Latium
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:''For the football club, see S.S. Lazio''
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'''Latium''' ('''Lazio''' in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
It comprises 5 provinces: Rome, Viterbo, Latina, Province of Frosinone|Frosinone and Rieti. Regional capital is Rome. Current President of the Region is Piero Marrazzo (center-left, elected 2005).
Etymology
The name of the region also survives in the tribal designation of the ancient population of Latins, from whom the Ancient Rome|Romans originated.
In Roman mythology, the shadowy king Latinus (or '''Latium''') allegedly gave his name to the region.
Modern linguists postulate origins in a Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) root ''stela-'' (to spread, extend), expressing the idea of "flat land" (in contrast to the local Sabine high country). But the name may originate from an earlier, non Indo-European one. See the http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=latium&searchmode=none
Since Latium is respected more as a designation for ancient Rome, it is not used as a label on maps or globes.
History
The Latins founded a group of small settlements that united against the Etruscans and Samnites, and which came under Ancient Rome|Roman dominance in 338 BC. Rome granted all Latins Roman citizenship after the Social War in 90 BC.
Latium has great importance for history, art, architecture, archaeology, religion, and culture in general. The immense patrimony of the city of Rome forms only a part of the treasures spread over the hundreds of towns, villages, abbeys, churches, monuments, and other sites of the region.
Notable cities
Rome (Roma) (pop. 2,546,807), capital city of the region
Anzio, birthplace of Nero, site of Allied landings in World War II
Cassino, Italy|Cassino, site of famous monastery and fierce World War II battle
Castel Gandolfo, summer residence of the Pope
Cerveteri, site of one of the two best preserved Etruscan necropoli in Italy
Civitavecchia, the region's principal port
Frosinone (pop. 45,128), capital city of the Frosinone province (pop. 477,950)
Latina (pop. 108,711), capital city of the Latina province (pop. 489,599)
Ostia, the ancient Roman port of Rome
Rieti (pop. 41,394), capital city of the Rieti province (pop. 151,000)
Tarquinia, site of the other of the two best preserved Etruscan necropoli in Italy
Tivoli, site of Hadrian's Villa
Viterbo (pop. 60,387), capital city of the Viterbo province (pop. 285,254)
Frascati city of the wine, well known in central-western Europe
External links
http://www.regione.lazio.it/home.shtml(in Italian)
http://www.italy-weather-and-maps.com/maps/italy/lazio.gif
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