Rome, Italy


Rome, the capital of Italy, is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula along the banks of the Tiber River in the Lazio region. Founded in 753 BC according to myth, it grew from a small pastoral settlement into the cradle of Western civilization, serving as the heart of both the Roman Empire and the Roman Catholic Church. Today, this sprawling metropolis seamlessly integrates nearly 3,000 years of global history into its modern urban landscape, remaining one of the world's most influential cultural and political capitals.


An exceptional aspect of Rome is that it completely surrounds an independent country, Vatican City, making it the only city in the world to contain an entire sovereign state within its borders. The "Eternal City" acts as a massive open-air museum, celebrated for its architectural triumphs like the Pantheon and the Colosseum, alongside its legendary culinary tradition anchored by world-famous dishes like authentic Pasta Carbonara. A beloved modern ritual invites visitors to toss a coin into the Baroque waters of the Trevi Fountain, a gesture that, according to local lore, guarantees their return to Rome.

Tourists gather in a sunlit plaza in Rome beneath Italian flags, with baroque domed churches glowing against a clear blue sky.
Golden sunset light illuminates the colonnade and bronze quadriga sculpture of the Vittoriano monument in Rome as visitors gather below.
Sunlit marble colonnade with tall fluted columns, ornate carved walls and a polished mosaic floor stretching toward distant visitors.
Black and white view of tall fluted Corinthian columns along a curved colonnade with a coffered ceiling and ornate carved frieze.
Sunlit marble colonnade corridor with polished inlaid stone floor, carved white relief walls, and a coffered ceiling leading to a bright doo
Aerial view of Rome at golden hour showing the Colosseum, ancient Roman Forum ruins, domed churches and distant mountains under a clear sky.
Golden hour view over Rome rooftops with a historic bell tower, ancient ruins and lush green trees stretching toward the distant horizon.
Tourists stroll across a checkered marble terrace overlooking Rome's historic rooftops, domed churches, and a tall column at golden hour.
Twin-towered Trinità dei Monti church and obelisk rising above the Spanish Steps in Rome at dusk, with a palm tree beside the stairs.
Baroque church facade with ornate columns, statues and a cross on top, glowing in golden light against a deep blue sky in Rome.
Large gray wooden double door set in a stone frame on a yellow building at Piazza della Maddalena, with potted plants and cobblestones.
Tourists gather under white umbrellas in a narrow Roman alley framing the columned portico and dome of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.
Ancient Roman Pantheon with its columned portico and inscribed pediment, beside an Egyptian obelisk and fountain in a crowded Rome piazza.
Sunlight streams through the oculus of the Pantheon dome in Rome, illuminating the coffered ceiling.
Tourists crowd past Corinthian columns and an ornate altar with frescoes inside the Pantheon in Rome, Italy.