<P> Beginning with the Renaissance, almost all the popes since Nicholas V (1447--1455) pursued over four hundred years a coherent architectural and urban programme aimed at making the city the artistic and cultural centre of the world . In this way, Rome became first one of the major centres of the Italian Renaissance, and then the birthplace of both the Baroque style and Neoclassicism . Famous artists, painters, sculptors and architects made Rome the centre of their activity, creating masterpieces throughout the city . In 1871 Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which in 1946 became the Italian Republic . </P> <P> Rome has the status of a global city . Rome ranked in 2016 as the 14th-most - visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy . Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . Monuments and museums such as the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum are among the world's most visited tourist destinations with both locations receiving millions of tourists a year . Rome hosted the 1960 Summer Olympics and is the seat of United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The city hosts the headquarters of many international business companies, such as Eni, Enel, TIM and national and international banks such as Unicredit and BNL . Its business district, called EUR, is the base of many companies involved in the oil industry, the pharmaceutical industry and financial services . Rome is also an important fashion and design centre thanks to international brands such as Fendi, Bulgari, Renato Balestra, Valentino, Laura Biagiotti . Rome's Cinecittà Studios have been the set of many Academy Award--winning movies . </P> <P> According to the founding myth of the city by the Ancient Romans themselves, the long - held tradition of the origin of the name Roma is believed to have come from the city's founder and first king, Romulus . </P> <P> However, it is a possibility that the name Romulus was actually derived from Rome itself . As early as the 4th century, there have been alternative theories proposed on the origin of the name Roma . Several hypotheses have been advanced focusing on its linguistic roots which however remain uncertain: </P>

Why is the roman pantheon called the 8th wonder of the ancient world