Rome

Capital of Italy and located in the central-western region of Latium (Lazio), Rome (Roma in Italian) has a population of over 2.7 million residents, while the full metropolitan area consists of about 4 million inhabitants. The Tiber (il Tevere) winds south through the heart of Rome and derives from the Aniene River (l’Anio.) The Tyrrhenian Sea is located 24 kilometers east of the city centre.

Rome is noted for the State of the Vatican City, an enclave and the sovereign territory of the Holy See, the historic centre (il Centro Storico) and the picturesque neighborhood of Trastevere among other zones.

Rome, the Eternal City (la Città Eterna), or Capital of the world (Caput Mundi in Latin,) is surrounded by seven hills. The Capitoline, Palatine, Viminal, Quirinal, Esquiline, Caelian and Aventine hills determine both the city layout and geography of the historical centre.

The Urban Area of Rome, which is the entire metropolitan area, extends to 5,352 km² (2,066 sq mi). 156,833 residents in the comune are of foreign nationality, making up 6.2% of the total population.

UNESCO lists the Historic Center of Rome as a World Heritage Site.

Italy

Italy (Italia), officially the Italian Republic, is located on the Italian Peninsula, or Appenine Peninsula, where the geography is recognized by its boot shape and is thus coined “The Boot” (Lo Stivale.)

The Ligurian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea border Italy on the west, the Ionian Sea on the south and the Adriatic on the east. The countries of France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia form its northern border with the Alps creating a natural boundary.

The Appenine Mountains stretch down the peninsula and the Po, Italy’s 652 km (405 mi) river, flows from the western part of the Alps, through the Padan plain, to the Adriatic Sea. Many islands dot the Meditterranean seas which surround Italy, of which Sicily and Sardegna are the largest.

Founding member of the European Union, Italy’s population as of February 2007 was 59,206,382.