The different Roman infrastructures
If ancient Rome still fascinates people today, it is partly because of the influence it has had on modern life, particularly in terms of architecture and urban planning.
The road network, the major consular routes
If you visit the Italian capital, you will notice that the inhabitants are identified by the main roads ("la Prenestina", "la Salaria"...). These consular roads date back to the Roman Empire. They were designed and laid out by the consuls for military and economic purposes. They facilitated the transport of goods and the movement of armies. There were twelve main consular roads in Italy: Aurelia, Cassia, Flaminia, Salaria, Tiburtina, Casilina, Appia, Emilia, Postumia, Capua-Regium, Nomentana and Prenestina. Some of these roads are now main communication routes, the backbone of the Italian road network, such as the Via Aurelia that connected Rome to Gaul, which became the SS1 Rome-Ventimiglia, or the SS7 that leads from Rome to Brindisi following the route of the consular road, the Appia. As the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome! In addition to this now modernized road network, the Romans also left many paved roads. This is the case of the via Appia antica, in Rome. Incredible but true, the Roman concrete was so resistant that we still walk on these roads today! These roads were then protected by a revolutionary sewer system. Indeed, if it was the Etruscans who set up the first sewers in Rome, the Romans took charge of developing them, to the point that the cloaca maxima that crossed the capital at the time can be compared in length to the sewer system of some large cities today!
Roman aqueducts, engineering treasures
To supply water to homes, baths or fountains, the Romans had developed an ingenious network of aqueducts carrying water from nearby springs. Rome was then nicknamed regina aquarum, the queen of waters. One of the eleven Roman aqueducts that supplied the city is still in operation today, twenty centuries after its construction! The aqueduct of the Acqua Vergine feeds the Trevi Fountain. The park of the aqueducts, in the southeast of Rome, is the ideal place to admire these engineering treasures which, even if they are no longer in use, are remarkably well preserved. This large park is one of the city's green lungs and is home to seven Roman aqueducts. Outside of the capital, there is also the aqueduct of San Giuliano Terme in Tuscany and that of Olbia in Sardinia.
The triumphal arches, symbols of Roman victories
The panorama of many Italian cities is also marked by triumphal arches, emblematic of Roman architecture. These were often erected to the glory of the emperor. In Rome, three of these arches are still visible in their entirety: the Arch of Titus, the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Arch of Constantine. Other examples of these monumental constructions can be found in Italy: the Arch of Hadrian in Santa Maria Capua Vetere (Campania), the Arch of Augustus in the archaeological park of Neapolis in Siracusa (Sicily), the Arch of Trajan in Ancona (Marche) or, the oldest of them all, built in 27 BC, the Arch of Augustus in Rimini (Emilia Romagna).
The Roman amphitheaters, cultural testimonies
Open-air theaters, the amphitheaters were very popular places for the Romans to attend animal or gladiator fights. The most famous one is of course in Rome. The Colosseum, or Flavian amphitheater in reference to the dynasty of emperors who built it, is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, it is the largest amphitheater of antiquity. Needless to say, it is a must-see during a trip to Rome, just as Rome is a must-see during a trip to Italy! Throughout the Roman Empire, no less than 270 amphitheaters have been counted. The most impressive are certainly in Italy. In order of size, the second largest amphitheater in the peninsula is that of Santa Maria di Capua Vetere, often called Colosseo di Capua, the Colosseum of Capua. Built in the second and first centuries B.C., it is also one of the best preserved in the country. If you visit the Veneto region and the romantic Verona, you should not miss the Arena either. In the middle of the city, this imposing amphitheater dates back to the first century. It still hosts concerts and a major opera festival. From the top of its terraces, the exceptional panorama extends to the Alps. Trieste, Aosta, Lucca and Lecce also have beautiful amphitheaters, as does the ancient city of Pompeii. Treasures to visit to walk in the footsteps of the Romans.
Rome, an open-air museum
Not surprisingly, it is in Rome that we find the most impressive Roman remains. The historic center of the capital is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Legend has it that Rome was founded in 753 BC. On April 21, precisely, the twins Romulus and Remus decided to found their own city. However, it was necessary to distinguish between these two brothers, because they did not want to establish their city in exactly the same place. Romulus wanted to build it on the Palatine and call it Roma, while Remus preferred the Aventino and planned to name it Remora. As the coin tosses, the two brothers decided to rely on the flight of birds: Remus saw six vultures above the location he considered to be the best, Romulus, twelve. It is the latter who is thus designated founder. He marked out the first Roman frontier, the pomerium, by digging a furrow with a plough on top of Mount Palatine, which became one of the seven hills of Rome. Thus, the Palatine is today considered the birthplace of the city and, consequently, of Roman history. It is a bottomless pit for researchers and archaeologists, and a fascinating place for travelers. The same goes for the Roman forum, the political, legal, religious and economic center of Republican Rome, and the imperial forums. Together with the Colosseum, this entire archaeological area is certainly one of the most beautiful testimonies of the Roman heritage in Italy.
The museum of the imperial forums is today located in the Markets of Trajan, which can be defined as the great commercial center of ancient Rome: there were no less than 150 "stores" (food, goldsmiths, fabrics...)! This imposing building is particularly well preserved and bears witness to the daily life of the Romans. It is also the case of the thermal baths, of which Rome shelters the most beautiful vestiges of the time. The Baths of Caracalla are among the largest thermal baths of the Roman Empire, and are also one of those which have survived to this day in the best condition.
It must be said that in terms of conservation of ancient buildings, Rome is a sight to behold! Thus, the imposing Pantheon is one of the best preserved monuments of ancient Rome that we are given to see. Built between 118 and 125 after the fire of the first Pantheon, its pediment still mentions Agrippa because it was Agrippa, as architect and collaborator of Augustus, who was behind the first building dating back to 27 BC. Like a mastodon of stone, the Pantheon still stands in Piazza della Rotonda today, almost two thousand years later.
Pompeii, as a testimony
The archaeological site of Pompeii, by its conservation and its history, is a must-see in Italy. This city located on the southern slope of Vesuvius, on top of a hill overlooking the Sarno Valley, quickly prospered thanks to its strategic location during antiquity, which allowed the development of agriculture and trade. However, it was this same location that led to its loss on August 24, 79, during the eruption of Vesuvius. Pompeii, a city of 20,000 inhabitants, was then buried under the ash and volcanic dust. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the city was founded by the Oscars in the 8th century. The Greeks then settled there and developed the city towards the north, then came the Etruscans and the Samnites, who greatly contributed to its artistic development. The influence of Hellenistic art was well and truly present, and the various wall paintings frozen in time and ashes still testify to this today. From 355 onwards, the Campanians called on the Romans to protect them during the Samnite attacks. The Romans then settled in Campania and, in 80 BC, Pompeii became a Roman colony, the colonia cornelia veneria pompeianorum . Roman families settled there and built their second homes. The city developed more and more and the links between Pompeii and Rome were strengthened to the point that Hellenistic art was less and less present to make way for Roman art. Many buildings were built, like a temple in honor of Vespasian and another one dedicated to Augustus. The Romans renovated theaters, forums and public buildings. However, in 62, an earthquake heavily damaged Pompeii. Bad omen? The inhabitants had just enough time to rebuild the deteriorated monuments that in 79 Vesuvius woke up and covered the city with ash. A disaster that has inscribed Pompeii in the history of humanity through the incomparable remains that have come down to us. A vision of the daily life of the Pompeians, of a city rebuilt and magnified by the Romans. The remains of houses, mosaics, frescoes, casts of the bodies of some Pompeians ... The archaeological site of Pompeii testifies to the customs of the time like no other. It was only in the 18th century that researchers discovered the buried city, now considered the most excavated archaeological site in the world. To visit Pompeii is to dive into a Roman city in 79. You will discover the amphitheater, the forum, but also the food market, the vineyard, the bakery, the theater or the brothel! Not far from Pompeii, Herculaneum was also buried under 20 m of volcanic deposits following the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Its conservation is also impressive, especially since organic materials, such as wood or papyrus, have been discovered there.
Rich in its Roman heritage, Italy is home to countless other vestiges that you will discover during your visit.
