Rome

Rome (Italian: Roma; pop. 2,723,300), capital and largest city of Italy, located on the rolling plain of the Roman Campagna, 15 mi (24 km) from the Thyrrenian Sea. Rome has been a center of Western civilization for over 2,000 years. “The Eternal City” was capital of the Roman Empire and is of unique religious significance as the site of the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church in Vatican City. Administration (of the Italian government as well as of Roma province and the region of Latium), religion, and tourism are the most important activities of modern Rome, which is also a center for commerce, publishing, movies, and fashion. A great transportation hub, the city has relatively little industry. The site of ancient Rome is the Seven Hills. The Tiber River flows through the city, which contains many important relics of classical Rome, such as the Forum, the Colosseum, the Domus Aurea (Golden House), the baths of Caracalla, and the Pantheon. Rome is famous for its squares, Renaissance palaces, churches, basilicas, catacombs, and fountains. There are also many fine museums, art collections, and libraries; the Rome opera house; and the Santa Cecilia music academy, the world's oldest (1584). The University of Rome was founded in 1303.

See also: Italy.