s p ot l i gh t
24 Hours
Rome
W
e’ve all heard the legend. Romulus and Remus, twins born to their god father (Mars) and vestal virgin mother, were seized from their home by a jealous great-uncle, floated down the Tiber River and eventually rescued by a (surprisingly kindhearted) she-wolf. Upon reaching adulthood, the twins set out to build a city but — after disagreeing over the site itself — Romulus killed Remus and established his own eponymous city, Roma. It’s a fanciful story, one that’s recounted time and again even today. But truth be told, the founding of Rome was a much slower process, arising from pastoral settlements on Palatine Hill (the site of the future Roman Forum) around the eighth century B.C. Those original settlements evolved into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, later the Roman Republic and finally the famed Roman Empire. One of the greatest things about Rome is that strolling through the city inevitably means stumbling upon vestiges from every era of this ancient past. Here, the “usual” tourist attractions simply can’t
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selamtamagazine.com
By J odi Macfarlan
be skipped; the intermixing of 2,000-yearold remains and Renaissance masterpieces within a lively modern capital is sure to humble and inspire. 8 a.m. Start your day as the Romans do, standing bar-side at any café for a quick shot of espresso. Better yet, make it a double — there’s much ground to cover on the day’s itinerary. Pair it with a cornetto, a sweet croissant, for the full Italian experience. Then, make your way to the ancient area of the city — home to the Roman Forum, the Colosseum and Palatine Hill. The Metro system runs smoothly (save for the occasional unexpected strike), but consider walking, given all there is to see. Start at the Colosseum.
LOT TA N I E M I N E N
Italy’s capital city may not have been built in a day, but can it be experienced in just one? |