Facts About Rome

Rome (Italy), capital city of Italy and of Lazio (Latium) Region and Rome Province, on the Tiber River, in the central part of the country near the Tyrrhenian Sea. Vatican City, most of which is located in an enclave within Rome, is the seat of the papacy of the Roman Catholic church and has been recognized as an independent state by the Italian government since 1929. The majestic dome of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City dominates the Roman skyline.

Rome has become an unparalleled repository of monuments of all periods, from the Etruscan era to modern times. The period of Rome's early history, under Etruscan kings and under the Republic, is represented by relatively few relics; the legacy of the following period, the Roman Empire, is extensive in comparison. Roman monuments range from the almost perfectly preserved Pantheon (founded 27 bc; rebuilt ad 118-128), considered one of the finest surviving temples of antiquity, to the still impressive-although partly destroyed-Colosseum (opened ad 80), a huge amphitheater that was the scene of gladiatorial combats and other spectacles. Ancient city walls, triumphal arches, great public meeting places, churches, and palaces are all found in Rome.

A little over a century ago, Rome was a quiet city with a population (1870 estimate) of 226,000; its people were living largely in the past. It is today not only the capital and nerve center of Italy but, as the seat of the Roman Catholic church and the headquarters of major international agencies and multinational corporations, a city that has assumed a place of worldwide importance. Population (2001 estimate) 2,655,970.

• St. Peter's Catholic Church : This is the center of the Roman Catholic faith, drawing pilgrims from all around the world. The dome designed by Michelangelo, though not finished in his lifetime, measures 435 feet high and gives a spectacular view of the square below.
• Colosseum : Commissioned in AD 72 by Emperor Vespasian, this was once Rome's greatest amphitheater. The Emperor along with wealthy citizens once staged deadly gladiator combats and wild animal fights here.
• Forum:This was the center of public life in Rome and is now the ruins of temples, basilicas and more, including the Arch of Septimius Severus, the temples of Saturn, Castor, and Pollux. The temple of Caesar, which was erected at the spot where Caesar was cremated, and a reconstruction of the Curia which has been built on the site of the chamber of the Roman Senate.
• Pantheon : This church is famous for its domed interior. The rotunda's height and diameter are equal to 140 feet. The opening at the top of the dome provides the only light. Inside you will find the tomb of the artist Raphael.

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