Which peninsula contains Rome and forms the central part of Italy?

The Italian Peninsula contains Rome and forms the central part of Italy.

Often called the Italian Peninsula or the Apennine Peninsula, it extends southward from the Alps into the Mediterranean Sea. The Apennine Mountains run along much of its length, giving the peninsula its alternative geographic name. Its familiar boot-like outline is one of Europe’s most recognizable map shapes.

The peninsula includes Italy’s mainland territory and the small independent states of Vatican City and San Marino. Sicily and Sardinia are major Italian islands, but they are not part of the peninsula itself. The northern boundary is generally placed at the watershed of the Alps.

Rome, founded beside the Tiber River, became the center of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire. The peninsula’s central location in the Mediterranean helped make it a major crossroads for ancient trade, migration, warfare, and cultural exchange.