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For other uses, see the capital of Italy.
Comune di Roma
City flag City coat of arms
City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR
(The Senate and the People of Rome)
coordinates: 41°54′N 12°29′E Time Zone: UTC+1
Administration
Subdivisions 19 municipi
Province Rome
Region Latium
Mayor Walter Veltroni ( The Union )
Characteristics
Area 1,285 km²
Population 2,547,677 (2005 estimate)
Density 1983/km²
Metropolitan area 3,831,959 (2005 estimate)
Official site www.comune.roma.it
National Institute of Statistics of Italy www.istat.it

Template:ITdot Rome (Italian and Latin: Roma) is the capital of Italy and of its region, called Latium. It is located across the confluence of the Tiber and Aniene rivers. It was once the capital of the Roman Empire, the most powerful, largest and longest lasting empire of classical Western civilization. The Vatican, a sovereign enclave within Rome, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope.

Rome is the largest comune in Italy and it is also one of the largest European capital cities in land area, with an area of 1,285 square kilometers. The comune territory extends up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the district of Ostia, on the south-west, located on the shore. Within the city limits, the population is about 2.5 million; almost 3.8 million live in the general area of Rome, as represented by the province of Rome, making it second in population to Milan. The current mayor of Rome is Walter Veltroni.

With a gross domestic product of €97 billion in the year 2005, the comune of Rome produced 6.7% of Italy's GDP, which is the highest proportion of GDP produced by any single one of Italy's comunes.

The city's history extends nearly 2,800 years, during which time it has been the seat of ancient Rome and, later, the Papal States, Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic (modern Italy). Rome is also called "la Città Eterna" (the Eternal City), "l'Urbe" (the latin for the City pre-eminently) and "The City of the Seven Hills".

History

Main article: History of Rome

The civilization of ancient Rome originated in the 8th or 9th century BC, when the tribe of the Latini migrated to the Italian peninsula to settle around the River Tiber. For almost a thousand years, Rome was a very important city in the Western world and possibly the largest city in the world, with around 1.5 to 2 million inhabitants, as the capital of the expansive Roman Empire. With the rise of Christianity, Rome became the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the popes. The slow decline of the Roman Empire heralded the beginning of the Middle Ages, but the city regained prominence as the cultural capital of Western Roman Empire for several hundred years leading up to the Renaissance. Rome remains influential today, as the capital of Italy, as center of the Catholic Church, and as a major metropolis.

In Roman mythology, Rome was built on April 21 753 BC by the twin descendants of the Trojan prince Aeneas, Romulus and Remus. Romulus killed Remus in a quarrel over where their city was to be located and became the first of seven Kings of Rome, as well as the source of the city's name.[1]

See also: Founding of Rome, Roman Kingdom, and Roman Republic

Central Rome is dominated by the traditional seven hills that hark back to the Latin founding myth of the city. These seven hills are the Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, Aventine, Capitoline, and Palatine Hills. The Tiber River and its islands are an important additional component of the city, flowing south through the western portion of the central zone.

Geography

Location and layout

Rome is located on the Tiber River 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The city was built on a defendeble hill dominating the last high-banked river crossing where traverse was faciliated by a midstream isle.

Much of Rome is located within the old city walls. The Servian Wall was built 12 years after Gauls' conquest of the city in 390 BC. The wall enclosed most of the Esquiline and Caelian Hill and contained the entire area of the other five. Rome grew beyond the Servian Wall but no more walls were constructed until AD 270 when Aurelian began building in brick-faced concrete. The wall is almost 12 miles long and was the wall Italian forces had to breach in 1870. The wall is still largely intact.

The ancient city within the walls covers about 4 percent of the modern municipality's 582 square miles. The old city is the smallest of Rome's 12 administrative zones. The walled city center is made up of 22 rioni (districts), sorrounding it are 35 quartieri urbani (urban sectors), and within the city limits are six large suburbi (suburbs). The comune of Rome located outside the municipal boundaries about doubles the area of the actual city.

A belt highway describes a huge circle around the capital about six miles out from the city center. The circle ties together the antique roads that led to Rome: the Via Flaminia, the Via Aurelia and Via Appia. Large amounts of modern apartment buildings are located in the districts outside the center, where contemporary architecture has not gone unnoticed. Many street frontages and show windows often change to keep up with the times and the Romans have suceeded in harmonizing the old and the new.

Though small, the old city center contains about 300 hotels and 300 pensioni, over 200 palaces, 20 churches, eight of Rome's major parks, the residence of the Italian president, the houses of the Parliament, offices of the city and city government, and many great and well-known monuments. The old city also contains thousands of workshops, offices, bars, and restaurants. Millions of tourists annually flock to this area.

Climate

Rome's climate is at its most comfortable from April through June or early July. By August, the temperature during the heat of the day often exceeds 35 degrees Celsius, 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Many businesses close during August, and Romans traditionally abandon the city for cooler climes. The average high temperature in December is about 13 degrees Celsius, 55 Fahrenheit, according to the British Broadcasting Corp.'s Weather Centre site.

Economy

Today, Rome has a dynamic and diverse economy with thriving innovation, technologies, communications and service sectors. It produces 6.7% of the national GDP (more than any other city in Italy). Rome grows 4,4% annually and continues to grow at a higher rate than any other city in the rest of the country. Rome's economic growth began to surpass that of its rivals, Naples and Milan after World War II. Tourism is inevitably one of Rome's chief industries, with many notable museums including the Vatican Museum, and the Borghese Gallery. The city is also a centre for banking as well as electronics and aerospace industries.

Many international headquarters, government ministries, conference centres, sports venues and museums are located in Rome's principal business districts: the Esposizione Universale Roma (EUR); the Torrino (further south from the EUR); the Magliana; the Parco de' Medici-Laurentina and the so-called Tiburtina-valley along the ancient Via Tiburtina.

Education

Rome is a major educational centre of Europe. Roman children must attend school between the ages of 6 and 14, which takes them through junior high school. Along with the four state Universities, there are also many foreign academies and other institutions throughout the city. The First University of Rome (known as La Sapienza) was founded in 1303, and is Europe's largest university, with about 200,000 enrolled students.

Demographics

Like most western European capitals, Rome has accumulated a substantial immigrant population. Estimates of non-Italian residents based on the 2001 census and on 2003 population register data range from just over 98,000 to almost 300,000 (or about 4 to 12% of the city's total population), with the largest numbers of foreigners coming from Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, and Sri Lanka. [1]

Religion

Roman mythology constituted the major religion of the city in antiquity. However, other religions remained represented within its ever-changing boundaries, and Christianity soon spread.

During his reign, Constantine I legalized Christianity. However, it was Theodosius II who made it the official religion of the Roman Empire (contrary to popular belief of it being Constantine I), allowing a rapid spread of the religion which similarly continued to spread thereafter. Rome was established as the center of the Catholic Church. Consequently, a great number of some of the most important religious buildings of Christianity were erected in the city.

Across the river Tiber from the old Roman Forum and its centers of pre-Christian worship is the Vatican City, an autonomous country inside the city and the center of Catholicism. There are currently over 900 churches in Rome, including many world famous locations, housing a wide collection of masterpieces of religious art.

In Rome there is also the largest mosque in Europe, designed by the Italian achitect Paolo Portoghesi and inaugurated on June 21st, 1995.

Transportation

The transportation era was started in Rome with the construction of the Via Appia, regina viarum ("queen of the roads").

Rome has an intercontinental airport named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport - FCO, but more commonly known as Fiumicino, which also is Italy's chief airport, and the Giovan-Battista Pastine international airport (commonly referred to as Ciampino Airport), a joint civilian and military airport southeast of the city-center, along the Via Appia, which handles mainly charter flights and regional European flights including some low-cost airlines. A third airport, called Aeroporto dell'Urbe, is located in the north of the city along the ancient Via Salaria and handles mainly helicopters and private flights. A fourth airport, called Aeroporto di Centocelle, in the eastern part of Rome between the Via Prenestina and the Via Casilina, has been abandoned for some years now, but is currently being redeveloped as one of the largest public parks in Rome.

A 2-line subway system operates in Rome called the "Metropolitana" or Rome Metro. Construction works for the first branch started in the 1930s. The line had been planned to quickly connect the main train station (Termini) with the newly planned E42 area in the southern suburbs, where the 1942 World Fair was supposed to be held. The event never took place because of war. The area was later partly redesigned and renamed EUR in the 1950s to serve as a modern business district. The line was finally opened in 1955 and it is now part of the B Line. The A line opened in 1980 from Ottaviano to Anagnina stations, later extended in stages (1999 - 2000) to Battistini. In the 1990s an extension of the B line was opened from Termini to Rebibbia. A new branch of the B line (B1) is under construction, as is a third line, called C. A fourth line, line D, is under development. The frequent archaeological findings delay underground work.

This underground network is generally reliable (although it may become very congested at peak times and during events, especially the A line) as it is relatively short. As of 2005, total length is 38 km. The two existing lines, A & B, only intersect at one point, Termini Station, the main train station in Rome (which also is the largest train station in Europe[citation needed], underneath and around which now exists as a lively shopping center known as the "Forum Termini" with more than 100 shops of various types). Other stations includes: Tiburtina (second-largest, which is currently being redeveloped and enlarged to become the main high-speed train hub in the city), Ostiense, Trastevere, Tuscolana, S. Pietro, Casilina, Torricola.

tramway network

The Rome Metro is part of an extensive transport network made of a tramway network, several suburban and urban lines in and around the city of Rome, plus an "express line" to Fiumicino Airport. Whereas most FS-Regionale lines (Regional State Railways) do provide mostly a suburban service with more than 20 stations scattered throughout the city, the Roma-Lido (starting at Ostiense station), the Roma-Pantano (starting nearby Termini) and the Roma-Nord (starting at Flaminio station) lines offer a metro-like service.

Rome also has a comprehensive bus and light rail system. The English web site of the ATAC public transportation company allows a route to be calculated using the buses, light rail and subways.[2] The Metrebus integrated fare system allows holders of tickets and integrated passes to travel on all companies vehicles, within the validity time of the ticket purchased.[3]

Chronic congestion caused by cars during the 1970s and 1980s led to the banning of unauthorized traffic from the central part of city during workdays from 6 am to 6 pm. This area is officially called Zona a Traffico Limitato (ZTL). Heavy traffic due to night-life crowds during weekends led in recent years to the creation of other ZTLs in the Trastevere and S. Lorenzo districts during the night, and to experimentation with a new night ZTL also in the city center (plans to create a night ZTL in the Testaccio district as well are underway). In recent years, parking spaces along the streets in wide areas of the city have been converted to pay parking, as new underground parking spread throughout the city. In spite of all these measures, traffic remains an unsolved problem, as in most of the world's cities.

Architecture and monuments

Main page: Category:Buildings and structures in Rome

Within the city of Rome there is a huge number of monuments and interesting ruins, both ancient and modern. A partial list is given here as a quick reference.

The ruins of the Mausoleum of Augustus.
The Medieaval Capocci Tower, near the church of San Martino ai Monti.
View over Rome from St. Peter's Basilica.
The Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
Castel Sant'Angelo

Ancient buildings

Main article: List of Ancient Monuments in Rome

Obelisks

Main article: Obelisks in Rome

Medieval buildings and monuments

See also: Towers of Rome

Modern buildings and monuments

Places of worship

Main article: Churches of Rome

Rome is home to over 900 Christian (most of which are Catholic) churches.

Basilicas

Patriarchal basilicas
Other basilicas

Other important churches

The following do not yet have Wikipedia articles, but are important nonetheless:

Other religious edifices

Administrative subdivision of Rome

Main article: Administrative subdivision of Rome

The administrative subdivision of Rome consists of the 19 sub-municipalities (Municipi) of Rome's municipality.

Vatican City

Main article: Vatican City

The city of Rome surrounds the Vatican City, the enclave of the Holy See, which is a separate sovereign state.

Province of Rome

Main article: Province of Rome

Rome is the capital of a province, with an area of 5,352.6 km², and a total population of 3,700,424 (2001) in 120 comuni. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the town of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by firmly rural landscape, just as towns elsewhere throughout Italy.

Events

  • Roma Sana April: Mediterranean Trade Fair for Natural Products with exhibitions of biological products, conferences and tasting.
  • Roman Summers, from June to September: Various events from music to theater, literary meetings and cinema. Events that take place in the most characteristic places in Rome that attract the participation of thousands of artists from all over the world.
  • Roma Europa Festival, September: Annual appointment for modern art and theatre, music and dance, with artists from of all Europe.
  • RomeFilmFest, October: Film Festival help in the Auditorium. Official website
  • Festival Romics, October: Comics and Cartoon Festival: exhibitions, cartoon film showings of designers and publishing companies.
  • Roma Jazz Festival, October: Festival of jazz music since of 1876. Italian and international artists.
  • Republic day - June, 2: Military parade on Via dei Fori Imperiali, with "Frecce Tricolori".

Cultural and Religious Events

  • Rome’s Good Friday Procession in April. On Good Friday, a procession moves from the Via Crucis, from the Colosseum and up Monte Palatino, re-enacting the 14 stations of the cross from the death of Jesus to placement of his body in the tomb.
  • Literature Festival, from May to June: Readings of works of famous contemporary writers, accompanied by music, in the setting of Basilica di Massenzio. ([4])
  • International Urban Theatre Festival: In September, the Festival Internazionale del Teatreo Urbano that transforms Rome into an urban theatrical stage.
  • Rome Jazz Festival: In October, international artists gather at various venues for the eclectic Rome Jazz Festival.
  • Roman Jewish holiday, the Mo’ed di Piombo, stems from 1793 (5553 in the Hebrew calendar). Rome’s Jewish Temple is illuminated at night as the rabbi explains the meaning underscoring the celebration.

White Night

Series of events at venues throughout Rome in September: concerts, special outdoor performances, churches and monuments open to the public at this time, museums open all night with free entrance, shops open all night. ([5])

Sister cities

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Titus Livius (Livy) Ab Urbe Condita (History of Rome), Book I

References

  • References and bibliography can be found in the more detailed articles linked to in this article.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Roma.
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Look up rome in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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