What Is Rome Time Called?

By Michael Ferguson

When it comes to timekeeping, Rome has its own unique system. In Rome, the local time is known as ‘Rome Time’ or ‘Roman Time’.

This is different from the standard Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) used in most parts of the world. Let’s explore more about Rome Time and how it differs from other time zones.

What is Rome Time?

Rome Time, also known as Central European Time (CET), is the standard time zone observed in Rome and central parts of Europe. It is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1). During daylight saving time, which starts on the last Sunday in March and ends on the last Sunday in October, Rome switches to Central European Summer Time (CEST), which is UTC+2.

Time Conversion

To convert your local time to Rome Time, you need to consider the offset between your timezone and UTC. If your timezone is behind UTC, you will need to add one hour during standard time or two hours during daylight saving time to get the corresponding Rome Time.

For example:

  • If it is 9:00 AM in New York (Eastern Standard Time – EST), which is UTC-5, then it would be 3:00 PM in Rome during standard time (EST + UTC offset + CET offset).
  • During daylight saving time, if it’s 9:00 AM in New York (Eastern Daylight Time – EDT), which is UTC-4, then it would be 4:00 PM in Rome (EDT + UTC offset + CEST offset).

Rome vs Other Cities

Rome shares the same standard time with several other major cities across Europe. Some of these cities include:

  • Paris, France
  • Madrid, Spain
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Vienna, Austria

This means that if it is the same time in Rome, it will be the same time in these cities as well.

The History of Rome Time

Rome Time is based on the local solar time observed in Italy. Historically, each city used to have its own local time based on the position of the sun. However, with the advent of railways and telecommunication systems in the late 19th century, it became essential to coordinate time across different regions.

In 1893, Italy adopted Central European Time (CET) as its standard time for railway timetables. This decision was made to ensure consistency and avoid confusion when scheduling trains between different cities. Since then, Rome has followed CET as its official standard time.

In Conclusion

Rome Time is the standard time observed in Rome and central parts of Europe. It is one hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+1) during standard time and two hours ahead during daylight saving time. By understanding Rome Time and how it relates to your local timezone, you can easily coordinate schedules and plan activities when dealing with Roman or European counterparts.