April 21 is not only Her Majesty’s anniversary. There is another worldwide popular celebrity whose anniversary is exactly on this day, and that is Rome.
According to the tradition Rumulus and Remus, the twins who were breastfed by a she-wolf, decided to build a city on an area with seven hills, but after an argument Rumulus killed his brother and the city took his name. Roman annalists reported that this happened on 21 April 753 BC. Rome then is going to be 2769 year old today.
Every year on 21 April Rome celebrates its ‘birthday’ with traditional Roman events and initiatives, including classic parades.
First of all, the admission to Musei Civici and their exhibitions will be free on April 21. In addition, from 20 to 24 April, museum directors and curators will introduce the visitors to the unknown treasures of the city.
To mark the capital’s 2769th anniversary, 450 led lamps will light the Roman Forum, for centuries the centre of Roman public life, on the same day. From the sunset to the sunrise, the light will be protagonist in the Roman site.
Rome, the Forum
From 22 April to 30 October 2016, the Eternal City will offer free admission to two historical itineraries curated by Piero Angela and Paco Laciano. Journey through Ancient Rome features two routes through Forum of Augustus and Forum of Caesar. Throughout audio systems the audience will listen to music, special effects and the story narrated by Piero Angela and accompanied by videos. It will be a great opportunity to evoke the role of the Forum in ancient Romans’ life. For more information visit Viaggi nell’antica Roma.
William Kentridge‘s Triumphs and laments: un progetto per Roma will open on 21 April 2016. MACRO, the museum of contemporary art, will host this provocative exhibition that features 80 preparatory works by the South African artist. At the beginning of March, Kentbridge started his street art project on the shores of the Tiber: 500 meter-long frieze, erased from the biological patina on the travertine embankment walls that line the river.
Triumphs and laments by W.Kentridge
The original charcoal drawings of the frieze’s figures are on view in the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
The project explores dominant tensions in the history of the Eternal City from past to present, from the she-wolf that suckled Romolus and Remus to Pasolini’s dead body.
Even Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni will make an appearance on the walls but all the images will disappear in winter when the level of the water will arise.
