Lazio, Italy

Landscape of Lazio, Italy
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cecchina_vista_da_Poggio_Ameno.JPG
Author: Deblu68


Lazio is a region facing the west coast in central Italy. The location of the national capital Rome, it is the third most populated and second wealthiest region of Italy. Lazio covers 17,236 sq km (6,655 sq mi) and has a population of 5.7 million people.

Geography of Lazio
Lazio faces the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west. Surrounding it are the other regions of Italy including Tuscany, Umbria and Marche to the north, Abruzzo to the east, Molise to the southeast and Campania to the south. Off the coast are the Pontine Islands. The region is mostly a flat alluvial plain with the central section occupied by the Roman Campagna, the plain where Rome is located.

History
The name Lazio goes back to ancient times to describe the tribe living in the area, the Latins, which also gives us the name for the Latin language. During the Roman period, Emperor Augustus united the peninsula to form Italia, which comprised almost all of present-day Italy.

The decline of the Romans brought the Gothic War of AD 535-554. The area was then under the rule of the Byzantines. Over time, there was a power struggle between the lords and the Roman bishops until the mid-16th century, when the papacy unified Lazio with the Papal States, putting it under the rule of St Peter's estate. In the 18th century, the short-lived Roman Republic came into being from 1798 to 1799 before the region was annexed by Napoleon Bonaparte into France. Lazio became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1870.

Abbaye Fossanova, Lazio, Italy
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abbaye_Fossanova024.jpg
Author: Harmonia Amanda


Palazzo Farnese, Lazio, Italy
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palazzo_farnesetramonto.JPG
Author: Caramella90


Administrative Divisions of Lazio
Today Lazio is composed of five provinces namely Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Rome and Viterbo. The Province of Rome is the biggest in terms of area (5,352 sq mi) as well as population (4 million in 2012).

Economy of Lazio
Lazio is predominantly a farming region, even though it is the location of Rome. Industires here are found in the area south of the capital. Most of the companies here are small. They specialize in various industries ranging from automobile to petrochemical.

Lazio on the map

The A1 motorway forms the main artery through Lazio. It is supplemented by the A24 and A25 motorways heading east.

Cities & Towns in Lazio

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips