Latium

I

Introduction

Latium (Italian Lazio), region in west-central Italy, bordered on the north by Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche, on the east by Abruzzi and Molise, on the south-east by Campania, and on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The region is composed of the provinces of Rome, Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, and Viterbo and has a total land area of 17,207 sq km (6,644 sq mi).

II

Physical Geography

The principal river of Latium is the Tiber. Other chief waterways include the Arrone, Aninene, Liri, and Sacco rivers. Two large lakes of volcanic origin are located in Latium: Lake Bolsena, about 80 km (50 mi) north of Rome, with a surface area of around 114 sq km (44 sq mi), and, further south, Lake Bracciano, with an area of 57 sq km (22 sq mi). The surrounding landscape features a number of active solfataras (volcanic vents). Latium’s coastline stretches for some 270 km (168 mi) and is interspersed with inlets and steep cliffs and wide, flat sand dunes. The Ponziane Islands, a group of five rocky islands that are administered as part of the region, lie about 30 to 40 km (20 to 25 mi) off the coast. The Campagna di Roma, a large low-lying plain with an area of about 2,100 sq km (810 sq mi), dominates the centre of the region. The terrain rises gently towards the east, where the western slopes of the Apennines culminate in the region’s highest peak, Monte Gorzano (2,458 m/8,605 ft). The Alban Hills, to the south-east of Rome, are the remains of an extinct volcano, which rises to about 910 m (3,000 ft) above sea level.

The only national park wholly within Latium is Circeo National Park (1934), which occupies an area of around 85 sq km (33 sq mi) in the south-west of the region. Situated along the Tyrrhenian coast and on the island of Zannone, the park comprises a variety of natural environments, including wetlands, coastal dunes, and dense oak forests. The National Park of Gran Sasso-Monti Della Laga, one of Italy’s largest national parks, spans the borders of north-eastern Latium, north-western Abruzzi, and southern Marche. The park has a total surface area of around 1,600 sq km (618 sq mi) and was established in 1993. In the south-east of the region, a small section of the Abruzzi National Park (mostly in Abruzzi) extends across the regional border into Latium. The park was created in 1923, and is the home of several rare species, including the brown bear and the eagle.

III

Population

The Latium Region has 5,493,308 inhabitants (2007 estimate), with an average population density of 306 people per sq km (793 per sq mi). Rome (population, 2007 estimate, 2,705,603), the capital of Italy, is also the chief industrial city of the region and the regional capital. Important cities are Civitavecchia (2007 estimate, 51,375), the chief port; Vatican City (2001 estimate, 1,000), the Holy See of the Roman Catholic Church. Other significant centres of population include Latina (2007 estimate, 114,063); Viterbo (2007 estimate, 60,459); Tivoli (2007 estimate, 51,847); Frosinone (2007 estimate, 48,175); Anzio (2007 estimate, 48,484); and Cassino (2007 estimate, 32,643).

Many of Italy’s major cultural, educational, and historical monuments are located in the regional capital, including the Pantheon, Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Imperial Forum, and Roman Forum. The University of Rome (1303) is Italy’s largest institution of higher education. The historic centre of Rome and the papal buildings of the Vatican City, were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Outside of the regional capital are many more sites and landmarks of archaeological, cultural, historical, and religious significance. Two sites in Tivoli—the extensive ruins of a villa built for the Roman emperor Hadrian, and the Villa d'Este, which dates from about 1550—were inscribed on the World Heritage List, in 1999 and 2001 respectively. Two remarkably well-preserved necropolises, built in the north-western towns of Tarquinia and Cerveteri during the Etruscan civilization, were added to the List in 2004; the tombs provide some of the finest surviving examples of Etruscan murals and frescoes. The town of Castel Gandolfo is the summer residence of the pope. Frascati is particularly famous for its architecture, notably the fine villas built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Monte Cassino, a Benedictine monastery overlooking the town of Cassino, was founded in 529 and became a national monument in 1866.

IV

Economy

The main agricultural areas of Latium are in the Campagna di Roma and the reclaimed Pontine Marshes, where sheep and cattle are raised and vegetables, fruit, cereals, and cotton are grown. The production of white wine is associated with the town of Frascati. Fishing and the extraction of mercury and coal are also important. Tourism is a major economic contributor; the region’s ancient monuments and rich cultural heritage attract many thousands of domestic and international visitors each year. Conversely, industrial activity is not carried out on a particularly large scale; the leading industrial centres are Rome and Latina, where the chief manufactured goods include paper, processed food, textiles, machinery, metal products, and pharmaceuticals.