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Latium (now Lazio in Italian) is a region of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The regional capital is Rome.
The name of the region recalls the ancient population of Latins, from whom the Romans originated. The Latins founded a group of small settlements that united against the Etruscans and Samnites, which came under Roman dominance in 338 BC. All Latins were granted Roman citizenship after the Social War in 90 BC.
Latium is extremely important for history, art, architecture, archaeology, religion, culture in general. The immense patrimony of the city of Rome is only a part of the real treasure that is spread over the hundreds of towns, villages, abbeys, churches, monuments, and other sites of the region.
In Roman mythology, Latium is another name for Latinus, who gave his name to the above region.
Although 'Latium' is the English name (from the Latin, obviously), 'Lazio' has international renown as the name of Rome's successful football team. For the football club, see S.S. Lazio.
Notable cities
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