Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. Located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula within the Lazio region, it sits along the shores of the Tiber Valley. It serves as the administrative center for both the Lazio region and the Metropolitan City of Rome.
The city is frequently referred to as the "Eternal City" and the "City of Seven Hills." It is historically significant as one of the cradles of Western civilization and Western Christian culture, and it serves as the center of the Catholic Church. Notably, Vatican City is an independent country located entirely within Rome's boundaries, making it the only existing example of a country inside a city.
Rome is a major population center; the special comune of Roma Capitale has a population of 2.7 million people. The broader Metropolitan City of Rome Capital has a population of 4.2 million, making it the most populous metropolitan city in Italy and the third-most populous within the European Union by population within city limits.