Rose petals at the Pantheon on June 4th Tens of thousands of rose petals flutter through Pantheon oculus on 4 June. The spectacular tradition of rose petals fluttering down through the oculus can be enjoyed on Sunday 4 June following 10.30 Mass for the feast of Pentecost. Read More: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Pantheon The […]

All roads lead to Rome. The center of the world, as was globally considered from the Roman Empire’s time until the middle ages, is one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations for good reason. The Eternal City certainly has its fair share of secrets and surprises. These mostly unknown facts about Rome may be news to

A 2,300-year-old aqueduct uncovered by workers on Rome’s new Metro line has been hailed as “a sensational discovery of enormous importance” by the city’s Superintendency for Archaeology. Archaeologists first stumbled across the impressive ruin at the end of 2016, though it was not publicly announced. Last week the team presented the results of analysis of

Emperor Caracalla is Murdered Suffering from dysentery while leading his army to Carrhae in Parthia (modern Iran), Emperor Caracalla stepped behind some shrubs to relieve himself. Julius Martialis, an officer in the imperial bodyguard, killed him with a single thrust of his sword. At last Rome was free of one of its most bloodthirsty emperors. A

English-language religious services in Rome during Easter Week. VATICAN CEREMONIES 28 March. Holy Thursday – Holy Chrism Mass, St Peter’s Basilica, 09.30. 29 March. Good Friday – ‘Celebration of the Passion of the Lord’, Papal Mass, St Peter’s Basilica, 17.00. 29 March. Good Friday – Way of the Cross at the Colosseum presided over by

If you have walked through any of Rome’s markets recently you can’t have missed the piles of gleaming, purple-green artichokes which seem to be around every corner. A staple of Roman cuisine, carciofi romaneschi (Roman artichokes) hit their peak in the spring when they are at their absolute tastiest (and cheapest). The locally-grown mammole variety

It’s a breathtaking view and you can almost smell the lavender: visitors to Rome can now stroll through Emperor Nero’s Golden House and sumptuous gardens thanks to a new virtual tour. Only a section remains of the vast landscaped palace which once stood in the middle of the ancient city, its walls decorated with gold-leaf,

It is famed as the place where gladiators battled lions to the amusement of the citizens of ancient Rome. But of the six million visitors who flock to the Colosseum each year, how many know that during mediaeval times, it was also the fortress base of a powerful Roman family for over two centuries? Or