Led home by multiple medallist Gregorio Paltrinieri, the Azzurri ended the championships with 24 golds, 14 ahead of Great Britain and Ukraine, who finished with 10 each.
Italy finished with 67 medals in total, well ahead of Great Britain in second place, who scored 27. It was the first European championship without swim queen Federica Pellegrini, who had said this year's was "the strongest team ever" before the event in the Italian capital.
Italy's total medal tally of 67 was 23 more than their winnings at the previous European championships in Budapest last year, where they totalled at 44.
Over half of this year's medals were won in the swimming, where Thomas Ceccon came out on top with four golds and two silvers. He was followed by diver Chiara Pellacani who won five medals: two golds, one silver and two bronzes.
Paltrinieri, aka SuperGreg, and synchronised swimming star Giorgio Minisini had four podium finishes, the latter all golds, Paltrinieri, three golds and a silver. Minisini won in the first ever men's synchronized swimming event at an official international level.
"Our athletes are an international model," said the president of the Italian Swimming Federation (FIN), Paolo Barelli.
The tally of 67 included 35 swimming medals, 12 in synchronised swimming, 12 in diving, six in open water and two in high diving.
"It all bodes very well for (the next Summer Olympics in) Paris 2024," said Barelli.
