Rome, the “Eternal City,” is a living museum where nearly three millennia of history, art, and culture collide. According to myth, it was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus. Over the centuries, it evolved from a modest settlement on the Tiber River into the heart of the Roman Republic and, eventually, the dominant empire of the ancient Western world.

The city’s architecture tells the story of this vast timeline. The massive engineering marvel of the Colosseum and the incredibly preserved dome of the Pantheon showcase the brilliance of ancient Roman engineering and design. Nearby, the sprawling ruins of the Roman Forum mark the monumental birthplace of Western law, politics, and civic life.

Following the fall of the empire, Rome underwent an artistic and religious transformation. During the Renaissance and Baroque eras, legendary masters like Michelangelo, Bernini, and Raphael dramatically reshaped the city’s urban landscape. They adorned Rome with grand public piazzas, opulent historic churches, and monumental structures, including the iconic and intricate Trevi Fountain.

Today, Rome is the vibrant capital of Italy, seamlessly blending its monumental heritage with a bustling, modern European lifestyle. It is a global culinary capital celebrated for its distinct and beloved regional cuisine, including classic pasta dishes like carbonara and cacio e pepe. Ultimately, it stands as a vital cultural, political, and artistic hub, drawing millions of visitors annually who come to experience a unique, unbroken tapestry of ancient history and contemporary Italian life.

Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world, both by area and population. Enclaved entirely within Rome, Italy, it spans just 0.49 square kilometers (about 121 acres) and is home to roughly 800 residents. Established as a sovereign entity in 1929 through the Lateran Treaty, it serves as the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

As an absolute ecclesiastical monarchy, it is ruled by the Pope. Despite its tiny size, the city-state exerts immense global cultural and religious influence. It prints its own euros, issues passports, operates a unique banking system, and maintains its own security force, the Swiss Guard.

Vatican City is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, packed with architectural wonders and priceless masterpieces. Millions of pilgrims and tourists visit annually to see St. Peter’s Basilica—one of the largest churches in Christendom—and the Vatican Museums, which house centuries of art, including Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel. Combining sovereign governance with profound historical and spiritual weight, it remains a unique focal point of the modern world.