Gruppo Storico Romano for Rome's 2777th birthday

Three days of culture, history, love and tradition to celebrate Rome's 2777th birthday

On the occasion of the Urbe's 2777th birthday, the Circus Maximus area hosts the traditional activities of the Roman Historical Group with representations of ancient rites and feasts, gladiatorial performances and historical re-enactments.

Three days of culture, history, love and tradition, characterised by the setting up of the customary imperial and republican Castrum in which there will be meetings with authors, music, exhibitions and educational workshops for children.

Among the most eagerly awaited happenings of the event, we recommend:

• Friday 19 at 7.30 p.m. in Piazza Campo Marzio, Renewal of the Sacred Fire
• Friday 19 at 8:00 p.m. - Piazza della Rotonda - Pantheon - Benedictio Vrbi
• Saturday 20 at 2 p.m. - Circus Maximus - Opening ritual and dedication of the games to the Gods
• Saturday 20 at 3 p.m. - Archaeological Area of the Circus Maximus - Game of Harpastum, a distant relative of the game of football
• Saturday 20 at 3 p.m. - Gladiators Area of Circus Maximus - Gladiator Tournament Qualifications
• Saturday 20 at 4 p.m. Circus Maximus - Ancient Dances
• Saturday 20 at 5:00 p.m. - Circus Maximus Gladiators Area - Tournament between gladiator schools
• Saturday 20 at 7:45 p.m. - Circus Maximus - Stage - Maurizio Battista presents Un Sorriso per Roma
• Saturday 20 at 8:00 p.m. on the Circus Maximus stage the Italian Army Band will perform
• Sunday 21 at at 10:30 a.m. Circus Maximus - Stage - the Roman Historical Group celebrates its 30th anniversary
• On Sunday 21 at at 11:00 a.m., the evocative Historical Parade will take place. It will be composed of approximately 1,600 reenactors in costume and will parade from the Circus Maximus to Via del Fori Imperiali and back. Route: Via dei Cerchi, Via Luigi Petroselli, Via del Teatro di Marcello, Via del Campidoglio, Via San Pietro in Carcere, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Colosseum, Via Celio Vibenna, Via di San Gregorio, Via dei Cerchi, Circus Maximus
• On Sunday 21 at 3.00 p.m. the Circus Maximus will re-enact the Tracciato del Solco, the founding act of Rome and its millennial history
• Sunday 21 from 3.25 pm - Circus Maximus - performances by the participating historical groups, Rite of Palilia and the Battle of Spartacus

Founded in 1994, the Gruppo Storico Romano, which celebrates 30 years of activity this year, is a cultural association dedicated with passion and rigour to Ancient Historical Re-enactment. It carries out activities to promote and divulge all the civil, cultural and religious aspects of Ancient Rome in order to enhance and rediscover its historical and cultural traditions, keep alive the memory of the ancient splendour of its civilisation, and be a point of aggregation and reference for all those enthusiasts who, even today, are its legacy.

The programme is continuously updated at > www.natalidiroma.it

Photo: Gruppo Storico Romano