July – the fifth month of the Roman calendar and it’s hot!

July in Ancient Rome was not the July we know and love. The Roman calendar originally consisted of ten months and began in March – because of this, July was originally known as Quintilis.

The first king of Rome, Romulus – of Romulus and Remus fame – is thought to have devised the first Roman calendar. The calendar had six months lasting for 30 days and four months of 31 days.

Romulus and Remus - Brogi,_Carlo_(1850-1925)_-_n._8226_-_Certosa_di_Pavia_-_Medaglione_sullo_zoccolo_della_facciata — King Romulus – First King of Rome – with his twin brother, Remus, whom he killed (image Wikipedia)

The months were named after their numerical place within the calendar – or after Gods, as was March (after Mars, god of war). September, for example, was named after the Latin for seven (septem), its position in the calendar.

So the original Roman calendar was:

Martius – 31 Days

Aprilis – 30 Days

Maius – 31 Days

Iunius – 30 Days

Quintilis – 31 Days

Sextilis – 30 Days

September – 30 Days

October – 31 Days

November – 30 Days

December – 30 Days

Tusculum portrait Julius Caesar — Julius Caesar – emperor and calendar reformer (image Pixabay)

Julian calendar

Julius Caesar changed the calendar to 12 months in 46BC, two years before his death. He added an extra day every four years to February – what we know as Leap Year – to take into account the slight time disparity caused by the earth’s rotation over the course of four years, which added an extra day to the calendar.

After Caesar’s murder on 15 March 44BC, July – the month of Caesar’s birth (13 July) was renamed from Quintilis to honour him. His reformation of the Roman calendar became known as the Julian calendar.

Sextilis was renamed August in 8BC to honour Emperor Augustus – real name Octavian – who was Caesar’s great nephew and whom Caesar had named as his successor, not having a surviving son himself.

July birthday boy Julius Caesar (Base image Clckr, copyright A Meredith)

Summer concerts in Rome

Today, July in Rome is a time for music festivals, which take place at all the main historical sites – including the Colosseum, which has a stage built across one end of the vast amphitheatre floor.

The Baths of Caracalla host opera among its dramatic architecture – and there is a summer concert programme called Rock in Roma, which attracts global superstars like the Rolling Stones, as well as homegrown Italian superstars.

There are also religious festivals like the Feast of Santa Maria del Carmine at the end of July – and street festivals, with stalls and handicrafts spread along the banks of the Tiber.

Image Alfredo Estevez — Along the river bank in Trastevere at night is fabulous for wining and dining (Image Pixabay)

July is a peak time for tourists to visit Rome – it is also one of the hottest months of the year in the Eternal City and temperatures can top 100F.

An important thing to remember if you are visiting in July – and are feeling the heat – is that it is illegal to bathe in the fountains and it is now also illegal to sit on the Spanish Steps.

Trevi Fountain, Rome (Image Pixabay)

Cooling down in Rome’s heat

When things get hot in the Eternal City, I recommend heading to the Museum of Ara Pacis, which is handily situated across from Castel Sant’ Angelo on the Lungotevere, where one of the larger street festivals also takes place, with stalls set out along the busy street.

Ara Pacis is a lovely, calm, cool museum with a small fountain outside where you can sit, so you can either take refuge inside (entry 10 euros) or sit by the fountain and rest, which you cannot now do by the Trevi Fountain.

Cool off sitting round the fountain at the Museum of Ara Pacis, Rome

Marching on your stomach in Rome

Don’t forget to take plenty of sunscreen and drink plenty of water – I love Liptons chilled peach tea, which you can buy from the street vendors and which is a great sugar boost if you are feeling weary. You can also buy panini, cakes and gelato from vendors, which are dotted around all over Rome and near the main tourist sites.

Also take plenty of hand wipes – plus a sun hat, and a sun umbrella (a mini umbrella is easy to carry round). Shorts and bare chests and shoulders are not permitted inside churches – and bare chests are also frowned upon generally, so wear a lightweight shirt and take a lightweight scarf or wrap you can carry if you don’t want to walk round the Vatican in a sheet of plastic provided for you!

Rome is such a wonderful place to visit at any time of year – I generally visit in spring or autumn, when it is less crowded and can still be very warm. But if you are setting off on a break this July, have a wonderful time!

Buon viaggio!

Find some shade in Rome’s Borgese Gardens in July

All images copyright A. Meredith except where stated

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