A pigeon carrying an important message takes the reader on a unique tour through Rome. As we follow the path of this somewhat wayward bird, we discover that Rome is a place where past and present live side by side. It is a city that has been recycling itself for two thousand years, but unlike a museum, Rome displays its remarkable history without respect for chronology. A new electric bus travels over cobblestone streets just ten feet above the floor of an ancient stadium. Inscriptions from tombs and temples share wall space with neon. Every time a corner is turned there is a surprise, just as every turn of the page brings a new perspective. This juxtaposition of ancient and modern, as seen with David Macaulay's ingenious vision, gives the reader an imaginative and informative journey through this wondrous city.

This handsome hardcover edition of Rome Antics includes a new afterword by David Macaulay detailing the long genesis of the book, which is one of his personal favorites. The afterword is based on Macaulay's installation about Rome Antics at the National Building Museum's ongoing exhibition Building Stories, which explores the role of the built environment in children's book.