ROMA , Italy

Rome is the capital of Italy since 1871. Located in the center-west of the Italian peninsula, on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, it is also the capital of the province of Rome, Lazio Region, and was that of the Roman Empire for several centuries.

In 2014, it has 2,869,461 inhabitants established on 1285 km², making it the most populous municipality in Italy and Europe of the largest after Moscow and London1. Its urban area. It also has the distinction of holding a landlocked state in its territory: the Vatican City (Città del Vaticano), the Pope is the sovereign.

The Rome history spans more than twenty-eight centuries since its mythical foundation by Romulus in 753 BC until his current role as capital of the Italian Republic.


During that time, Rome would have had between one and two million people and dominates Europe, North Africa and the Middle East both militarily and culturally, broadcasting in these territories the Latin language, arts and techniques as well the Christian religion. Since the first century, it is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, in the Papal States (752-1870) and the Vatican City.

Considerably enlarged by great works under Julius Caesar and especially under Augustus, the city was partially destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome - Circus Maximus in particular. From the fifteenth century, almost all the popes since Nicolas V (1447-1455) continued the tradition of Roman architecture and ambition to make Rome the main cultural and artistic center of the West. The city became one of the centers of the Italian Renaissance, along with Florence and Venice, and gave birth to Baroque - which still reflects its historic center, classified by UNESCO as a heritage site worldwide.

Artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini settled there and produce works such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. In the nineteenth century, Rome is a symbol of Italian unity and became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and the Republic at the end of the Second World War.

Global city, Rome is the third most visited tourist destination in Europe after London and Paris5. The Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are amongst the most frequented sites. Rome also has many bridges and fountains, 900 churches, and a large number of museums and universities.

Besides tourism, the economy of the city is also facing new technologies, media and telecommunications since 2000. Surrounded by seven hills, the city lies at the mouth of the Tiber and is divided into twenty-two rioni. Rome also hosted the Summer Olympics in 1960.