Rome

🏛️ History

• Legend says Romulus and Remus, twin brothers raised by a she-wolf, founded the city. Rome’s name comes from Romulus.
• The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) held gladiator contests and public spectacles. Ancient writers also describe the arena being flooded for mock sea battles (naumachiae).
• Vatican City, home of the Pope, is an independent country inside the city of Rome — the world’s smallest.
• The Allies won World War II. Rome was occupied by the Germans in 1943 and liberated by the Allies in June 1944.

🍝 Food origins

• Cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”) is a classic Roman pasta: Pecorino Romano and black pepper. Bolognese meat sauce (ragù alla bolognese) comes from Bologna, not Rome. (Spaghetti bolognese is mostly an international dish; in Bologna it’s typically tagliatelle al ragù.)
• Fettuccine Alfredo — pasta with butter and Parmesan — was created in Rome in the early 1900s by Alfredo di Lelio.
• Pizza Margherita comes from Naples, not Rome: tomato, mozzarella, and basil for the colors of the Italian flag.
• In Italy, a cappuccino is traditionally a morning drink. After a meal, espresso is the usual move.

📍 Landmarks

• Trevi Fountain: toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder — the tradition is that you’ll return to Rome.
• The Colosseum: in Rome, not Paris (Paris has the Eiffel Tower).
• The Sistine Chapel is in Vatican City. Michelangelo painted its ceiling (1508–1512).

🗣️ Local words

🏀 Sports tie-in

• Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics. The U.S. men’s basketball team won gold that year.
• The NBA shot clock is 24 seconds — same as your Shot Clock game.
• Rome’s two big soccer clubs are A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio. The city derby is called the Derby della Capitale.