Rome is one of the most popular destinations for tourism worldwide: more than 26 million visits in 2007. [1] Its popularity is due to the fact that it was during its millennial history, the capital of the Roman Empire and the heart of Catholic Christianity. Its historic center, with testimonies of almost three millennia, has been included in the list of World Heritage of UNESCO.

Rome stands on the banks of the river Tiber, the original settlement developed on hills facing the bend in which lies the island Tiberina, the only natural ford of the River. The historic core of city are the famous seven hills: Palatine, Aventine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminale, Esquilino and Celio. The city is also crossed by another river, the Aniene (also called Teverone), which flows into the Tiber River in the northern part of today's urban areas.

The territory on which the city was built and developed has complex geological history: The substrate is of a recent pyroclastic material produced by volcanoes, now extinct, that surround the area of the city to the southeast, the Volcano Laziale in the current Colli Albani, and to the north-west, the Monti Sabatini, from aprox. six hundred thousand to three hundred thousand years ago. From these deposits most of the hills in the area are formed , including the seven hills. Later the river Tiber and dell'Aniene contributed to erosion, the relief and sedimentation, characterizing the current territory. In addition to the historical seven hills in the city today there are a number of other surveys, including Monte Mario, the Gianicolo, the Pincio, the Monti Parioli, and Monte Sacro Monteverde.