ROMA

Roma, known in English as Rome, is the capital and largest city of Italy. It lies in the Lazio region in central-western Italy, on the Tiber River, about 24 kilometers inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. According to tradition, Roma was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus and Remus and has long been a major political, cultural, and religious center.

Ancient Roma was the seat of the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire, shaping law, governance, engineering, and art across the Mediterranean. After the fall of the Western Empire, the city declined but regained prominence in the Middle Ages as the seat of the Papacy. In 1871 Roma became the capital of the unified Kingdom of Italy, and since 1946 it has been the capital of the Italian Republic.

Roma contains numerous landmarks such as the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and Trevi Fountain, as well as Vatican City, an independent state located within the city that houses the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. The historic centre, with its ancient ruins, churches, and palaces, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1980.

The city proper has about 2.8 million residents, with a metropolitan area of over 4 million. Its economy focuses on services, administration, tourism, and industry. Roma is served by Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport and a network of rail and metro lines, including Termini Station.