When and how was the Italian Peninsula originally settled? What were the three groups that originally settled the Italian Peninsula? When and how was Rome first settled? What is the legend that explains how Rome was founded?

These sites will get you started.

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761552589/Ancient_Rome.html#s16

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/03/eus/ht03eus.htm

This site should give you the information you need.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy

In response to the first question you might like look at the 'Journey of Mankind' by Steven Oppenheimer.

http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/

it might help. You will probably need to click through the steps a few times.

The Italian Peninsula was originally settled during prehistoric times, around 10,000 years ago. The exact date and method of settlement are not known with certainty, as it predates historical records. However, archaeological evidence suggests that various Neolithic cultures, such as the Remedello and Beaker cultures, inhabited the peninsula during this time.

The three main groups that originally settled the Italian Peninsula were the Etruscans, Greeks, and Italics. Each group had a significant impact on the region's culture, language, and history.

Rome, the capital of Italy, was first settled by the Latins, an Italic group, in the mid-8th century BCE (Before Common Era). According to legend, Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus, twin brothers who were sons of the god Mars and a Latin princess named Rhea Silvia. The legend states that they were abandoned as infants and were raised by a she-wolf until they were discovered by a shepherd who adopted and raised them. As adults, Romulus and Remus decided to build a city near the Tiber River. However, a dispute arose between them, resulting in Romulus killing Remus and becoming the sole founder and ruler of Rome. This legend, known as the "Romulus and Remus Myth," is a significant part of Rome's early mythology and identity.

It's important to note that while the legend provides a mythical explanation for Rome's founding, historians believe that the actual process of Rome's establishment was more complex and involved interactions between various Italic groups in the region.