Lying between the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea, Lazio is a varied region of volcanic lakes, mountains, ravines, vineyards and olive groves.
Before the rise of Rome, it was populated by the Etruscans and various Italic tribes, including the Latins, after whom the region is named.
Besides rich archaeological sites, Lazio also offers skiing and swimming and waters sports in the lakes and sea.
With the rise of Rome as a power, the Etruscan and Latin peoples were, in time, overwhelmed and the focus of the region turned to the city of Rome.
Great roads and aqueducts extended out of the city like spokes of a wheel, and wealthy patricians built lavish villas in the surrounding countryside.
The early Middle Ages saw the rise of the church's temporal power and, with the foundation of monasteries at Subiaco and Montecassino, Lazio became the cradle of western monasticism, and eventually part of the Papal States.
Throughout its history, however, Lazio has been eclipsed and neglected by Rome.