The capital of Italy, Rome is a multifaceted metropolis steeped in a rich history of culture.
Located on the central western side of the Italian peninsula, the city was founded on the
shores of the river Tiber and has an independent country, the Vatican City, within its
borders. The city occupies a central position in Western history, as is populated with nearly
as many historical and cultural attractions as it has people.
Historically, Rome could arguably be called the cradle of Western civilization. Capital of the
Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman empire, the city has since become the
14th-most visited country in the world, and a UNESCO Heritage site.