The 2004 ceremony will be held on 18 November in a temporary structure at Tor Di Valle. Replay Blue Jeans has secured headline sponsorship in the second year of a two-year deal. L'Oreal Paris Studio Line is sponsoring the awards for the first time this year, also as part of a two-year agreement.
MTV Networks Europe president and chief executive Brent Hansen said: "The city combines the awe-inspiring history of an ancient European past with a modern vitality and a vibrant music scene."
The event was last held in Italy in Milan in 1998.