Lucci Hotel Rome Blog

If you compare, you will find out that there was not pretty much a difference between our pastimes and those of classic Rome age (excluding the computer staff) that we have to admit is not helping to keep the body in good shape. The Romans wanted to show themselves like their beautiful statues here and there. These is how they worked it out.

In ancient times Rome had a place called Campus, a kind of drill ground for Roman soldiers, by the Tiber. Later, the Campus became Rome’s track and field playground, it is said that even Julius Caesar and Augustus used to go there for practising . In time, these type grounds were developed in other cities and military locations.

Here, the youth met to play and exercise: jumping, wrestling, boxing, racing, riding, throwing, swimming, and many other things. As a legacy from the Greek

culture, sport was very important in Roman education. In the countryside, the favourite pastime was hunting. Females did not participate in these activities.

Ball playing was a popular sport and ancient Romans had several ball games, which included Expulsim Ludere, that is the way they called handball, field hockey, catch, and even some form of soccer.

Of course board games were played also, choices were Tesserare that you know by the name dice, Latrunculi, the roman chess and we could not forget the Egyptian backgammon, the Tabula as they called. It is funny to think that gambling was not legal, but in every bar they had a section at the back, well covered for this sort of entertainment! It was unofficially tolerated in fact as long as you didn’t show it in public. Just like the gangster films!

There were many other activities like chariot races, musical and theatrical performances and the well known public executions and gladiatorial combat at the Rome Colosseum, one that we have left way (with the little exception of the fiction in films, which makes me wonder about…). And if you plan to stay in Rome why not take advantage of our discounted prices in our Lucci Hotel Rome?