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The Roman statesman and scholar, Marcus Tullius Cicero, once famously wrote to ancient Rome’s leading garden and agriculture expert, “If you have a garden in your library, we will want for nothing.” The Union community will dig into the past to cultivate meaning and belonging in a modern space as part of a three-year project, “Ancient Roman Gardeni...

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The Roman Senate was one of the most enduring institutions in the ancient world. It was established at the dawn of Rome, and it survived the fall of the Roman Monarchy, the fall of the Roman Republic, the division of the empire, and the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. It achieved its ascent to power during the Republic and it was finally w...

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This new interview is particularly dear to me for three reasons. The first is that it tells how even young Italians can be guided to learn about the sacrifice that thousands of American heroes made to liberate Italy. The second is that very often I get suggested interviews that are not exactly in the flow of this column, which explores new and spec...

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The world of ancient Rome was one of great conquests, military might, and glory. Joining the Roman Army was a privilege and an honor that only the most courageous and qualified men could achieve.  To become a Roman soldier, one had to prove their worthiness by passing a physical test, demonstrating their qualifications, and taking a solemn oath bef...

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While excavating a villa used by ancient Roman emperors in Italy, archaeologists uncovered something unexpected: two mosaics that depict the Greek mythological figure Medusa, whose hair was made of snakes and whose gaze was said could turn people into stone.   The team found the mosaics in a circular room in the Villa of the Antonines, so called be...

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The Etruscans are perhaps best known for being a mystery. Many people have heard of them but usually only as the neighbors of the Romans. Most people know very little about what they were actually like, or the impact they had on other nations. The surprising truth is that this “mysterious” nation actually had a profound and lasting impact on the re...

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The first day of the snow train in the Pusteria Valley marked the beginning of an ecological and obstacle-free way of skiing. Here’s how to go skiing in South Tyrol. The distance from the slopes is a deterrent for lovers of winter sports in central Italy, especially if they do not want to drive hours and hours and do not like to look for parking or...

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“When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” the proverb says. But what if you’re only in the Italian capital for just one day and you’re keen to fit in as much of its history and culture as possible?  Sure, you could take a few hours out to plan your trip or you could try to book a tour guide to take you round “The Eternal City.” But now there’s a third o...

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The Eternal City celebrates its 2,776th birthday on 21 April 2023 with historical re-enactments including costumed parades past the Colosseum and gladiator fights in the Circus Maximus. Known as Natale di Roma, the annual birthday celebration is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC. For more than two decades Rome has marked...

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Italy plans to open a high-speed rail connection between Rome and the ancient city of Pompeii, in a bid to ramp up tourism to the archaeological site and other locations along one of Italy's most beautiful stretches of coast. The €35m development foresees the creation of a new train station and transport hub adjacent to the Pompeii archaeological s...

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