Rome, Capital of the Roman Empire: History, Monuments & Visiting in 2026

Roman architecture and engineering was unparalleled among other civilisations, creating incredible feats such as roads, bridges and aqueducts that remain groundbreaking today.

Rome emerged as one of the primary centers of classical architecture, developing innovative forms such as arch and dome designs. Furthermore, Rome played an instrumental role in Renaissance and Baroque art movements.

History

Rome, once the capital of an immense empire and then the home to Christianity itself and later, Roman Catholicism, remains one of the world’s oldest continuously occupied cities today. Rome has left behind an indelible mark through Roman law, the modern Western alphabet and calendar systems and Christian religion itself; furthermore its architecture and art have earned Rome its moniker: Rome Aeterna (“Eternal Rome”). Since becoming home for the Papacy in 8th Century AD.

Ancient Rome was established on the banks of the Tiber River by Romulus and Remus, who were fed by a she-wolf, in 753 BC. As time progressed, trade enabled its expansion, with many aspects of Greek culture such as literacy, philosophy and religion being adopted into Roman life – including literacy, philosophy and religion.

With Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BC came an increasing trend toward Imperialism. Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (known as Octavian), took control of government and changed to Augustus Caesar; thus diminishing Senate power and giving full sovereignty to this new ruler.

However, Emperor Nero’s rule was far from ideal; his administration was marred by corruption with powerful families like Caesar’s benefiting enormously at the expense of commoners. A group of unemployed Roman slaves known as Plebeians or Thugs were hired by wealthy senators – themselves often corrupt and greedy – to do their bidding and do anything required of them by wealthy senators who often employed thugs who could do their bidding without question.

The fall of Rome was swift. By the fifth century AD, Rome had been physically devastated but still retained its influence as an idea that spread throughout Europe. Remnants of Roman influence can still be found today: from its influence as an idea through to language use in much of Western Europe and their grand buildings remaining standing as monuments today to artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael’s art work; interest in studying ancient Rome began growing during Italy’s Renaissance movement in the 1500s with Edward Gibbon’s The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire along with Barthold Georg Niebuhr’s Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum making studying Roman history more widely available to everyone.

Art

Rome offers no shortage of amazing art to enjoy, including the National Gallery of Contemporary Art just steps from Rome’s Maxxi museum. Here you will find iconic figures like Man Ray, Georg Klimt and Andy Warhol alongside cutting-edge contemporary artists like Sam Taylor-Johnson or Alberto Burri.

The museum boasts over 1200 plaster casts of classical Greek and Roman sculptures and paintings, in addition to other objects such as ancient jewelry, coins, and mosaics.

Ancient Roman plastic arts generally emulated Greek styles of painting, sculpture and decorative arts in terms of painting, sculpturing and decorative arts. However, unlike its Greek counterparts, ancient Roman art was more utilitarian in nature – its main purpose being to demonstrate Roman power and military victories.

Scholars have proposed several theories as to why Rome never developed its own artistic tradition, including pragmatic Roman temperament and its emphasis on military needs over art development. Others suggest that an overreliance on propaganda value of Roman arts contributed to Rome’s downfall and ultimately led to its collapse.

Nightlife

Rome offers endless ways to have fun – from hitting up clubs to relaxing with a glass of bubbly in one of Rome’s trendy aperitivo bars. For something a bit less energetic, head down to Testaccio district where Rome’s nightlife hub can be found: many great wine bars and local-style restaurants serve delicious food and beverages here.

Akab is an elegant yet modern club full of young, fashionable people that offers dancing until the wee hours. Popular among younger visitors, this club stays open till early morning featuring everything from house to reggae and soul music genres.

Room 26 in Rome’s Expo Universale Roma business district offers sophisticated clientele an exciting range of music genres ranging from electronica and retro classics. Boasting marble interior and featuring DJ lineups including Brodinski, Mount Kimble and Trentemoller; don’t miss this exciting club!

Garbatella, known for its lively nightlife and trendy bars and live music venues that draw in an alternative scene. A favorite among students, this vibrant area boasts an energetic nightlife scene filled with lively bars and music venues that draw the young and beautiful alike.

Rome’s most renowned clubs and discotecas are open outdoor throughout Rome’s gorgeous nighttime climate and landscape, creating a magical nighttime scene. To stay informed on when and where these events take place, consult their respective clubs’ calendars; some only host them seasonally.

Due to Italian traditions of taking an extended summer holiday, many clubs close for August. If you want to experience Rome’s nightlife at its fullest, be sure to arrive in September or later and start with an aperitivo Dolce Vita before continuing onto an evening of dancing and cocktail sipping at one of Rome’s stylish bars.

Frequently asked questions

When was Rome the capital of the Roman Empire?

Rome was the formal capital from 27 BC (when Octavian became Emperor Augustus) until AD 476 (when the last Western Roman Emperor was deposed by the Germanic leader Odoacer). Earlier, it was capital of the Roman Republic from 509 BC. That gives Rome about 1,000 years as a central imperial capital.

Why did Rome become the capital of such a large empire?

Three factors: strategic location on the Tiber 25 km inland (defensible, but with river access to the sea); legal and military innovation (the Roman legion system and codified civil law let Rome project power and govern distant territories); and road and aqueduct engineering that made a unified administrative network possible.

Which Roman monuments can you still visit in Rome?

The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre, AD 80), Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Pantheon (AD 118 — still standing with its original concrete dome), Trajan’s Column and Markets, Baths of Caracalla, Castel Sant’Angelo (Hadrian’s mausoleum), the Appian Way with its tombs, and the Domus Aurea (Nero’s Golden House). Book the Colosseum + Forum + Palatine combo ticket online — same-day queues are 2+ hours in summer.

When did Rome stop being the capital of the empire?

Western Roman Emperor Honorius moved the effective capital to Ravenna in AD 402, reacting to Visigoth threats. Rome was sacked in 410 and 455. The formal empire in the west ended in 476. The Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire continued from Constantinople until 1453.

How big was the Roman Empire at its peak?

At its maximum under Emperor Trajan in AD 117, the Empire covered about 5 million square kilometers and ruled an estimated 60–90 million people — roughly a quarter of the world’s population at the time. It stretched from Scotland and Portugal to Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf.

What is the best way to see Ancient Rome in 2026?

Allow 3 full days. Day 1: Colosseum + Forum + Palatine (combo ticket). Day 2: Vatican Museums + St Peter’s Basilica (if Renaissance interests). Day 3: Pantheon, Trajan’s Markets, Baths of Caracalla, and evening walk of Piazza Navona and Campo de’ Fiori. Book everything online in advance — Italy has tightened entry caps at major sites since 2024.

Is Rome still Italy’s capital today?

Yes. Rome has been the capital of the Kingdom (1871) and then the Republic of Italy (1946) since Italian unification in the 19th century. Between the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476) and Italian unification, Rome was the political center of the Papal States for more than a thousand years — continuous political relevance of nearly 2,800 years.