The Eternal Glory of Ancient Rome
In antiquity, Romans called Rome “Caput Mundi,” or the capital of the world. The undisputed symbol of that greatness, which everyone still knows today, is the Colosseum. The Colosseum’s real name is the Flavian Amphitheater; Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasian commissioned it and his son Titus completed it. It was a venue for public games, especially gladiatorial combats. Essentially, it served to entertain the Roman people while celebrating the emperor’s power. Although the Colosseum is the icon of Ancient Rome, you might be surprised to learn its construction is relatively “recent.” It dates to 70-80 AD, when Rome had already been a major power for a long time.
Just a few steps away, you can find yourself at the very origins of Rome on Palatine Hill, which tradition considers the city’s founding site. The nearby Roman Forum was the heart of Rome’s public, civil, and religious life from its earliest days. Here, you can even see the spot where Romans cremated Julius Caesar’s body after his assassination. To this day, people still occasionally leave flowers! From here, a simple walk towards Piazza Venezia takes you through the Imperial Fora, one of the world’s largest and most important archaeological areas.
Perfectly Preserved Monuments
People repurposed some ancient buildings over the centuries, allowing them to survive almost intact. A perfect example is the Pantheon, the ancient temple that Romans dedicated to all gods, now a church housing the tombs of the painter Raphael and several Italian kings.
You can find other significant relics of ancient Rome scattered throughout the city. For instance, the Appian Way Regional Park holds numerous monuments, like the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella and the Tomb of the Scipios. Here you can also visit the catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano. These sites are powerful testaments to the early centuries of Christianity’s spread within the Roman Empire. Meanwhile, at the Park of the Aqueducts, you can marvel at the remains of the incredible hydraulic works that constantly supplied water to the Eternal City.
Beyond the famous monuments, ancient Rome comes to life in countless corners of the city. To truly discover it, hop on a Vespa and take the Sidecar Tour in Rome route dedicated to the ancient era’s remains!
Rediscover Medieval Rome
Many people think Rome’s history has only two major periods: Antiquity and the Renaissance. They often forget the thousand years in between! The Middle Ages were not the “dark ages” as people often call them. Instead, these were centuries rich in art, spirituality, culture, and development. During this time, Rome became a destination for pilgrims from all over the world. People founded monastic orders, still active today, and built churches and bell towers to celebrate Christianity.
Churches and Hidden Streets
Two churches from this period are particularly noteworthy. One is the Basilica of San Clemente, an incredible sacred building that encapsulates three different historical layers. The church we see today dates to the 12th century, but it stands on the remains of an older 4th-century basilica and even earlier 1st-century Roman buildings. The other is the Basilica of Santa Prassede, which preserves stunning 9th-century Byzantine-style mosaics.
You can also feel the medieval atmosphere in the streets, if you know where to look. For example, try strolling through the narrow lanes of the Trastevere and Monti districts. With a little imagination, you can relive the sounds and feel of a bustling, working-class Rome, with its artisans, merchants, taverns, and workshops. If you look closely, you’ll find that some corners of Rome have remained unchanged!
The Renaissance in Rome
The Renaissance is the period between the end of the Middle Ages and the start of the modern era, roughly from 1350 to 1500. It was a time of great artistic, cultural, and economic flourishing for all of Italy, and Rome was no exception. One of the most characteristic aspects of the Renaissance was the revival of classical art and culture. For Rome, this meant returning to its ancient roots.
A Hub of Creativity
The Renaissance popes wanted to make their city, the universal center of Catholic Christianity, a place of immense beauty and prestige. They brought the era’s greatest architects, painters, and sculptors to Rome. They certainly succeeded in their goal, as Rome became a true laboratory of creativity and innovation. This was the era when Michelangelo designed the Piazza del Campidoglio, which many consider one of the first examples of modern urban planning. City planners also redesigned the piazza of Campo de’ Fiori, another must-see on your Roman tour. Architects built palaces like Villa Farnesina and churches like Santa Maria del Popolo, where you can admire two of Caravaggio’s most beautiful paintings: the Crucifixion of Saint Peter and the Conversion of Saint Paul.
The Splendor of Baroque Rome
If the Renaissance, as its name suggests, marks a rebirth of art and culture, the richness of the Baroque period celebrates the prestige of papal power in the most lavish way. The Baroque era began around 1600 and lasted until the mid-1700s. We owe many of the wonders that make this city unique today to this period. This is thanks in particular to two great artists and architects, Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini, and their collaboration and, above all, their rivalry.
Baroque style is everywhere in Rome, starting with St. Peter’s Basilica and its colonnade. But perhaps the ultimate symbol of Roman Baroque is Piazza Navona. Here, you’ll find the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone—the project that marked the peak of the clash between Bernini and Borromini—and the magnificent Fountain of the Four Rivers. In fact, numerous churches and most of Rome’s fountains, including the Trevi Fountain, are products of the Baroque or late Baroque periods.
Many find this style excessive for its abundance of details, decorations, and embellishments. But art history shows us that it is also the style that best celebrated the greatness of Rome, second only to the magnificence of antiquity.
Rome: Ancient, Modern, and Contemporary
Rome faces a constant challenge: balancing the preservation of its ancient heritage with the needs of a large, modern metropolis. It is not always an easy balance to strike. Several urban and architectural projects between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries significantly altered parts of the city. A prime example is the Altar of the Fatherland, which workers built between 1885 and 1935 in memory of King Vittorio Emanuele II. While many Romans initially saw it as clashing with the city’s aesthetic, it has since become an iconic feature of central Rome.
New Districts and Contemporary Art
Via della Conciliazione, Via Nazionale, and Piazza della Repubblica are also relatively recent urban developments. These projects aimed to provide Rome with streets and spaces better suited to a modern capital. The place where modernity truly left a new mark on the city is the EUR district, which planners developed in the 1940s and 1950s. It features upscale residential areas, corporate and government buildings, a lake, and large green spaces.
One of the most curious architectural creations of the recent past is the Coppedè district, which the architect Gino Coppedè built between 1915 and 1927. People know it as the “fairy tale quarter” for its highly original and fanciful buildings. More recent contemporary works include the Maxxi, the National Museum of 21st Century Arts, and the Ponte della Musica (Music Bridge) near the Auditorium. To this, you can add all the other forms of contemporary expression that leave their mark on the city every day. In particular, street art has helped renew the face of entire neighborhoods, especially on the outskirts, like Tor Pignattara or San Basilio.
Experience Rome’s History as the Protagonist with Sidecar Tour in Rome!
As you can see, Rome’s history is incredibly long, but it never stops unfolding—it continues right before your eyes. You are part of it, just by walking through the streets of this city. It is a metropolis forever suspended between its ancient origins and its future projects. All that remains is for you to discover its many faces and diverse souls, from the oldest to the newest. Perhaps you’ll do it aboard a Vespa, the scooter that also made history! Join the guides of Sidecar Tour in Rome to explore the most significant places of Rome’s past and present.
