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Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 50 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Rome
Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci airport is also known as Fiumicino. Rome is also served by Ciampino airport, but it is smaller than da Vinci.
Centrally located between the Palatine and Esquiline hills. Construction of the Colosseum was begun by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72. It could seat 50,000 spectators, and is still a spectacular site. Gladiators and Romans in costume on the pavements outside will happily pose for photos while pretending to slit your throat with a trident.
| Which animal is protected by law in Rome, so that they can be seen living happily amongst the ancient ruins? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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cats. There is a law that allows cats to live without disruption in the place where they were born. If you look carefully, you will see hundreds of wild cats climbing the walls of the Colosseum, and sleeping among the ruins of the Forum. At the Largo de Torre de Argentina you can see a cat sanctuary amongst the ruins of four Republican temples.
| What is the name of the Presidential palace, a beautiful building named after one of Rome's seven hills? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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Quirinal. The Quirinal is the highest of the Roman hills. Expect a steep walk to get up there! Building of the presidential palace began in 1574, but was not completed until the 18th century. It used to be the summer residence of the Popes, until 1870. You can visit the interior of the Palace on Sundays only, but it is well worth a look.
| You will certainly want to visit the Vatican, and St. Peter's basilica. Which famous Roman bus goes from the main station, through the city centre and straight to the Piazza San Pietro? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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64. Roman bus schedules change every few months, and the bus numbers change with them. But the 64 bus has remained the same for years. If you can brave the crowds, groping hands and often rickety buses (though these are being gradually modernised) then you will have spectacular views as you cross the river and drive up the Via della Conciliazione towards St Peter's.
Michaelangelo's Pieta. The Pieta is a very moving sculpture of Mary cradling her son after the crucifiction. It is Michaelangelo's only signed work - look very carefully at the Madonna's sash. Sadly, the statue has to be kept behind bullet-proof glass following a hammer attack in 1972. This is not the only worthwhile part of the church however - the entire building is awe-inspiring.
| Perhaps the best known art treasure in Rome is the Sistine Chapel. What book of the Bible is depicted on the ceiling? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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Genesis. The 800 square metres of ceiling took Michaelangelo four years to paint. Probably the most famous scene is the Creation of Adam, where God's pointed index finger gives Adam life. Don't forget to look at the walls too - as well as Michaelangelo's Last Judgement, you can see fresco panels by various artists, including Ghirlandaio, Signorelli and a beautiful Botticelli maiden.
| Which famous Roman structure attracts tourists and locals alike, and is decorated every April with pink azaleas? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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Spanish Steps. The Spanish Steps were named after the Spanish Embassy which is still located in the square at their foot. If you are interested in Romantic poetry, visit the Keats-Shelley house, on the right of the steps as you face up. This is where John Keats died in 1821, and has fascinating exhibits about him, as well as PB Shelley, Mary Shelley and Lord Byron.
| There is a "magic" spot in the square in front of St. Peter's, where most of the columns surrounding the square appear to vanish. True or false? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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t. The piazza is one of Rome's most beautiful places. As well as the view of the greatest church in the Christian world, the columns and fountains add serenity and grace. There are two semi-circular colonnades, each with four rows of Doric columns. When you stand on the magic spot (halfway between the central obelisk and either of the two fountains) the four rows are exactly in line, and appear to be one. Try it - it is truly magical!
| The Roman Forum is a huge site, where you can walk among the ruins of the ancient Roman city centre. This is where the Roman Emperors made rousing speeches, where victorious armies marched home to praise and cheers, and where Romans came to pray, shop, meet and debate. What is the name of the ancient road that leads into the Forum from outside the city? | Enjoy Your Trip to Rome
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Via Sacra. The Via Sacra was the most important road in Rome (and thus in the Roman Empire). It was along this road that armies returned to Rome, and that Emperors travelled to their coronations. To get the most interesting view, go at night when the cobbled road is quiet, and lit up to create a very atmospheric and eerie mood.
| On which river is Rome? | Rome
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Tiber. In Italian the Tiber is called the Tevere.
| When did Rome become the capital of modern Italy? | Rome
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1870. When Italy was unified in 1861-70, Rome and the surrounding area (the 'Patrimony of St. Peter') was the last part to be incorporated in Italy, some years after the rest of the Papal States. From 1861-64, the capital was Turin (Torino), in 1864 it was moved to Florence (Firenze) and finally to Rome in 1870.
| Central Rome has three different key areas of particular historic interest. One is the area round the Colosseum and the Seven Hills, the second is the Vatican and the Castel d'Angelo. What is the third? | Rome
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The Renaissance and Baroque areas converging on the Piazza del Popolo. The three main streets converging on (or radiating out from) the Piazza del Populo are often referred to as 'the trident' or 'il tridente viario' in Italian. This area contains a wealth of tourist attractions, including the Spanish steps. Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, is outside the city - as is Ostia. Civitavecchia is a town about 45 miles north-west of Rome.
| What is the approximate population of Rome (in 2002)? | Rome
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2.8 million. Though the biggest Italian city, it's somewhat small for the capital of a European country of the size and population of Italy. Part of the reason is the immense cultural and economic significance of many of the main regional centers, such as Turin (Torino), Milan (Milano), Bologna, Florence (Firenze) and Naples (Napoli).
| Which sea is Rome close to? | Rome
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The Tyrrhenian Sea. The Tyrrhenian Sea - the body of water between the Western Coast of Italy, Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica - is in effect an arm of the Mediterranean, and it is customary to refer to it by its own name.
| Most of the Ancient Roman buildings are ruins, but the Pantheon is in an excellent condition. Why? | Rome
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It was consecrated a church in AD 609.. The Pantheon was first begun in 27 BC but completely rebuilt in AD 118-25. In AD 609 it was consecrated a church, which meant that it could not be used as a source of stone (and other building materials). This latter practice did more damage to many Ancient Roman buildings than the barbarian invasions. Indeed, as late as the 1840's visitors to Rome sometimes helped themselves to small stones from mosaics as souvenirs!
| This is vast, oblong square with curves at one end and three fountains. The middle fountain is by Bernini and is called the 'Fountain of Rivers'. What is the square called? | Rome
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Piazza Navona. The Piazza Navona 'occupies, as its form still indicates, the [site of the Ancient] Circus or Stadium of Domitian' (Karl Baedeker, "Central Italy", 13th ed., Leipzig and London 1900, p.212.
The four rivers represented are 'the Danube, Nile, Ganges and Rio de la Plata' (ibid.). All four squares ('piazze') mentioned in this question exist and are well worth visiting.
| What was the Castel Sant' Angelo originally? | Rome
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A mausoleum. It was originally built in AD 135-39 as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian. From the reign of Theodric (AD 493-526) onwards it was used as a fortress and prison, and in the Middle Ages it became the main Papal fortress in Rome.
| When did Vatican City become a sovereign state? | Rome
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1929. After the annexation - if that's the right word - of the remaining Papal States by Italy in 1870 successive Popes remained in the Vatican, as a protest, and described themselves as 'prisoners of the Vatican'. In 1929 Fascist Italy reached an agreement with the Vatican, which restored to latter a tiny sovereign state - a mere 108.7 acres (!). As many in Quizzyland may well have been told many times in various quizzes, Vatican City is the smallest sovereign state in the world.
Eternal City. The ancient Romans called their city 'Urbs Aeterna' ('Eternal City' in English).
| Which actress became a star with the film 'Roman Holiday' (released in 1953)? | All About Rome
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Audrey Hepburn. Audrey Hepburn played Princess Anne who, on a diplomatic visit to Rome, meets an American journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) and falls in love with him. The film was directed by William Wyler. Catherine Oxenberg played Princess Anne in the 1987 remake of 'Roman Holiday', which wasn't a great success though.
| 'All roads lead to Rome' says a very well known proverb. How would that be in Latin, the language of ancient Romans? | All About Rome
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Omnes viae Romam ducunt. 'Tutte le strade portano a Roma' is Italian, 'Todos os caminhos levam a Roma' is Portuguese and 'Toate drumurile duc la Roma' is Romanian. The ancient Romans were famous for their roads which were built all over the Roman Empire, hence the proverb.
| Another proverb has it that 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. What does it mean? | All About Rome
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important work takes time. It took centuries for the ancient Rome to grow from a small town to the capital of a great empire. By citing this proverb, you encourage somebody to be patient.
| 'A Woman of Rome' ('La Romana') is the title of a film which was adapted from a novel by Alberto Moravia. Which famous Italian actress starred in this movie? | All About Rome
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Gina Lollobrigida. The film was directed by Luigi Zampa (released in 1954). 'Lollo' played a young woman named Adriana who becomes a prostitute.
Romulus. According to the legend, the city of Rome was named after Romulus. Remus was Romulus's brother. Romulus Augustus was the last of the Western Roman Emperors. Romanus means simply 'Roman' in Latin.
| 'Journey to Rome' ('Il viaggio a Roma') was the last novel by a famous Italian writer. What was his name? | All About Rome
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Moravia. This novel was published in 1988. Alberto Moravia died in 1990 in Rome. His real name was Alberto Pincherle.
Bramante. St. Peter's Basilica was built in 1546. Although both Michelangelo and Raphael both worked on the architecture and design of St. Peters, the original plans were designed by Bramante. You can see the rounded top of the Basilica easily, as it soars above Vatican hill.
Hadrian. The favored designer of Hadrian was Apollodorus of Damascus. But Hadrian was unhappy with his design. He undertook the project himself. It was built between the years 123 and 135 AD.
The Roman Forum. The Roman Forum was built between the years 100 to 300. It was here where all political and public speaking occurred. It was the core of the ancient city. (There is no Via Espsito that I know of. Esposito is my maiden name.)
so the greatest number of people could be blessed by the pope. The architect and designer of the Piazza of St. Peters was Bernini, and it was constructed during the ears 1656 and 1667. Pope Alexander VII was concerned that not enough citizens were able to see him and be blessed by him. Hence, the building of the square.
No. The Spanish Steps were designed by Alessandro Specchi and Francesco DiSantis, Italians. The Spanish Steps get their name from being in the vicinity of the original Spanish Embassy which was located on the Piazza di Spagna. They were designed to connect the Via del Popolo and the Via Felice, and were not constructed until the time period between 1721 and 1728.
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