Things to do in Rome

‍

5 Fun Facts About Rome

• The Colosseum's Hidden History: The Colosseum could hold up to 80,000 spectators and hosted gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and even mock sea battles! The arena was even sometimes flooded with water on purpose for these naval re-enactments which shows the Romans' engineering skills!
• Rome's Ancient Origins: According to legend, Rome was founded by twin brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. After a dispute, Romulus killed Remus and became the first king of Rome, naming the city after himself!
• The Pantheon’s Engineering Marvel: The Pantheon in Rome has the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome, still standing after nearly 2,000 years. The hole in the centre, known as the ‘oculus’, is the building’s only source of natural light and with it being a hole, it means when it rains, it also rains inside the building, but they have built a clever drainage system as well!
• Vatican City, the Smallest Country: Sitting within Rome, Vatican City is the smallest independent country in the world and spans just 44 hectares (110 acres). It's the spiritual and administrative centre of the Roman Catholic Church as well as being a major tourist attraction!
• ‍A City of Fountains: Rome is often called the "City of Fountains" because it has more than 1,500 fountains, the most famous being the Trevi Fountain. Legend says that throwing a coin into the Trevi guarantees a return trip to the city!