Rome

Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy, located in the Lazio region on the Tiber River in central-western Italy, about 24 kilometers inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city has a population of about 2.8 million in the municipal area, with a larger metropolitan population.

Rome’s history spans over two and a half millennia. According to legend, it was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus and Remus. It evolved from a monarchy to the Roman Republic in 509 BCE and then to the Roman Empire, which dominated the Mediterranean for centuries. After the decline of the Western Roman Empire, Rome remained the seat of the Catholic Church and the Papal States. In 1870, it became the capital of the newly unified Italy, and in 1929 Vatican City was established as an independent enclave within the city by the Lateran Treaty.

The city contains numerous ancient and classical monuments, including the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon, as well as Renaissance and Baroque works such as the Trevi Fountain and many churches. The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica are located within its borders. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated in 1980).

Today Rome serves as Italy’s political and administrative capital, with government ministries, universities, and cultural institutions. It is a major transport hub, with Roma Termini railway station and two international airports: Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino and Ciampino. The city has a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters.