Francesco Rutelli's New Book Uncovers Rome's Hidden Stories

Francesco Rutelli, former mayor of Rome, has published a new book titled "Roma, la città dei segreti" (Rome, the City of Secrets). The volume explores Rome's layered history through overlooked details, such as 19th-century busts on the Pincio that were reworked to turn classical figures into modern characters, and architectural reinventions. Rutelli combines microhistories—minor stories of places and marginal events—with broader urban interventions that shaped contemporary Rome. He draws on his administrative experience to highlight the cultural responsibility of governing a capital city, emphasizing that urban regeneration must be a continuous process that values stratification without freezing it. The book is presented as an invitation to read Rome, deciphering visible and hidden signs. The article also discusses the current challenges facing Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who must guide Rome through global transitions in climate, mobility, tourism, and quality of life. Artribune, through its newsletter Render, considers covering urbanism and territorial innovation a strategic ground. The piece concludes that Rutelli's book reminds us that reading Rome is the first step to building it, and the second, harder step is to continue imagining its future.