Why did the ancient Romans believe this very hill, Vatican Hill, held the key to a baby’s first words? Vatican Hill. It may not be one of the famous seven hills of Rome, but trust me, it’s a place steeped in history and shrouded in mystique. The name itself is a bit of a head-scratcher. Some ancient Roman scholars, like Varro, believed it came from a deity, Deus Vaticanus or Vagitanus, who supposedly gave babies the gift of speech. Imagine that, a god of first cries! This Vaticanus god was believed to preside over prophecies and the power of the human voice. You see, the first sound a baby makes, that “wah” sound, reminded them of the first syllable of “Vaticanus.” A bit of a stretch? Maybe. But doesn’t it make this place even more intriguing? What we do know is that Vatican Hill, rising on the west bank of the Tiber River, is home to something truly extraordinary – St. Peter’s Basilica, the heart of the Catholic Church. This grand basilica stands on the site of an ancient cemetery, believed to be the final resting place of St. Peter himself. Over the centuries, Vatican Hill transformed from a rather unremarkable area into the epicenter of one of the world’s most powerful institutions. So next time you hear a baby’s first cry, remember Vatican Hill and the god who might just be listening.
Ponte Fabricio
How sturdy it looks, this Ponte Fabricio, wouldn’t you say? And for good reason! This bridge, dear travelers, is no