Rome, Italy

Rome is the largest city in Italy, covering an area of 496.3 square miles. With over 2.7 million residents, it is also the most-populous city in the country. The city is an important pilgrimage place, home to the Vatican City and St Peter's Basilica. Roman Catholicism is the pre-dominant religion. The official language is Italian but English, French, and other indigenous languages are spoken as well.

Rome has a long history spanning over two and a half thousand years. It was the capital city of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. It was also the capital of the Papal States. In 1946, Rome became the capital of the Italian Republic. Rome was the center of the Italian Renaissance. During this time, many magnificent buildings were constructed in the city which included the seat of the Italian Prime Minister (the Palazzo Chigi), the seat of the President of the Italian Republic, (Palazzo del Quirinale), the Palazzo della Cancelleria, and the Villa Farnesina.

Rome is eleventh most-visited city in the world and the most famous tourist attraction in Italy. The city is home to many magnificent parks, archaeological sites and museums like Musei Capitolini, Galleria Borghese, ruins of the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Vatican Museum, and the Catacombs.

Rome is home to all the government buildings, such as the Presidency of the Republic, the Parliament, the main judicial Courts, and the embassies. The economy of Rome is heavily dependent on the services sector. High-technology companies including the aerospace, defense, and telecommunications add to the city's revenue. Banking and insurance are the emerging sectors. Owing to numerous attractions in the city, tourism is extremely important to the economy of Rome. Entertainment is an important industry. Rome is the hub of the Italian film industry.

The most popular sport in Rome is soccer. Rome has hosted many international sports events, such as the 1934 and 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1960 Summer Olympics.