Rome’s birthday

Rome

Are you lucky enough to be in Italy on 21st April?

Rome will be celebrating it’s birthday, Natale di Roma.

With just a short train ride from Cortona to Roma Termini, you can enjoy the festivities as this legendary city, founded by Romulus in 753BC will celebrate it’s 2,779th birthday!!

The city celebrates by hosting massive celebrations, including historical reenactments, parades featuring costumed centurions and vestal virgins at the Circus Maximus and fireworks, particularly around the Colosseum.

The city hosts several unique historical and cultural events, mostly vcentered around the Circus Maximus and the Imperial Forums. Historical parades feature over 1,500 participants dressed as legionaries, gladiators and vestal virgins march around the city. At midday on the 21st April, the sun aligns with the Pantheon’s oculus to perfectly illuminate the bronze entrance door - a ‘miracle’ originally designed for the Emperor’s entrance.

The historical group of Rome organizes mock battles, gladiators fights and ancient rituals like the Tritius del Solco, the tracing of the city boundaries.

During the festive time, many state museums and archaeological sites often offer free entry or special guided tours for the occasion.

As the legend goes, Romulus and his twin brother Remus, sons of Rhea Silvia and the god Mars, were raised by a she-wolf before Romulus eventually founded the city on the Palatine Hill in 753BC after killing his brother.

The specific date was established in the 1st century BC by Roman scholar Marcus Terentius Varro, based on astrological and historical records.

Originally an agricultural festival called the Parilia, it was later transformed into a grand state holiday celebrating Rome’s birth - Dies Romana

Team, 25/03/2026 09:57:46

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