Living History

A woman in a wheelchair basks in the sun on Via Portico d'Ottavia in Rome's Old Ghetto, one of the world's longest continuing Jewish communities.

The columns visible at right and background are part of a portico erected by Emperor Augustus 2,000 years ago as a monument to his sister, Octavia.

For more information about the Roman Empire, visit Information Please a partner of CBS.com.

If you want to go back in time and see the historic monuments of Italy firsthand, book a tour to Rome through our Getaway section.