The 2nd-century Column of Marcus Aurelius is the centerpiece of this mainly commercial and governmental neighborhood, which traverses ancient and baroque Rome. Palazzo Chigi is the prime minister’s residence, while Palazzo Montecitorio houses the Italian parliament. Main artery Via del Corso is known for brand-name and discount clothing stores. After dark, the floodlit Temple of Hadrian makes for a romantic photo-op.

Rome is the capital city and a special comune of Italy, as well as the capital of the Lazio region. The city has been a major human settlement for almost three millennia. With 2,860,009 residents in 1,285 km², it is also the country’s most populated comune.