I travelled to Rome, Italy, in July 2023. Italy was a country on my bucket list, and I was glad to be able to cross it off. Growing up, I was fascinated by the stories my Mum told us about Rome because she used to travel there for business and almost gave birth to my elder sister there. Rome is famous for its historic buildings, The Vatican City and the Pope, amongst many other things.

Below are 10 fun or not fun facts about Rome.

1. Rome is Older than Italy

Did you know that Rome is older than Italy? Rome was founded in 753 BC. The nation of Italy is a modern creation which isn’t built on the Roman empire but on a group of people who speak a common language.

2. The Vatican City is located in Rome

The Vatican City, an independent state ruled by the Pope, is in Rome. I visited the Vatican City and stopped by the Vatican Museums for history lessons. The museums are home to many artworks which the Catholic Church has amassed. We trekked and trekked, up and down, left and right, and I’m sure we didn’t see everything.

3. The Sistine Chapel, home to Michelangelo’s controversial piece of art, The Last Judgement, is located in Rome

The Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican City, just after the Vatican Museums. It’s a sacred place where you are to keep quiet, and photos are not allowed. Michelangelo’s paintings cover the walls and the ceiling. The Last Judgement is a depiction of the second coming of Christ. Do you know that popular painting where Adam and God’s fingers almost meet? Yup, that one is in the chapel, and I saw it live, along with many other paintings.

4. The Pope Lives in Rome

The Vatican Palace, located in the Vatican City, is the official residence of the Pope of the Catholic church. The Pope is the bishop of Rome with the supreme power of jurisdiction over the Catholic Church. From the Vatican Museums, you can see the Palace.

5. Rome is a City of Fountains

There are over 2,000 fountains in Rome, both big and small. There’s free drinking water everywhere, and most tourists carry a water bottle when sightseeing so they can easily top up as they go. You may have heard of the popular Trevi Fountain, the largest fountain in Italy. It’s a famous tourist sight for anyone visiting Rome, and it’s always crowded except you visit bright and early, around 6am. People throw coins into the fountain to find love.

6. Rome is Home to The Colosseum

The Colosseum is an ancient amphitheatre in the centre of the city. It’s a popular and prominent landmark, attracting thousands of tourists annually. It was built with marble, concrete, bricks and tuff. Though it’s as old as 80 AD, some parts of the Colosseum is destroyed due to a series of natural disasters, but it still stands tall today. I booked a tour during my trip, and our lovely tour guide took us around the entire place. It was intriguing to see the gory site where the ancient Romans lived, kept slaves and how they used them for entertainment.

7. Gladiators (slaves converted to professional fighters) Fought in Ancient Rome

If your Colosseum tour tickets include the arena floor access, you get to see the underground where the gladiators were caged in cells and waited for their fates. If you’ve seen Spartacus or Pompeii, you should have an idea of what I’m talking about.

8. Rome is Known as the City with The Most Churches

St Peter’s Basilica, the greatest of all churches, is located in Rome. It’s so huge that seeing it all in a day is impossible. The Swiss Guards, in their bright-coloured uniforms, guard the church, and it was interesting to see them. It is commonly said that Rome has the most churches, but I think those people have not come to Lagos, Nigeria, that’s why. There’s literally a church on every street.

9. The Pantheon Hill & Palatine Hill are Major Landmarks in Rome

The Pantheon, a former Roman temple and church, is located in Rome. It’s another popular tourist attraction, and I also visited it. You can’t help but notice the distinct and huge structure. Right beside the Colosseum is the Palatine hill. Palatine Hill is one of the oldest sites in Rome. Tour tickets for The Palatine Hill and Roman Forum are usually sold together.

10. There’s a Gelato Shop on Every Corner

Yes, and I’m not exaggerating. Though gelato is originally from Florence, Italy, it is a popular dessert in Rome, especially on hot summer days. I finally understand and recognize the difference between ice cream and gelato now.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and learning a few things about Rome.

Travel with no regrets.

Mariam Shittu