Italian Culture

The term "Roman nose" may evoke images of noble noses on Roman statuary, but the nose shape exists today on the faces of people who have no Italian or Roman lineage. Actor Charlton Heston bore a...

Constructed more than two centuries ago by Nicola Salvi, the Trevi Fountain, in the heart of Rome's historic center, derives its name from its location at the intersection of three roads. Although...

Although Rome was the largest empire of its time, its art was greatly influenced by the world around it. Ancient Greek and even distant "barbarian outlands" influenced some of the greatest Roman...

The great Roman amphitheater the Coliseum--or "Colosseum"--is an iconic structure, known as much for its beauty as for its bloody history.

Roman gladiators were the movie stars of their day, and their props were a veritable cornucopia of death. Not only did gladiators fight with weapons that were traditionally Roman, but also with...

The Roman Aqueducts were one of the earliest engineering feats of the first millennium, built and used for a period of 500 years (from the first century A.D. to the Fall of the Roman Empire,...

Lake Como is one of Italy's top destinations, frequented by celebrities and the wealthy as well as everyday tourists. Looking back through the centuries, the lake has long been a desirable retreat...

The Roman army's existence spanned more than 1,200 years. It began as a fierce, amateur militia from a small central Italian city, and rose to be the world's first professional and standardized...

Roman columns were distinctly characteristic support beams that reflected specific types of architecture in ancient Rome. They developed out of the three ancient Greek classical orders of...

The term "gladiator" is very descriptive, as it is drawn from the Latin word for sword, "gladius." These men were usually trained, professional fighters who engaged in armed combat with the...

Rome has a long and rich history that stretches back nearly 3,000 years. Western civilization owes a great deal to the many contributions of Rome that helped to develop the modern world. While...