Rome

Splash, splash, splash. Can you hear my water singing in my many fountains? My little streets are bumpy, like a fun, jiggly ride for your feet. Big, warm stones sleep in the sunshine all day long. They have been here for a very, very long time and hold so many secrets. I love to hear children laugh and watch families make wishes. I am a city full of happy sounds and sunny spots. Are you ready to hear my story? I am Rome.

My story began a long, long, long time ago. Two brave brothers named Romulus and Remus played near a river. One day, Romulus decided to build a home right here. That was my very first birthday, on April 21st, many, many years ago. At first, I was just a small town with little houses. But soon, more and more friends came to live with me. We built amazing things together, stacking stone on top of stone, like giant building blocks. We built a big, round circle called the Colosseum. It was a happy place for people to clap and cheer. Hooray. We also built special roads just for water to travel on. These water roads brought fresh, splashy water to all my fountains so everyone could drink and play. I loved watching my family grow.

Today, I am still here, and I love having visitors. Families come from all over the world to say ‘Ciao.’ That means hello. Children laugh as they walk on my bumpy stone streets, just like children did long ago. One of my favorite things is when people visit my big, sparkly fountain. They close their eyes, make a wish, and toss a little coin into the water. Plink. Maybe they wish to come back and see me again. They also eat yummy, cold ice cream called gelato and listen to happy music. I love sharing my stories with you. I am here to remind you that old dreams can help you make new adventures.