Rome celebrates 2,777th birthday with parade, events

ROME, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Italy's capital celebrated the city's 2,777th birthday Sunday, the annual retrospective of the city's long history that in recent years has grown increasingly popular with tourists.

On Sunday, the city erupted with concerts, exhibits, ceremonies and a parade of more than 2,000 people marching as legionaries, centurions, Senators, gladiators, vestals, priestesses, and nobles, all dressed in full Roman-era costumes.