The Hidden Connection Between Rome and Shimla

Two cities that occupy two completely different corners of my heart: Shimla, my hometown in Himachal Pradesh, and Rome, the first Italian city I ever stepped into. On the map, they have nothing in common. One is ancient, Mediterranean, Eternal. The other is a Himalayan hill town wrapped in pine, fog, and nostalgia. And yet… these two cities feel uncannily similar in ways that shocked me! So what is the hidden connection between Rome and Shimla?? I too understood it better only after a recent trip to Shimla and felt compelled to write down the similarities I kept noticing.

1. Both Rome and Shimla Are Built on Seven Hills

Yes – this was a mind-blowing realization. Rome is famously built on the Seven Hills of Rome:

• Aventine
• Capitoline
• Esquiline
• Palatine
• Quirinal
• Viminal
• Caelian

But Shimla too stands upon seven hills:

• Summer Hill
• Observatory Hill
• Prospect Hill
• Jakhu Hill
• Inverarm Hill
• Bantony Hill
• Elysium Hill

When this clicked for me during my walk in Shimla, I actually stopped in my tracks.
I grew up here, on the hills and then fell in love with Rome, another hill-built city. Two worlds, two cultures… but the same foundation.

2. Both Cities Were Seats of Power

Rome was the heart of the Roman Empire and remains a major cultural, spiritual, and political capital of the world. But surprisingly, Shimla also held enormous authority. It became the Summer Capital of British India in 1864, and remained the administrative center of the Raj until 1939. From two very different eras and continents, both cities influenced millions of lives.

And although I’ve never lived in Rome, I always feel like a part of me has — that’s how deeply the city shapes you.

3. Old-World Charm and Layers of History

Rome is a time capsule because you can walk past ruins, palaces, fountains, Renaissance windows and modern bookshops… all stacked together like centuries placed side by side.

Shimla also carries time beautifully. The British Tudor-style buildings, the old churches,
the winding staircases, the iron railings. I cannot stop speaking about my hill town! All of it feels like stepping back into another era, even as modern shops appear around the corner. Both cities wear history so effortlessly that you don’t just see it …you feel it.

4. The Ridge in Shimla and the Piazza in Rome

One of the most beautiful similarities is how both cities open up into large public spaces. In Rome (and everywhere else in Italy), the piazza is everything. Piazza Navona, Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza di Spagna – they are places to sit, linger, talk, do nothing, watch the world go by. In Shimla, that space is The Ridge. There are benches to sit on, the Christ Church to gaze at, the Public Library to visit. Or simply people watch, rest, sit, scroll, absorb the mountains. Both cities create these open breathing spaces where time slows down and people exist without rushing.

5. Both Cities Are Meant to Be Walked

Rome is not a car city. Shimla is DEFINITELY not a car city.

You walk. You climb. You pause.

You get lost, and that’s part of the magic. Growing up in Shimla, I barely used a car, it was only to get from one end of town to another. The real heart of Shimla which is the Mall Road, The Ridge, Jakhu is only accessible on foot. Rome is the same. The city reveals itself slowly, through steps, slopes, cobblestones, and unexpected corners. Both cities are built for the feet, not the wheels.

6. Dramatic Viewpoints That Feel Like Paintings

This similarity gave me goosebumps when I realized it. All of which feel like Renaissance paintings coming alive because even though these cities are different terrains, the emotional impact is identical. I love just thinking about being there, standing and watching the whole city settle under my gaze.

In Shimla, you have:

• the viewpoint from Jakhu Hill
• the Ridge overlooking the valley
• spots on Mall Road near the club
  All of which open into sweeping Himalayan landscapes.

In Rome, you have:

• the Pincio Terrace
• the Gianicolo Hill
• the view from Trinità dei Monti

Why These Two Cities Matter to Me

I am from Shimla and it shaped my childhood whereas Rome shaped my heart. I love that these two very different cities share such surprising similarities – almost as if there was always a hidden thread connecting my life between India and Italy.

Thank You for Reading

If you enjoyed this blog, it’s also available as a full podcast episode on Apple and Spotify- The Italophilia Podcast. And if you’d like to support my work, the link is in the show notes of every episode. Grazie mille!