What does the word amusement mean?It means to have fun, to enjoy yourself with friends and to have a good time.Through the years the way to have fun has changed quite a lot. History taught us that our parents enjoyed themselves in a completely different way from their children. To undestrand this mutation we have to go back a few decades.

• The studios were founded in 1937 by Benito Mussolini, his son Vittorio, and his head of cinema Luigi Freddi

• They were created for propaganda purposes, under the slogan "Il cinema è l'arma più forte" (Cinema is the most powerful weapon).

• They had an important role in the regime• The studios were bombed by the Western Allies during

World War II• Following the war, between 1945 and 1947, the

studios were used as a displaced persons' camp for a period of about two years

• In the 1950s, Cinecittà was the filming location for several large American film productions like Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis?

• Later Cinecittà became the studio most closely associated with Federico Fellini“La dolce vita” is one of his most famousfilms

• After a period of near-bankruptcy in the 1980s, Cinecittà was privatized by the Italian government

• On August 9, 2007, a fire destroyed about 3000 m² (32,000 sq. ft.) of the Cinecittà lot and surroundings

• Cinecittà is mostly used as a set for TV programmes

• In Italy, for example, especially after the second world war, many clubs were built: one of the most popular one was and still is the “Piper”. It was born in 1965.

• A lot of young adults from all around Italy and some parts of Europe came to the Piper to be a part of the sixties generation; some famous singers performed there to partecipate in this revolution. In fact the Piper became the icon of a whole generation and a true cultural phenomenon.

• The Cinema also contributed to this cultural change.

• It was one of the few enetertainments and people went to the movies more often than nowadays.

• The fifties and the sixties created a series of classics that will live forever.

• Some of these movies owe their success to the cast of actors and actresses that established themselves as style icons,.

• In fact people tried to imitate their way of living. “La dolce Vita” or the “Sweet life” is the perfect example of this period

• One of the biggest places of amusement in Rome since the Ancient Romans is the “Terme di Caracalla” or Baths of Caracalla.

• The Thermae Antoninianae, one of the largest and best preserved ancient thermal complex, were built in the southern part of the city on the initiative of Caracalla, who inaugurated the building in 216 AD.

• The rectangular shape is typical of the "great imperial baths."

• The baths were not just a building for wash rooms, sport and body care, but also a place for walking and study.

• One entered from the main building with four doors on the north-eastern facade.

• On the central axis we can observe in sequence the caldarium with hot water, the tepidarium with warm water , frigidarium with cold water, which are the three large baths.

• The sides of this axis are arranged symmetrically around the two gymnasiums.

• The Baths of Caracalla are very important for the Opera world

• During the summer time, the baths turn into a platform for breathtaking cultural sets:

• The fancy Teatro dell’ Opera love to held the most famous operas.

• In 1937 the Baths became a real theatre which turned into a usual event both for citizens and the international public.

• It was fundamental to give this ‘Teatro’ its final structure and let all theatre artists and technicians work with some continuity.

• Defined as the “Teatro del popolo” or People’s theatre , it became more and more an expression of a rediscovered and accomplished popular taste.

• With its technological plans, designed and set up by Pericle Ansaldo, the stage was placed within one of the large rooms near the Tepidarium.

• It became the biggest stage in the world with 1,500sqm and a 22 metre proscenium (the place in which the actors play). The seating plans hosted 8.000 seats, divided into six sectors.

• The first season was very brief, but there were some good performances.

• The opera season was interrupted during the Second World War.

• It reopened in 1945 in a triumphant way.

• From 1945 to 1993 it was very important for musical culture and the most evocative venues for open air performances.

• On 14th August 1993, the curtain was brought down for good over the theatre.

• Since 2001 many operas have been performed at Terme di Caracalla with new logistics.

• The monumental ruins are not embedded into the stage, anymore.

• It is still a unique and extraordinary frame for the Summer ‘Teatro’ of Roma and also the Ballet Season.

• The auditorium of Rome is a multifunctional complex dedicated to music. It is characterized by three concert halls.

• It was built in 2002 by Renzo Piano, an important Italian architect.

• The complex is composed by three main halls and a cavea;

• There are also three recording studios and a musical bookshop

• The acoustic is excellent thanks to the form of the halls.

• The cavea is a reproduction of a Greek theatre, it is located in the center of the complex and it accommodates 4000 people organized on two levels.

The auditorium is located in the north area of the city in a beautiful place between the Parioli neighborhood and the Flaminio one. Every November it becomes the place of the famous “Festival Del Cinema” with a lot of Hollywood stars.

• It is a permanent structure dedicated to children (0-12 years), schools and families.

• At Explora children can learn, play, interact and share in a stimulating and joyful environment.

• It was designed according to the modern ‘in-the field’ learning concept, instrumental in the cognitive development of children.

• Explora is in a network of more that 300 European Children’s Museums and is also a member of Hands’ on International, an association representing the Children’s Museums in Europe.

• Explora opened on May 12th 2001, and has around 140,000 visitors a year.

• It is located in Via Flaminia 82, in the centre of Rome, just a few minutes’ walk from Piazza del Popolo and Piazzale Flaminio.

• It has several special activities for the schools

• There are many playgroups, in which the children are assisted by a member of staff and engaged in a complete sensorial and motorial experience.