Happy birthday Rome: 2778 years of history and great beauty

Every year on April 21st, Rome celebrates its legendary beginnings with parades, historical reenactments, and fireworks. Known as Il Natale di Roma, this ancient tradition marks the founding of Rome in 753 BC by Romulus. In fact, among the many reasons why the Eternal City is unique in the world is the official date of Rome's foundation, which, according to tradition, happened on the 21st of April 753 BC. Whether you're a history lover, a traveler, or just Rome-obsessed, don’t miss the chance to celebrate with locals the birthday of the most important iconic city in history.

According to ancient Roman legend, April 21st, 753 BC marks the dramatic founding of Rome by Romulus, who, after a fierce rivalry with his twin brother Remus, became the city’s first king. Raised by a she-wolf and destined for greatness, Romulus laid the first stones on the Palatine Hill, tracing the border of the new city and giving life to what would become one of the most powerful civilizations in history. This legendary story of Rome's foundation has come down to us through important historical works by Titus Livius, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, and Plutarch, and the poetic works of Virgil and Ovid. Over the centuries, the tradition of celebrating Rome's foundation has continued until nowadays, and this date has become famous as Il Natale di Roma - Rome's Birthday.

For more than 2000 years, Rome's foundation has been celebrated with the ritual of the light which happens inside the Pantheon. It is the way the emperors celebrated the date of April 21st, and the tradition has continued to the present day. On this day at midday, a special light effect occurs at the Pantheon, where the sun entering from the oculus perfectly illuminates the bronze entrance door. In ancient times, at this specific moment, the Emperor entered the Pantheon illuminated by the ray of sunlight as if he were the representation of the sun god on Earth. Nowadays, the spectacle of this light effect attracts many locals and tourists every year who want to witness this miracle of ancient Roman engineering.

As every year for Rome's 2778th birthday, the municipality of the Eternal City has organized a great program to celebrate the foundation of Rome with concerts, exhibitions, historical reenactments, and a fireworks show.

One of the most important and most felt appointments by locals is the historical reenactment organized by the Gruppo storico romano - Roman historical group - with an ancient Roman village set up at the Circus Maximus from the 18th until the 21st of April. The theme for 2025 is “Rome – City of Fire,” which explores the destructive and regenerative power of fire, from devastation to the rebirth of the Empire, guarded by the sacred fire of the Vestal Virgins. The grand parade with the historical reenactments is scheduled for the 21st of April.

The traditional concert in the Campidoglio square will take place in the evening with the performance of the rock-folk group Il Muro del Canto, while the fireworks show will be along the Tiber River. Throughout the day, the municipal museums will host special exhibitions and workshops for kids.

This year, 2025, Rome's foundation falls on the day after Easter, known as Easter Monday - Pasquetta in Italy, which represents an important day with religious and secular meanings. Traditionally in Rome, it is the day to go to parks like Villa Borghese, Villa Pamphilj, Villa Ada, and so on, to have picnics with relatives and friends. It is also the day on which Christians celebrate the apparition of the angel to the women at the holy sepulcher. This year, therefore, April 21st is an unmissable day to celebrate Rome's foundation, which is the birth of one of the world's legendary cities.