1985 Click on image thumbnail for full resolution image	2004 Click on image thumbnail for full resolution image

Nineteen years separate these two Landsat thematic mapper images of Rome, Italy.

Rome, Roma in Italian and Latin, is the capital city of Italy and of its Latium region. It is located on the lower Tiber River, near the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

In nineteen years, Rome grew considerably, especially along the southern expanse of the Tiber River. Here, such new residential areas as Axa, Infernetto and Casal Palocco were built expanding the city from its southern outskirts down to the Tyrrhenian Coast.

Also along the coast is the City airport, here visible on the left sides of the images. The airport is formally named Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport – FCO, but more commonly known as Fiumicino.

The city's history extends nearly 3,150 years, during which time it has been the seat of the ancient Rome (the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic, Roman Empire), and later the Papal States, Kingdom of Italy and Italian Republic. For its long history, Rome is also known as La Citta’ Eterna, the Eternal City.

The story runs that Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BC, by Romulus, who later killed his twin brother Remus in the process. This date was the basis for the Roman calendar. According to the legend, the boys were abandoned and taken care of by a she-wolf, even today one of the symbols of Rome.

During the Second World War Rome suffered some heavy bombings and battles and was considered an "open town". However, after the war Rome continued to expand due to Italy's growing state administration and industry, and new suburbs started to grow.

Rome is home to hundreds of churches. Among them, the five Major Basilicas of the Catholic church: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran, Rome's cathedral), Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica), Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura (St. Paul Outside the Walls), Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), and Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le Mura (St. Lawrence Outside the Walls).

The first Landsat-5 image was acquired on 14 July 1985 – In the 20th century, Rome grew considerably, especially along the southern expanse of the Tiber River. Here, such new residential areas as Axa, Infernetto and Casal Palocco were built expanding the city from its southern outskirts down to the Tyrrhenian Coast.

Many of the monuments of Rome were restored by the Italian state and by the Vatican for the 2000 Jubilee.

The second Landsat-5 image was acquired on 19 September 2004 – Among the most interesting resources, the Musei Capitolini, the Vatican Museums and the Galleria Borghese. Churches, historical buildings, the monuments and ruins of the Roman Forum and the Catacombs and the volcanic lakes to the South East of the city are also renowned tourist attractions of Rome.

Being the capital of Italy, Rome hosts all the principal institutions of the nation: the Presidency of the Republic, the government, the Parliament, the main judicial Courts, and the diplomatic representatives of all the countries for the states of Italy and the Vatican City. Interestingly and curiously, Rome also hosts the Embassy of Italy for the Vatican City in the Italian part of its territory, a unique case of an Embassy within the boundaries of its own country.