Rome is the largest comune in Italy and it is also one of the largest European capital cities in land area, with an area of 1,285 square kilometers. The comune territory extends up to the Tyrrhenian Sea, with the district of Ostia, on the south-west, located on the shore. Within the city limits, the population is about 2.5 million; almost 3.8 million live in the general area of Rome, as represented by the province of Rome, making it second in population to Milan. The current mayor of Rome is Walter Veltroni.
With a gross domestic product of €97 billion in the year 2005, the comune of Rome produced 6.7% of Italy's GDP, which is the highest proportion of GDP produced by any single one of Italy's comunes.
The city's history extends nearly 2,800 years, during which time it has been the seat of ancient Rome and, later, the Papal States, Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic (modern Italy). Rome is also called "la Città Eterna" (the Eternal City), "l'Urbe" (the latin for the City pre-eminently) and "The City of the Seven Hills".
Rome is the capital of a province, with an area of 5,352.6 km², and a total population of 3,700,424 (2001) in 120 comuni. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the town of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by firmly rural landscape, just as towns elsewhere throughout Italy.
* Roma Sana April: Mediterranean Trade Fair for Natural Products with exhibitions of biological products, conferences and tasting. * Roman Summers, from June to September: Various events from music to theater, literary meetings and cinema. Events that take place in the most characteristic places in Rome that attract the participation of thousands of artists from all over the world. Roma Europa Festival, September: Annual appointment for modern art and theatre, music and dance, with artists from of all Europe. * RomeFilmFest, October: Film Festival help in the Auditorium. Official website * Festival Romics, October: Comics and Cartoon Festival: exhibitions, cartoon film showings of designers and publishing companies. * Roma Jazz Festival, October: Festival of jazz music since of 1876. Italian and international artists. * Republic day - June, 2: Military parade on Via dei Fori Imperiali, with "Frecce Tricolori".
Cultural and Religious Events
Rome's Good Friday Procession in April. On Good Friday, a procession moves from the Via Crucis, from the Colosseum and up Monte Palatino, re-enacting the 14 stations of the cross from the death of Jesus to placement of his body in the tomb. * Literature Festival, from May to June: Readings of works of famous contemporary writers, accompanied by music, in the setting of Basilica di Massenzio. ([1]) International Urban Theatre Festival: In September, the Festival Internazionale del Teatreo Urbano that transforms Rome into an urban theatrical stage. Rome Jazz Festival: In October, international artists gather at various venues for the eclectic Rome Jazz Festival. Roman Jewish holiday, the Mo'ed di Piombo, stems from 1793 (5553 in the Hebrew calendar). Rome's Jewish Temple is illuminated at night as the rabbi explains the meaning underscoring the celebration.
White Night
Series of events at venues throughout Rome in September: concerts, special outdoor performances, churches and monuments open to the public at this time, museums open all night with free entrance, shops open all night. ([2])
