Italy - Natale di Roma 21 Aprile, 2012 (Celebrations for the Anniversary of Rome's Founding)

I've been posting about upcoming April/May events - so I can't very well leave out the celebrations in honor of Rome's founding on April 21, 753 B.C.

From the Gruppo Storico Romano (http://www.natalidiroma.it/2012/english/program_NdR2012_eng.html) website here are the scheduled events (to be confirmed) for Rome's foundation anniversary 2012:


Friday April 20, 2012
At 4:30pm - Cultural conference at Sala della Protomoteca in Campidoglio

Saturday April 21, 2012
At 9:30am - Lighting of the sacred fire in Piazza del Campidoglio

At 3:30pm - Commemoration of the foundation of Roma at Circo Massimo

At 4:30pm - Musical concert at Circo Massimo

At 6:30pm - Reenactment of the ceremony of Palilia at Circo Massimo

Sunday April 22, 2012
At 11:30am - Great historical parade from Circo Massimo (route: Circo Massimo, Via del Teatro di Marcello, Piazza Venezia, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseo, Circo Massimo)

From 3:00 to 6:00pm - Exhibition of historical reenactment at Circo Massimo

And in case there are others out there also intriqued with all things Roman I'll add this: on the topic of Rome's founding, the noted archeologist Andrea Carandini has a new book out, Rome: Day One (http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Day-One-Andrea-Carandini/dp/0691139229/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332623991&sr=8-1), where he argues that Romulus and Remus and Rome's founding are more than just myth. From the Amazon.com description:

"Historians tell us that there is no more reason to believe that Rome was actually established by Romulus than there is to believe that he was suckled by a she-wolf. But Carandini, drawing on his own excavations as well as historical and literary sources, argues that the core of Rome's founding myth is not purely mythical. In this illustrated account, he makes the case that a king whose name might have been Romulus founded Rome one April 21st in the mid-eighth century BC, most likely in a ceremony in which a white bull and cow pulled a plow to trace the position of a wall marking the blessed soil of the new city. This ceremony establishing the Palatine Wall, which Carandini discovered, inaugurated the political life of a city that, through its later empire, would influence much of the world".

I haven't picked this book up yet but saw it mentioned in a New Yorker article critiquing several new books on Rome. This one and one that alleges that Caligula wasn't deranged but rather politically shrewd caught my attention:
The Empire Strikes Back: Rome and us (http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2012/01/09/120109crat_atlarge_kirsch) (the link only shows an excerpt of the article unless you have a subscription).

In case anyone's interested in checking this out, "Roma Caput Mundi: The Eternal Musical" will give 3 special performances in honor of Natale di Roma at the Auditorium Conciliazione:

Friday, April 20 at 9:00pm
Saturday, April 21 at 9:00pm
Sunday, April 22 at 11:00am

The theater is located at 4 Via della Conciliazione (between Castel Sant'Angelo and the Vatican)

Excerpt from the website:

"From the legend of Lupa by Romulus and Remus, from Julius Caesar to Spartacus, from the Christian era to the end of the Roman Empire, all the great history of Rome told in music. A sequence of exciting and engaging through songs, and choreography, especially the three-dimensional video images, leading the viewer to immerse himself in that distant era. SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH."

And here's the link for the musical's dedicated website with a VERY long video showing scenes from the show:
http://www.romacaputmundi.biz/

To purchase tickets on the Auditorium Conciliazione's website click here (http://www.auditoriumconciliazione.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=139).

Also, there's a "Flash mob" scheduled for Wednesday, April 18th at 3:00pm at Castel Sant'Angelo with the entire cast.

In addition to what's posted above, a long list of events have now been scheduled for April 20, 21 and 22.

From the Musei in Comune website:

The celebrations on 21 April are always an opportunity to celebrate the legendary Birthday of Rome but also a moment to reflect on the meaning and values of national and civil identity.

See the 060608 website for the full list of events:
2.765° Natale di Roma (http://www.060608.it/en/eventi-e-spettacoli/manifestazioni/2-765-natale-di-roma.html)

An event that stood out to me on the list was the multimedia show slated for the Trajan's Markets on April 21, from 11:00pm to 12:00am:
A show of lights and colours projected onto Trajan's Market (http://en.mercatiditraiano.it/mostre_ed_eventi/eventi/spettacolo_di_proiezioni_di_luci_e_colori_ai_merca ti_di_traiano)

The Italian page has more info however (click on visualizza testo):
Spettacolo di proiezioni di luci e colori ai Mercati di Traiano (http://www.mercatiditraiano.it/mostre_ed_eventi/eventi/spettacolo_di_proiezioni_di_luci_e_colori_ai_merca ti_di_traiano)

"Buzz in Rome" has an easier to view listing of the scheduled events and concerts (compared to the 060608 site):

Rome Turns 2765 on April 21, Here’s How We Celebrate the Eternal City’s Birthday! (http://www.buzzinrome.com/2012/04/17/rome-turns-2765-on-april-21-heres-how-we-celebrate-the-eternal-citys-birthday/)

Assuming others share my interest in this (based on the number of views this thread has received), I thought you might like to see some pictures tweeted today:

Tweeted by @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome ):

“Getting ready to rumble #circusmaximus” (http://instagr.am/p/Jrjh0MxQ0K/) (have to admit, this pix is my favorite ;) )

Tweeted by @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture ):

Getting ready for the festa! #birthday #Rome (http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture/status/193668175844491264/photo/1)

Tweeted by @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled ):

Romans at Circus Maximus #Rome #Birthday (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12581663)

Roman ladies dancing (Ancient Rome reenactment, circus Maximus) #Rome #Birthday (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12582453)

Setting the stage. #HappyBirthdayRome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12582995)

Light show (or something interesting) gonna start soon up against Trajan's Market. I think Ennio Morricone on stage (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12583185)

From Il Messaggero (http://www.ilmessaggero.it/) a few more pictures of today's reenactment at Circo Massimo:
Rievocazione storica del Natale di Roma (http://www.ilmessaggero.it/fotogallery.php?id_news=192035&id_fg=7383)
And a brief video:
Celebrazioni per il Natale di Roma (http://www.ilmessaggero.it/video.php?id=15877&id_news=192035)
And the accompanying article (in Italian):
Natale di Roma, Alemanno: «Festa sobria, usciremo dalla crisi» (http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo.php?id=192035&sez=HOME_ROMA)
And google's awkward but serviceable translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=it&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilmessaggero.it%2Farticolo.php% 3Fid%3D192035%26sez%3DHOME_ROMA

And here's an amateur's video of the Ennio Morricone concert held on the Via dei Fori Imperiali earlier tonight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOidKCs-y5s

And from Roma Capitale more of a description of what took place today, and what's scheduled for Sunday:
Natale di Roma, la città festeggia oggi il suo 2.765° compleanno (http://www.comune.roma.it/wps/portal/pcr?contentId=NEW314176&jp_pagecode=newsview.wp&ahew=contentId:jp_pagecode)

And google's translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=it&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.comune.roma.it%2Fwps%2Fportal%2 Fpcr%3FcontentId%3DNEW314176%26jp_pagecode%3Dnewsv iew.wp%26ahew%3DcontentId%3Ajp_pagecode

(I keep looking for pix and videos of tonight's light show on top of Trajan's Markets.... but figured I might as well post the stuff I've come across).

Found a couple of great shots of Mercati di Traiano! :)

Tweeted by @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )

“Marcello. come here! #ladolcevita” (http://instagr.am/p/JskQl4SMxS/)

“natale di roma 2765” (http://instagr.am/p/JsiCz3yMwI/)

Another interesting note about Rome's birthday is that only on a few times each year will the light from the Pantheon's oculus come through in such a way as to light its front door - and April 21, 2012 is one of those days.

So a group of people gathered there today (associated with the Friends of The American Academy In Rome (http://www.aarome.org/)) to witness the event. It all seems very Raiders of the Lost Ark to me.

Here are a few tweeted pix from inside the Pantheon on Saturday, April 21, 2012:

From @saverome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )

“Happy birthday old girl #rome” (http://instagr.am/p/JrZBj3xQxM/)

From @eminchilli ( http://twitter.com/#!/eminchilli )

Waiting for the magic at the Pantheon (http://twitter.com/#!/eminchilli/status/193646842981007361/photo/1)

From @gmcguireinrome ( http://twitter.com/#!/gmcguireinrome )

“chasing the sun #rome” (http://instagr.am/p/JrZflvSMzp/)

“symmetry #rome” (http://instagr.am/p/JrhKZESM1o/)

And a great time-lapsed compilation “Roma Dies Natalis MMDCCLXV” (http://instagr.am/p/Jro1mlyM4G/)

Saw this article tweeted regarding the Pantheon and April 21 -

From History.com, published August 2011:
Is Rome’s Pantheon a Giant Sundial? (http://www.history.com/news/2011/08/04/is-romes-pantheon-a-giant-sundial/)

Alot of pictures tweeted from today's (April 22) Gruppo Storico parade:

From @ARoadRetraveled ( http://twitter.com/#!/ARoadRetraveled )

Roman legionary #HappyBirthdayRome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12588012)

Grupo Storico Romano: they rock!! #HappyBirthdayRome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12588068)

I'd join the parade for the digs!! #HappyBirthdayRome #parade #Rome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12588313)

The legions in Ancient Rome marched in worst of weather: they can march in a bit of rain today. #KeepItReal #Rome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12588397)

no rain on Rome's parade :) (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12589161)

Etruscans!!!! Fitting they'd attend Rome's Bday parade :) #HappyBirthdayRome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12589181)

Remus & Romulus sighting :) #HappyBirthdayRome (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12589528)

2 female Gladiators fighting to the death....or at least they really fought better than the men!!!! #GrupoStoricoRomano (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12589721)

Dancing girls! #HappyBirthdayRome #circusmaximus (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12589857)

Awesome group fighting!!! Great performance in Circus Maximus! #HappyBirthdayRome #video (http://www.mobypicture.com/user/ARoadRetraveled1/view/12590044)

From @AIRomanCulture ( http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture )

The ladies have arrived #rome #birthday (http://twitter.com/#!/AIRomanCulture/status/194093791035133952/photo/1/large)

From @SaveRome ( http://twitter.com/#!/SaveRome )

Still lots of ancient Romans in circus max (http://instagr.am/p/Jtufh1RQ01/)

“Getting ready for the main event” (http://instagr.am/p/JujLVHRQ0l/)

“Circus Maximus alive #rome” (http://instagr.am/p/JujSdxxQ0q/)

From @moscerina ( http://twitter.com/#!/Moscerina )

“Watching the local legion #rome #birthday” (http://instagr.am/p/JuilvnGZmq/)