Rome: The Eternal City's Journey from Ancient Empire to Modern Capital

Known as the Urbs Aeterna (Eternal City) and Caput Mundi (Capital of the World), Rome is a city where millennia of human history are etched into every stone. As the capital of Italy and the heart of the Lazio region, it serves as a living museum, blending the remnants of a global empire with the vibrancy of a modern European metropolis.

From its legendary founding to its current status as a global hub of religion, art, and politics, Rome continues to exert a profound influence on Western civilization.

Key Facts

Model of archaic Rome. The image faces northeast, with the Capitoline hill on left and the Palatine on right. The city would not have looked like this prior to the seventh century BC.

Founded: Traditionally dated to April 21, 753 BC by King Romulus.
Population: Approximately 2,746,984 in the municipality (2025), ranking 1st in Italy and 8th in Europe.
Global Status: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.
Economy: Metropolitan GDP (nominal, 2023) of €201.290 billion.
Education: Home to Sapienza University of Rome, the largest university in Europe with 122,000 students.
Governance: Managed by a Strong Mayor–Council system, currently led by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri.

The Evolution of a Metropolis

Capitoline Wolf, a sculpture of the mythical she-wolf suckling the infant twins Romulus and Remus

Ancient Foundations and the Empire

The origins of Rome are steeped in myth, most notably the story of the twins Romulus and Remus. Over centuries, the city evolved from a small settlement into the center of a vast empire. The Roman Forum served as the nerve center of this civilization, housing the political, legal, and economic institutions of the state.

The Roman Forum contains the ruins of the buildings that represented the political, legal, religious and economic centre of ancient Rome, constituting the "nerve centre" of all Roman civilisation.[33]

The architectural ambition of the Empire is still visible today in the Colosseum, the Imperial fora (monumental public squares), and the lavish palaces of the Palatine Hill, which showcased the wealth of emperors from Augustus through the 4th century.

Middle Ages to the Renaissance

Following the decline of the Empire and subsequent sacks by the Visigoths in 410 and the Vandals in 455, Rome transitioned into a center of ecclesiastical power. The city became the "Throne of St. Peter," with the Papacy playing a central role in its governance and urban development. The Middle Ages saw the transformation of monuments, such as Hadrian's Mausoleum becoming the Castel Sant'Angelo.

Castel Sant'Angelo, or Hadrian's Mausoleum, is a Roman monument built in 134 AD, radically altered in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and crowned with 16th and 17th-century statues.

Modern Unification and Contemporary Rome

The modern era was defined by the Italian unification process, culminating in the Capture of Rome in 1870 when Bersaglieri troops breached the Aurelian Walls at Porta Pia. In the 20th century, the city survived the hardships of World War II, including Allied bombardments in 1943, to emerge as a modern capital.

Bersaglieri troops breaching the Aurelian Walls at Porta Pia during the Capture of Rome (1870), the final event of the Italian unification. Painting by Carlo Ademollo.

Geography and Urban Landscape

The Temple of Portunus, god of grain storage, keys, livestock and ports,[32] built in 120–80 BC

Climate and Environment

Rome experiences a Mediterranean climate. The city has seen extreme weather events, including a record high temperature of 42.9 °C (109.2 °F) on July 18, 2023. Its landscape is dotted with expansive green spaces, such as the Villa Borghese and Villa Doria Pamphili, characterized by iconic stone pines.

City Infrastructure and Economy

Today, Rome is a diversified economic center. It hosts the headquarters of global entities like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as corporate giants such as Eni and Enel. The city's transport network includes a comprehensive metro system and the Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, connecting the capital to the world.

Culture, Art, and Lifestyle

The Ancient-Imperial-Roman palaces of the Palatine, a series of palaces located in the Palatine Hill, express power and wealth of emperors from Augustus until the 4th century.

Architectural Wonders

Rome is world-renowned for its fountains, such as the Trevi Fountain and Bernini's Fontana della Barcaccia, and its historic bridges. The city also houses the Vatican Museums, which, as of 2022, are the second most visited art museums globally.

As of 2022, the Vatican Museums are the second most visited art museum in the world.[167]

Culinary and Social Life

Roman culture is deeply tied to its cuisine, with traditional dishes like Spaghetti alla carbonara and Cacio e pepe remaining staples of the local diet. The city also remains a powerhouse of cinema, hosting Cinecittà, the largest film studio in Europe.

Spaghetti alla carbonara, a typical Roman dish

Rome at a Glance

The Imperial fora belong to a series of monumental fora (public squares) constructed in Rome by the emperors. Also seen in the image is Trajan's Market.

The following table summarizes the key demographic and geographic data for the city.

Rome City Statistics (2023-2025)
Category	Municipality (Comune)	Metropolitan City
Population	2,746,984	4,223,885
Area	1,287.36 km²	5,363.28 km²
Population Density	2,133.81/km²	787.556/km²
Nominal GDP (2023)	N/A	€201.290 billion
GDP Per Capita	N/A	€47,665