Rome is the capital city of Italy and the largest city in the country. Located in central Italy in the Lazio region, Rome is bordered by the Tiber River and lies about 15 miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea.

According to the ancient legend, the city of Rome was founded by the twin brothers Remus and Romulus, sons of the god Mars and priestess Rhea Silvia. They were abandoned at birth and raised by a she-wolf. Later, the two brothers decide to build a city, but Romulus killed his brother in a fit of anger and named the city “Rome”, after himself. Some other linguistic possibilities for the origin of the word “Rome” include the Etruscan word rhome meaning “strength” or “river”. It may also be related to the root rum meaning “teat” (referring to the wolf that took care of the twins). Another theory is that Roma was the daughter of Aeneas, a mythical founder of Rome.

Rome is often known as the “Eternal City” and is almost 3.000 years old. It dates back to its founding in 753 B.C. and is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in the European continent. There are reportedly archaeological evidence of human occupation of the Rome area from approximately 14.000 years ago. Rome's era as a monarchy ended in 509 B.C. when it turned into a republic. The first two Punic Wars ended with Rome in full control of Sicily, the western Mediterranean, and much of Spain. In the Third Punic War (149–146 B.C.), the Romans captured and destroyed the city of Carthage. In the next period, the Romans benefited greatly from contact with the Greek culture. Pompey formed an alliance (the First Triumvirate) with Marcus Licinius Crassus and another rising star in Roman politics: Gaius Julius Caesar (who in 45 B.C. became the dictator of Rome). After the death of Caesar, the Power in Rome divided (the Second Triumvirate). Augustus' rule of 56 years restored morale in Rome after a century of fret and corruption. After him followed an age of  22 Roman emperors that ended in 192 A.D. The reign of Diocletian (284-305) temporarily restored peace and prosperity and after he retired became the sole emperor of a reunified Rome in 324. He moved the Roman capital to the Greek city of Byzantium, which he renamed Constantinople, and at the Council of Nicaea in 325 made Christianity Rome's official religion. 30 years after Constantine’s death, the eastern and western empires were again divided: the eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) remained largely intact for centuries to come, but the western empire suffered from internal conflict and threats from the Germanic tribes.

Rome was the seat of the Roman Empire and remained the most important city in the Western world in terms of politics and wealth, till the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century. After it eventually collapsed, Rome lost its provinces one by one: Britain around 410, Spain and northern Africa by 430, then Attila and his Huns invaded Gaul and Italy around 450 and after 476, a Germanic prince named Odovacar won control and was proclaimed king of Italy, bringing the inevitable end to the long, tumultuous history of ancient Rome.

Among the many legacies of Roman dominance are the widespread use of the Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Romanian and) derived from the Latin language, the modern Western alphabet and calendar, and the emergence of Christianity as a major religion. After the Middle Ages, Rome was ruled by popes such as Alexander VI and Leo X, who transformed the city into one of the important centers of the Italian Renaissance, along with Florence. In 1871, Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy and in 1946 the capital of the Italian Republic.

Rome has a sovereign state located entirely in its city limits, the Vatican City (which is also the world’s smallest state). The Vatican museum is the largest museum complex in the world and a top destination for tourists as it consists of over 1.000 museums and galleries. Rome has been a major Christian pilgrimage destination ever since the Middle Ages as people from all over the Christian world visit the Vatican.

Rome is home to the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum (and the Arch of Constantine), and the famous Trevi Fountain. Today, the city of Rome is one of the most important tourist destinations of the world for its multitude of archaeological and artistic treasures, for the charm of its unique traditions, and for the panoramic views. Rome owes much of its attractiveness to the Renaissance period when new squares as the Piazza del Campidoglio were created and new buildings were constructed, including the world's largest church, the Saint Peter's Basilica.

Other must-see destinations are The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, The Rome Mosque, The Synagogue, Palazzo Farnese - one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces, The Catacombs, The Pantheon - the only monument belonging to ancient Rome that still stays intact, the Victorian Museum, Galleria Borghese, The National Gallery of Modern Art, Musei Capitolini, the aqueducts, the fountains (there are a total of 280 in the city), the Archaeological Park of Ostia, the largest stadium in Ancient Rome - Circus Maximus, The Palatine, The Pyramid of Cestius, The Forum Romanum with its temples, basilicas, and arches, the Palatine Hill, Piazza Navona, Ponte Milvio or the “Lovers’ Bridge”, The Goethe House, The Tiber Island, the Fountain of Tortoises in the heart of the historic center, the Trajan’s Column, the Egyptian obelisks, the Castel Sant'Angelo or The Rose Garden. The Capuchin Crypt in Rome has five chapels and a corridor 60 meters long and it is decorated with the bones of 4.000 deceased monks. 

Rome is the country's largest and most populated commune and fourth-most populous city in the European Union by population within the city limits. The urban area of Rome extends beyond the administrative limits and has a population of almost 3.8 million (as of March 2013).   

Everybody knows that pasta is Italy’s iconic dish. The typical Roman food reflects its old traditions and is based on fresh vegetables (mainly the artichoke), the “quinto quarto cuisine” (cuts of meats cooked with herbs and hot chili pepper, deep-fried appetizers, and “pecorino cheese" made from sheep’s milk). Roman desserts are mainly connected to festivities (Carnival, Eastern or Christmas): the ricotta cake, Gnocchi Alla Romana. Other dishes one can try while in Rome are Spaghetti with Carbonara, the dumplings made with semolina, Pizza alla Romana, Pomodori con riso (tomatoes filled with rice), Trippa alla Romana (tripe in creamy, spicy tomato sauce, served with pecorino cheese), Fave (beans), Carciofi alla Giudia (fried artichokes), Pollo alla Romana (chicken cooked with bell peppers), Saltimbocca alla Roman (veal scallops in white wine, sage and prosciutto) and Ciambelle al vino (hard cookies in a shape of doughnuts, dipped in wine).

The climate of Rome is temperate, with rainy winters (September to mid-May) and dry summers (May to September). Its average annual temperature is above 20 °C during the day and 10 °C at night. December, January, and February are known as the coldest months, and July and August are the warmest.

Rome is served by three airports: the Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (or "Fiumicino Airport", located south-west of Rome), the older Rome Ciampino Airport - a civilian and military airport and the Roma-Urbe Airport - a smaller airport located about 6 km north of the city center, which handles most helicopter and private flights. Rome is circled by a ring-shaped road named the Grande Raccordo Anulare or GRA.

Did you know? ..... 10 Interesting Facts about Rome

1. Rome’s mascot is the she-wolf that took care of the brothers Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.
2. Rome Coliseum, a huge amphitheater that may seat 50,000 people is one among the Seven Wonders of the World.
3. Rome is the 3rd most visited city in the EU, after London and Paris, and is the most productive city in Italy in terms of economic growth.
4. The Romans were the first civilization to use concrete and the arch with any notable skill.
5. The Capuchin Crypt in Rome consists of five chapels and a corridor 60 meters long and it is decorated with the bones of 4,000 deceased monks. The coffee drink cappuccino takes its name from this order of monks who were known by their custom of wearing a hood or cappuccio (chaperon) with their habits.
6. Nearly €700,000 worth of coins gets tossed into the Fontana di Trevi each year. The proceeds are donated to Caritas to help the needy.
7. The snake was a common image in Roman art and jewelry and was believed to have powers over a family’s well-being.
8. The abbreviation SPQR can be found on many Roman statues, buildings, and military standards. It stands for “Senatus populusque romanus.” meaning “The senate and people of Rome.”
9. Rome has a museum dedicated to pasta. The National Museum of Pasta spans 11 rooms and two floors.
10. Rome’s first university, La Sapienza (“knowledge”) founded in 1303, is the largest in Europe by enrollment.
11. The first-ever shopping mall was built by Emperor Trajan in Rome. It consisted of several levels and more than 150 outlets that sold food, spices, and clothes.