The Eternal City celebrates its 2,777th birthday on 21 April with historical re-enactments including costumed parades past the Colosseum and gladiator fights in the Circus Maximus. Known as Natale di Roma, the annual birthday celebration is based on the legendary founding of Rome by Romulus in 753 BC, and this year takes place from 19-21 April.

Rome's birthday has been marked for the past three decades by the Gruppo Storico Romano, a historical dramatic society that re-enacts battles, Roman rituals and displays of ancient theatre and dance. The group also re-enacts the assassination of Julius Caesar on 15 March every year.