Rome

Can you hear that? It’s the sound of water splashing in my hundreds of fountains, a happy song that never stops. If you walk along my streets, you can feel the bumpy cobblestones under your feet, stones that have been here for a very, very long time. Look up, and you’ll see grand, old buildings standing tall, right next to cheerful cafes where people sip yummy drinks. I am a place where stories from long ago whisper on the breeze, telling tales of brave heroes and clever builders. I am a city of echoes, art, and sunshine. I am Rome.

My story begins so long ago, on April 21st, 753 BCE, with two brave baby brothers named Romulus and Remus. A legend says they were saved by a kind mother wolf who took care of them until a shepherd found them. When they grew up, Romulus decided to build a city right here, on my seven hills, and that’s how I was born. My people, the Romans, were amazing builders. They wanted to create things that would last forever. They built a giant stone circle called the Colosseum. It was so big that thousands of people could sit inside and cheer for brave gladiators. “Hooray!” they would shout from the stands. I loved feeling the excitement of the crowds. The Romans were also very smart. They built special water bridges called aqueducts that stretched for miles, carrying fresh, clean water from the mountains right into the city for everyone to drink and use. They also built strong, straight roads that went out from my heart like the threads of a giant spiderweb, connecting me to faraway places and bringing new friends and new ideas to my gates.

Many years passed, and the time of emperors and gladiators came to an end. But my story was far from over. I became a home for incredible artists who saw beauty everywhere. One of them, a man named Michelangelo, lay on his back for years to paint wonderful stories on a giant ceiling. When you look up at it, it feels like you are looking right into heaven. Today, my heart still beats with joy and life. You can smell delicious pizza baking in warm ovens and hear the happy sounds of people laughing as they share a meal. Children and families come to my beautiful Trevi Fountain to toss a coin into the water. They make a wish, hoping that one day they will return. I am called the “Eternal City” because my stories never end and my spirit never grows old. I am always here, waiting to share my history and my sunshine with new friends just like you.