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Lazio

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Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. It is located in the central peninsular section of the country.

Latium Provinces
Latium Provinces

The region is home to 5,714,882 inhabitants. It also holds a very strong economy. Its annual Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, is more than €212 billion. This makes it the second most populated region in Italy. It is also the second largest regional economy after Lombardy. The capital of Lazio is Rome. Rome is also the capital city of the entire nation of Italy.

Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02
Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02

The geography of Lazio is quite diverse. It shares borders with Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche to the north. To the east lie Abruzzo and Molise. Campania is to the south. The Tyrrhenian Sea sits to the west.

Lazio SRTM
Lazio SRTM

The landscape is mostly hilly, covering 56% of the land. Mountains make up 26% of the region. The remaining 20% consists of plains. These plains are found along the coast and the Tiber valley. The highest peak is Mount Gorzano. It reaches an elevation of 2,458 meters on the border with Abruzzo.

Vallée de l'Aniene et Monts Prénestiens
Vallée de l'Aniene et Monts Prénestiens

Different geological features define the various parts of the region. The central section contains the Roman Campagna. This is a vast alluvial plain surrounding Rome. It covers an area of approximately 2,500 square kilometers. To the north of the coast lies the Maremma Laziale. This plain is interrupted by the Tolfa Mountains, which rise to 616 meters. In the south, the Agro Pontino consists of flatlands. This area was once a swampy and malarial region. However, it was reclaimed over many centuries.

Circeo
Circeo

To the north of the Tiber, volcanic activity created several mountain groups. The Volsini, Cimini, and Sabatini mountains contain large former craters. These craters are now occupied by lakes named Bolsena, Vico, and Bracciano.

The history of Lazio is deeply connected to ancient civilizations. The region was once the home of the Etruscan civilization. It later served as the center of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. The name Lazio comes from the Latin word "Latium." This was the region of the Latini people. In ancient times, the area was divided into Latium Vetus, or Old Latium, and Latium Novum, or New Latium.

RomaViaAppiaAntica03
RomaViaAppiaAntica03

Later, the region was part of the Papal States. After the fall of the Fascist regime and the end of World War II, Lazio experienced rapid economic growth. This growth was especially visible in Rome. In 1870, the capture of Rome led to Lazio becoming part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Today, the economy of Lazio is driven largely by the services sector. About 73% of the working population is employed in services. This sector contributes 85.8% of the regional GDP. Rome acts as a core for public administration, media, and tourism. Many large multinational corporations have their headquarters here. Examples include Eni, Leonardo, and Enel.

Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02
Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02

The region also has a specialized industrial sector. For instance, the Cassino plant produced 53,422 Alfa Romeo cars in 2020.

2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce TB Automatic 2.0 Front
2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce TB Automatic 2.0 Front

Other industries include oil refining in Gaeta and textile production in the Valle del Liri. The region also hosts a space company, Avio, in Colleferro.

Agriculture remains a traditional source of income for the region. Farmers cultivate wine grapes, fruit, vegetables, and olives. Notably, Lazio is the main growing region for kiwifruit in Italy.

The region also produces significant amounts of sanitary ceramics. About 70% of Italy's national sanitary ceramics come from the Civita Castellana industrial district. Other important products include travertine stone. This stone is processed in the Ausoni-Tiburtina area.

Calc%C3%A1reo Travertino1
Calc%C3%A1reo Travertino1

This variety of economic activity helps the region stay resilient. For example, it performed well during the 2008 financial crisis.

Transportation and climate also play vital roles in the region. Rome Fiumicino Airport is the busiest airport in Italy. In 2024, it served over 49.2 million passengers. This makes it the eighth-busiest airport in Europe. The climate varies depending on your location. The coast has a Mediterranean climate. This means temperatures stay between 12 and 28 degrees Celsius from January to July. However, the interior has a more continental climate. On the hills, winters can be quite cold and frigid. Rome is known for having many hours of sunshine and clear skies throughout the year.

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🖼️ Images & Media (17)
File:Lazio SRTM.png
Lazio SRTM.png
File:Vallée de l'Aniene et Monts Prénestiens.JPG
Vallée de l'Aniene et Monts Prénestiens.JPG
File:Circeo.JPG
Circeo.JPG
File:RomaViaAppiaAntica03.JPG
RomaViaAppiaAntica03.JPG
File:Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02.jpg
Palazzo Eni (Rome) in 2021.02.jpg
File:2017_Alfa_Romeo_Giulia_Veloce_TB_Automatic_2.0_Front.jpg
2017_Alfa_Romeo_Giulia_Veloce_TB_Automatic...
File:Calc%C3%A1reo_Travertino1.jpg
Calc%C3%A1reo_Travertino1.jpg
File:Kiwis_006eue.jpg
Kiwis_006eue.jpg
File:Pecorino_romano_cheese.jpg
Pecorino_romano_cheese.jpg
File:Latium Provinces.png
Latium Provinces.png
File:Provincia di Frosinone-Stemma.svg
Provincia di Frosinone-Stemma.svg
File:Provincia di Latina-Stemma.svg
Provincia di Latina-Stemma.svg

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