The city is situated 196 km (122 mi) east of the national capital Ottawa, and 258 km (160 mi) south-west of the provincial capital, Quebec City. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal, which got its name from the same origin as the city, and a few much smaller peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard.
Founded in 1642 as Ville-Marie, or 'City of Mary', it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city.
