt, and Asia Minor. As the home of the Catholic Church, the Popes built the Vatican Museums, one of the world’s biggest museum groups, with priceless works like those in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo and the Raphael Rooms.

Some of Rome’s most important museums are:

The Vatican Museums, visited by millions each year, with art from Egyptian civilization to the present, including the Sistine Chapel and works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, and Bernini;
The National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo, inside the old Mausoleum of Hadrian, showing art, paintings, and archaeology;
Vittoriano and Museo nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia, with museums about history of Italy and art;
The Capitoline Museums, among the oldest public museums in the world, telling the story of Ancient Rome;
Museo Nazionale Romano, with four sites showing Rome’s ancient history, including the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Palazzo Altemps, and the Crypta Balbi;
The Museum of Roman Civilization, focused on ancient Roman life;
The Galleria Borghese, with art from the Borghese family, including works by Caravaggio, Raphael, Canova, Bernini, and Titian;
The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica, Rome’s main collection of older paintings;
The Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum, the world’s most important museum of Etruscan art;
Palazzo delle Esposizioni, with many art events;
The MAXXI, a modern museum designed by architect Zaha Hadid for 21st-century art;
La Galleria Nazionale, with Italian and foreign art from the 1800s to today.

Villas and gardens

Rome is surrounded by large green areas and beautiful old ancient villas. These villas show the style of gardens of the Renaissance, called “Giardino all'Italiana” or Italian garden. They have geometric layouts with rows of trees and hedges, plant sculptures, and water features with fountains and statues. Many were lost in the late 1800s, but some remain, like:

Villa Borghese, with a big landscape garden, buildings, and the Galleria Borghese;
Villa Ada, Rome’s largest public park;
Villa Doria Pamphili, the second largest park;
Villa Torlonia, a beautiful Art Nouveau home once lived in by Benito Mussolini;
Villa Albani, built to hold a collection of old sculptures.

Art

Rome has an amazing collection of art from all periods, including paintings, sculptures, fountains, mosaics, frescos, and more. Rome became a major art center in ancient times with Roman art like architecture, painting, sculpture, and mosaic work. Later, during the Renaissance, Rome was very important, second only to Florence. The city was also a home to many great baroque artists like Bernini, Caravaggio, Carracci, Borromini, and Cortona. In the 1700s and early 1800s, rich visitors from Europe came to Rome to learn about its art and history. Today, Rome remains a major art center with many art schools and museums.

Literature

See also: Latin literature and Italian literature

Rome is where the Latin language was born. Since ancient times, Rome has been a center of culture. Roman literature was inspired by Greek authors, but it also had a big influence on Western literature. During this time, famous poets like Horace, Catullus, Cato, and Sallust lived there. Virgil was also well-known for his epic poem called the Aeneid.

In more recent times, Rome has inspired many writers and artists. The first printed books in Italy were made in a town near Rome called Subiaco in the late 1400s. Rome has always been important for Italian and European literature. Many famous writers, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Stendhal, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley, lived and wrote about Rome. In the 20th century, Rome was home to great Italian writers like Gabriele d'Annunzio, Luigi Pirandello, and Elsa Morante, among others.

Libraries and archives

Rome has some very important libraries. The National Central Library of Rome is one of the two main libraries in Italy. It is located near Roma Termini station. The city also has many other libraries, such as the Biblioteca Angelica, the Vatican Apostolic Library, and the Biblioteca Casanatense. As the capital of Italy, Rome has two important National Archives.

Cinema

Main articles: List of films set in Rome and List of films set in ancient Rome

Rome is home to the Cinecittà Studios, the biggest film and television studio in Europe. Located just outside the city center, it has been the place where many famous movies are made. Over the years, thousands of productions have been filmed here, ranging from modern stories to classic films. The studios have facilities for every part of making a movie, from planning to finishing the final product.

Language

The original language of Rome was Latin, which later changed into Italian over time. Many different dialects influenced this change, especially the Tuscan dialect. Rome also developed its own special way of speaking called Romanesco. This dialect changed a lot during important times in history, like when many people from Florence moved to Rome. Today, Romanesco is still used in Rome and some nearby areas, and it has been used by many famous writers and actors.

Entertainment and performing arts

Main articles: Music in Rome and Events in Rome

Rome is a special place for music, with many important music schools and theaters. It is home to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, which was started in 1585. New concert halls have been built in the Parco della Musica, making it one of the biggest music venues in the world. Rome also has an opera house called the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, along with many other music groups. The city has hosted big music events like the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991 and the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2004.

Rome has also shaped music history. During the 16th and 17th centuries, a group of composers known as the Roman School created church music. Many of these composers worked closely with the Vatican and the papal chapel. One of the most famous composers from this time was Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, known for his beautiful and clear music. Other composers in Rome also worked in different styles and forms during this period.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Rome

Rome is mostly Roman Catholic, just like the rest of Italy. The city is home to the Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica, but its main church is the Basilica of St. John Lateran, located southeast of the city center. Rome has around 900 churches, including famous ones like the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and the Basilica di San Clemente.

Besides Catholicism, Rome has many other religions. There is a large Jewish community, especially in the Roman Ghetto area, with a big synagogue called the Tempio Maggiore. There are also Orthodox churches, a Mormon temple, and two Buddhist temples that serve the Chinese community. In recent years, the Islamic community has grown, leading to the construction of Europe’s largest mosque in the Parioli district.

Rome has been a major Christian pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. Many people visit Vatican City, where the Pope lives. Pilgrims also come to see important sites like the Scala Santa, stairs believed to have been used during Jesus Christ’s Passion.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Rome

Rome is one of the world's most popular cities for visitors. People come to see its amazing old buildings, art, and beautiful views. The city has many museums, like the Musei Capitolini and the Vatican Museums, as well as famous spots such as aqueducts, fountains, churches, palaces, and the ruins of the Roman Forum. The Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are among the most visited places in the world.

Rome is also a key place for learning about ancient times. It has many important old sites, including the Forum Romanum, Trajan's Market, Trajan's Forum, Ostia Antica, the Colosseum, and the Pantheon. The city also has modern art galleries and new buildings, such as the MAXXI – National Museum of the 21st Century Arts, which shows contemporary art and hosts many cultural events.

Fashion

Rome is one of the world's fashion capitals. Many famous clothing brands and jewelry shops, such as Bulgari, Fendi, Laura Biagiotti, Brioni, Gattinoni, and Renato Balestra, started or have their main offices in the city. Other well-known brands like Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, and Versace have fancy stores in Rome, especially on Via dei Condotti, one of Europe’s most expensive streets.

Rome’s fashion history began in 1871 when it became the country’s capital, bringing new tailors and stylish shops to the city. During a busy time for Italy’s economy, known as the Dolce Vita, Rome became very glamorous. Beautiful dresses made from fancy fabrics were worn by famous movie stars and were seen in places like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Via Veneto, with many films made at the Cinecittà Studios.

Media

Further information: Mass media in Italy

Further information: List of newspapers in Italy

Rome has a long history with news and media. The first newspaper in Rome, called the Diario Ordinario, started in 1716. Today, Rome is a big center for media in Italy and around the world. Many famous newspapers and news agencies, like La Repubblica, Il Messaggero, and ANSA, have their main offices in Rome.

Rome is also home to important television and radio companies. It has the main offices of RAI, Italy’s public broadcasting company, and many national TV and radio programs are broadcast from Rome. Big international media companies like Netflix also have their Italian offices in the city.

Cuisine

Main article: Roman cuisine

Rome's food has changed over many years because of its history and different cultures. In ancient times, Roman food was inspired by the Greeks, and later, as the Roman Empire grew, they learned new ways to cook from other places. Over time, rich and poor people ate quite differently.

During the Renaissance, Rome became famous for its fancy meals, with top chefs working for popes. One well-known chef, Bartolomeo Scappi, wrote a cookbook in 1570 with about 1000 recipes and even showed the first picture of a fork. Today, Rome is still known for its tasty dishes. You can find special foods like Saltimbocca alla Romana, which is veal with ham and sage cooked in white wine, and Carciofi alla giudia, fried artichokes that are popular in Roman Jewish cooking. Other favorites include Spaghetti alla carbonara and Gnocchi di semolino alla romana.

Sports

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Rome, just like in the rest of the country. The city hosted important football events, including the final games of the 1934 FIFA World Cup and the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Many people in Rome love watching local teams like A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio play in the Stadio Olimpico.

Rome also held the 1960 Summer Olympics, using famous old places like the Villa Borghese and the Thermae of Caracalla for some events. New buildings were made for the Olympics, such as a big stadium that later hosted more football matches.

Rome is home to teams in many sports, including rugby, basketball, volleyball, handball, and water polo. The city hosts many international sporting events each year, like a tennis tournament in May, a horse show, an athletics event, and the Rome Marathon in March. Cycling was also popular in Rome after World War II, and the city often hosted parts of the Giro d'Italia.

Education

Rome has many places for learning. Its first big university, La Sapienza, started in 1303. Two more big public universities, Tor Vergata and Roma Tre, began in the late 1900s and now have about 38,000 students each. There is also a school called IUSM with 2000 students that focuses on sports and movement.

Rome is home to special religious schools, such as the Pontifical Gregorian University, which was founded in 1551 and is the oldest school of its kind in the world. The city also has many private universities, including Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA), which started in 1939, and LUISS, founded in 1966 with studies in economics, law, and political science.

There are also universities from other countries in Rome, like The American University of Rome and John Cabot University, both started in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Healthcare

Further information: Healthcare in Italy and Emergency medical services in Italy

Rome has many important hospitals that help people stay healthy. Some well-known hospitals include Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic, Policlinico Umberto I, and Bambino Gesù Hospital. These hospitals care for everyone, including famous people like Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis.

Healthcare in Italy is organized to make sure everyone can get the help they need. Different areas, like Lazio, have their own health services that work together to support people.