Rome (commune)
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| Rome (commune) | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Rome |
| Native name | Roma |
| Settlement type | Comune |
| Coordinates | 41°54′N 12°29′E |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Italy |
| Region | Lazio |
| Province | Metropolitan City of Rome Capital |
| Established | 753 BC (legendary) |
| Mayor | Roberto Gualtieri |
| Area total km2 | 1285 |
| Population total | 2,857,321 |
| Population as of | 2021 |
| Timezone | Central European Time |
| Postal code | 00100–00199 |
Rome (commune) is the comune that comprises the city of Rome and its administrative territory within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in Lazio, Italy. As the capital of Italy, Rome serves as a national political center and hosts numerous international institutions, major cultural sites, and historical landmarks. The commune's boundaries encompass ancient sites, Renaissance palaces, Baroque piazzas, and contemporary districts shaped by centuries of urban development.
History
The area of Rome developed from settlements on the Palatine Hill, Capitoline Hill, Aventine Hill, Caelian Hill, Esquiline Hill, Viminal Hill, and Quirinal Hill and became the nucleus of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Following the sack of Rome (410) by the Visigoths and the deposition of the last Western Roman Emperor, the city entered Late Antiquity and the Byzantine Empire’s sphere of influence before the rise of the Papal States centered on the Basilica of Saint John Lateran and St. Peter's Basilica. Medieval Rome saw conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines and the influence of families such as the Colonna family, Orsini family, and Borgia family. The Renaissance brought patrons like Pope Julius II, Pope Leo X, and artists including Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donato Bramante who reshaped the urban fabric around sites such as the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. After Napoleon's occupation and the Congress of Vienna, Rome was incorporated into the newly unified Kingdom of Italy after the Capture of Rome in 1870, becoming the capital under Victor Emmanuel II. In the 20th century, the commune experienced transformations under Benito Mussolini, the impact of World War II, the establishment of the Italian Republic, and postwar reconstruction linked to institutions like the European Union and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
Geography and environment
The comune occupies a broad portion of central Lazio on the Tiber River valley and extends to the Tyrrhenian Sea coast at Ostia, incorporating the Appian Way, Appian Way Regional Park, and the Castelporziano Presidential Estate. It contains natural landmarks such as the Via Appia Antica, the Villa Borghese gardens, and the Gianicolo Hill, and borders municipalities including Fiumicino, Ciampino, Frascati, Bracciano, and Cerveteri. The climate is classified as Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters influenced by proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Environmental management engages with issues affecting the Tiber River, archaeological site conservation exemplified by the Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, green spaces like the Villa Ada park, and protected areas overseen by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
Governance and administration
The comune is governed by a mayor and a city council operating under Italian municipal law within the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital. Municipal administration coordinates with national bodies such as the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the Italian Parliament, and ministries including the Ministry of the Interior (Italy) and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. Rome hosts diplomatic missions including embassies accredited to Italy and international organizations including agencies of the United Nations like the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. Local government interacts with heritage institutions such as the Vatican City State administrations, the Sovrintendenza Capitolina for archaeology, and cultural agencies like the Istituto Nazionale per la Grafica.
Demographics
The comune's population includes long-established Roman families, internal migrants from regions such as Sicily, Calabria, and Abruzzo, and immigrant communities from Romania, Philippines, Bangladesh, China, and Morocco. Major demographic centers include historic districts like Trastevere, administrative quarters such as Prati, and suburban zones including EUR, Tiburtina, and Ostia Lido. Religious composition is dominated by Roman Catholicism with significant communities of Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism centered on the Great Synagogue of Rome, and secular populations. Population trends reflect aging similar to national patterns in Italy and urban migration influenced by employment in sectors represented by institutions like Sapienza University of Rome, LUISS Guido Carli, and Roma Tre University.
Economy and infrastructure
Rome's economy is diversified across public administration, tourism, higher education, media, and services; major employers include the Italian Government, Vatican Museums, Alitalia, and public broadcasters such as RAI. The tourism sector centers on attractions including the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain, drawing visitors via Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport and Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport. Financial activity involves institutions like the Bank of Italy, and cultural industries cluster around venues such as the Auditorium Parco della Musica and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Urban utilities are provided by companies including ACEA (company) for water and energy distribution and ATAC (Rome) for public transport; infrastructure projects have been financed with involvement from the European Investment Bank and the Italian State Railways.
Culture and landmarks
Rome's cultural heritage encompasses antiquity, the Renaissance, Baroque, and modern eras with sites like the Colosseum, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Spanish Steps. Museums and galleries include the Capitoline Museums, National Roman Museum, and the Galleria Borghese holding works by Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and Canova. Intellectual life is represented by institutions such as Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, and theaters like the Teatro Argentina and the Teatro Valle. Festivals and events range from performances at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia to film screenings at the Rome Film Festival and sport at venues like the Stadio Olimpico hosting AS Roma and SS Lazio.
Transportation and urban planning
The commune's transport network includes arterial roads such as the Grande Raccordo Anulare, rail hubs including Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina, and Roma Ostiense, and metro lines Rome Metro with stations serving neighborhoods like Colosseo and Spagna. Airport links connect to Leonardo Express service and regional roads to Fiumicino and Ciampino, while ports at Fiumicino and river access on the Tiber support maritime operations. Urban planning integrates archaeological conservation in projects affecting the Via dei Fori Imperiali, redevelopment initiatives in districts like EUR, and mobility strategies promoted by the Comune di Roma Capitale in coordination with the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital and national urban policies.
Category:Cities in Lazio