March 1 is an important day – not only are you required to say “White Rabbits” before you speak to anyone else on the day, to ensure good luck for the rest of the year, but March 1 was also the original start of the year in the Roman calendar.

It is not known when the New Year was changed to January 1 in the Roman Empire – the Julian calendar was reformed by Julius Caesar in 46BC and this is when the change might have taken place. It is believed January was chosen because the god Janus looks both ways – ie at the old year passing and the new year approaching.

The original Roman calendar was thought to have been drawn up by the first King of Rome, Romulus and originally the Roman year had ten months and 304 days and started in March.

The updated calendar had 12 months and 355 days, but both versions depended on the cycles of the moon and agricultural seasons. Rome was originally a small agricultural settlement, making its development into one of the most successful empires ever know even more remarkable.

March is an excellent time to visit Rome if you do not like the heat and crowds of tourists. It can be rainy – but it can also be gloriously sunny with temperatures in the low 70sF. It is cool at night so pack some warmer clothes and a raincoat and umbrella. Walking round sites like the Forum is a lot easier, though – and you can at times have the site to yourself. You might even see a March hare or two enjoying the spring sunshine with you!

Buon viaggio!

Featured image: Vittorio Emanuele II monument, which stands on Capitoline Hill overlooking the Forum. Vittorio Emanuele II was the first king of a unified Italy. The monument was designed at the end of the 19th century and was completed in 1935. It is constructed from white marble and was controversial because of its site occupying a large expanse of the ancient Capitoline Hill.