How is Alba longa important to Rome?

Alba Longa is significant to Rome as it is considered the legendary ancestral home of the Roman people and the birthplace of Rome's founding figures, Romulus and Remus. According to myth, Alba Longa was a major city in ancient Latium and played a pivotal role in the early history of Rome. Its destruction by Romulus is often seen as a symbolic act that marked the establishment of Rome as a dominant power. The connection to Alba Longa helped to legitimize Roman authority and identity by linking them to a storied past.