As an American, it was quite the culture-shock when I visited Italy. Where I live, most buildings are relatively new -- strip malls and such. So when I took a trip to the Colosseum in Rome, it was mind-boggling to imagine how much history had taken place in its confines.
At the same time, the people who currently live in Rome are modern -- they obsessed over smartphones like Americans!
Source: http://betanews.com