Lazio is a regione of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Marche, Molise, Campania and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Lazio is notable for its history, art, architecture, archaeology, religion and culture. The name of the region survives in the tribal designation of the ancient population of Latins[citation needed], from whom the Romans originated[citation needed]. In Roman mythology, the shadowy king Latinus allegedly gave his name to the region[citation needed]. The name is most likely derived from the Latin word “latus”, meaning “wide”, expressing the idea of “flat land”[citation needed] (in contrast to the local Sabine high country) but the name may originate from an earlier, non Indo-European one. Latium, originally inhabited by the Latins, extended its boundaries to the territories of the Sanniti, the Marsi and Campania thanks to the Roman conquests, taking in the lands of the Ernici, the Equi, the Aurunci and Volsci. This territory was called Latium Novi to differentiate it from Latium veteres, which indicated the original boundaries.
A landscape in Lazio: part of Tivoli, near Rome, seen from the upper terraces of the Villa d’Este.During the Augustus’ administrative system, Latium – together with the present region of Campania- was the first Italian region.
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