Which Italian comune is the country’s most populous, with about 2.86 million residents? Rome. Rome is Italy’s most populous comune, with roughly 2.86 million residents within its extensive municipal boundaries.
A comune is an Italian local-government unit, broadly comparable to a municipality. Rome’s comune is unusually large geographically, covering about 1,285 square kilometres and incorporating many urban districts and outlying areas. That boundary helps explain why Rome’s municipal population is much higher than the population of the historic centre alone.
Rome is Italy’s capital and the centre of the Metropolitan City of Rome, whose population is larger still. Another source of confusion is the presence of Vatican City, an independent country enclosed within Rome; its residents are not simply added to Rome’s municipal total. Ancient Rome’s political legacy, Renaissance landmarks and role as the seat of government continue to make it one of Europe’s most prominent cities.