2^nd World Pediatric Conference

Rome, the “Eternal City,” brims with ancient history, from the Colosseum to the port of Ostia Antica to majestic Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Because of its history, art, architecture, and beauty – and perhaps its gelato and pasta! Rome is located in the central portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber River about 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea.  Rome is one of our most popular cities. Modern Rome has 280 fountains and more than 900 churches. Nearly 700,000 euros worth of coins are tossed into Rome’s Trevi Fountain each year. The proceeds are donated to Caritas to help those in need. The Romans had built a road network of 53,000 miles by the early fourth century. Each Roman mile was about 4,800 feet and marked by a milestone, giving birth to the saying “All roads lead to Rome.” In Ancient Rome, only free-born men were allowed to wear togas, a sign of Roman citizenship. Women wore stolas, the female version of togas, made from linen. The mascot of Rome is a she-wolf that cared for brothers Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of Rome. Rome became the capital city of unified Italy in 1870, taking the title from Florence. Wild cats can be climbing the walls of the Colosseum, and sleeping among the ruins of the Forum. Women in ancient Rome dyed their hair with goat fat and beech wood ashes. The most popular colours were red and blond.The first ever shopping mall was built in Rome between 107 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan. It sold a wide variety of goods and grocery items. Rome’s first university, La Sapienza, established in 1303 AD, is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world. Rome has a museum dedicated entirely to pasta. One of the most culturally significant and most well preserved buildings in Rome, the Pantheon houses the remains of several illustrious figures, including Raphael.