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One of Italy’s top modern authors (1907–90) wrote about Rome in Raconti Romani , La Romana , La Ciociara , Gli Indifferenti and La Noia , most of which have been translated.

Ruthless Borgia pope (1492–1503) used the pontificate to destroy rival families.

Augustus Caesar built this “Altar of Peace” between 13 BC and 9 BC to celebrate the famed pax romana (Roman peace) he instituted – largely by subjugating most of Western Europe, the Levant and North Africa. Fragments of the altar were excavated over several centuries, and in the 1920s Mussolini placed the reconstituted Ara Pacis by Augustus’s Mausoleum. The altar is now housed in a Richard Meier-designed museum, the first modern structure to rise in the centre of Rome in 70 years.

A series of military victories, adding Gaul (France) to Rome, increased General Julius Caesar’s popularity. He marched his army to Rome and declared himself Dictator for Life, but on 15 March 44 BC he was assassinated. Caesar’s adopted son Octavian changed his name to Augustus and declared himself emperor in 27 BC.

The first and most brilliant emperor (31 BC–AD 14) brought a reign of peace after 17 years of civil war.

A large section of this huge 3rd-century AD complex now houses an excellent archaeological museum, including a marble sculpture of Mithras that still retains its gold leaf and paint. A vast Michelangelo cloister is decorated with ancient statuary (see Baths of Diocletian and Aula Ottagona).

In 312 Emperor Constantine, whose mother was a Christian, had a vision of victory under the sign of the Cross and defeated co-emperor Maxentius at Milvian Bridge. He declared Christianity the state religion.