Rome is one of the most historically important cities in Europe, if not the world. Once the heart of the Roman Empire, it is now a lively capital that mixes ancient ruins, grand piazzas, and modern Italian city life.
Planning a trip soon? Before you start wandering between espresso bars and ancient forums, here are some fun, easy to remember facts about Rome that will give a bit more meaning to what you see when you arrive.
1. Rome has legendary origins dating back to 753 BC
According to tradition, Rome was founded on 21 April 753 BC by Romulus, after a dramatic story involving his twin brother Remus and a she-wolf. Archaeology suggests people were living on these hills even earlier, but 753 BC is the date Romans still celebrate as the city’s official birthday.
2. It has not always been Italy’s capital
Given its fame, it is easy to assume Rome has always been the capital of Italy. In fact, after the country was unified in the 19th century, Florence briefly held the title. Rome became the official capital in 1871, after it was taken from Papal control and absorbed into the modern Italian state.
3. Rome still earns its nickname “Caput Mundi”
Rome is often called Caput Mundi, Latin for Capital of the World. The nickname goes back to the height of the Roman Empire, when decisions made in Rome could affect people across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Today, the name lives on as a nod to its historic influence and cultural weight.
4. There are churches almost everywhere you look
Rome is packed with churches of all sizes and styles, from vast basilicas to quiet hidden chapels. There are hundreds across the city, many decorated with frescoes, sculptures and paintings that you can visit for free. Even a simple stroll often turns into an art tour.
5. Vatican City is a separate country inside Rome
Vatican City, the home of the Pope, is the smallest independent country in the world and it sits entirely within the city of Rome. When you cross into St Peter’s Square and visit the Vatican Museums, you are technically stepping into another nation, even though it feels like part of the same city.
6. The city is famous for its fountains, not just the Trevi
The Trevi Fountain may be the most famous, but Rome is full of water features. There are grand fountains in major piazzas and small drinking fountains called nasoni on street corners, where locals and visitors refill their bottles. Many of these fountains have flowed for more than a century.
7. Coins in the Trevi Fountain support charity
The tradition is simple: stand with your back to the Trevi Fountain, toss a coin over your shoulder, and you are said to guarantee a return to Rome. So what happens to all those coins? They are collected regularly and donated to charity. Each year, visitors throw in well over one million euros, which helps support social projects in the city.
8. The Nero ‘playing the fiddle’ story is mostly a myth
You may have heard the phrase “Nero fiddled while Rome burned”. There was a major fire in Rome in AD 64, and Nero was indeed emperor at the time, but the fiddle had not even been invented yet. The image of him calmly playing an instrument while the city burned is more legend than fact, used as a symbol of bad leadership.
9. Cats are part of the city’s personality
Rome’s cats are minor celebrities. You will often see them sunning themselves around ruins, especially at sites like Largo di Torre Argentina. Local volunteers feed and care for many of these cats, and they have become an unofficial symbol of the city’s relaxed character.
10. Ancient Roman roads still shape Europe
The saying “All roads lead to Rome” comes from the impressive network of roads the Romans built to connect their empire. By late antiquity, thousands of miles of roads linked Rome to far away provinces. Some of these ancient routes still form the basis of modern roads today, and you can literally walk on history along the old Appian Way.
11. Rome is bigger today than it was at its ancient peak
At its height in ancient times, the city of Rome may have been home to around one million people, which was enormous for that era. Today, the wider metropolitan area counts more than four million residents, with modern neighbourhoods spreading far beyond the old city walls.
12. The Romans divided day and night differently
In ancient Rome, both daytime and night were each split into twelve “hours”. Because the length of daylight changes throughout the year, the length of an hour changed too. Summer “hours” were longer than winter ones, which is a very different way of thinking about time compared to our fixed 60 minute hours.
13. There is even a museum dedicated to pasta
Italy takes food seriously, and Rome is no exception. Over the years, the city has hosted museums and exhibits dedicated to Italian cuisine, including pasta. It is a fun reminder that culture in Rome is not only about emperors and popes, but also about simple, delicious dishes that locals enjoy every day.
14. Rome is an open air museum
One of the joys of Rome is that you do not need a ticket to feel like you are in a museum. Ancient columns stand beside busy roads, medieval alleys open onto Baroque piazzas, and modern life flows around ruins that are thousands of years old. Just wandering the streets can feel like stepping through different chapters of history.
15. It is a city that balances history and everyday life
For all its monuments, Rome is not just a “past” city. People live, work, study and meet friends in the same spaces where emperors once walked. Cafés and trattorias sit beside ancient ruins, and locals hang out in the same squares that tourists photograph. That mix of everyday life and deep history is a big part of what makes Rome so memorable.
Whether you are heading to Rome for the first time or returning for another visit, keeping a few of these facts in mind will help the city’s landmarks come alive. Next time you toss a coin into the Trevi, stroll past a sleepy cat on a ruin, or walk along an old Roman road, you will know there is a story behind it.
Do you know any fun facts about Rome? Share them in the comments below!
