FACTBOX: Italy's Mr Nice Guy, Walter Veltroni

(Reuters) - Italians voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election pitting centre-left leader and former Rome mayor Walter Veltroni against one of Italy's richest men, the conservative Silvio Berlusconi.

Here are some facts about Veltroni.

* Veltroni, born in Rome in July 1955, is a former editor of left-wing daily L'Unita and started his political career in the now defunct Italian Communist Party. In contrast to Berlusconi's flamboyant style, he projects a more intellectual image.

* Often accused of 'buonismo' -- Italian for being too much of a Mr Nice Guy -- the twice-elected Rome mayor has sought to harden his image by cracking down on illegal settlements of Romanian immigrants in the city at a time when fear of crime, and foreigners, has become a major issue for many Italians.

* He was deputy prime minister in Romano Prodi's first cabinet from 1996 until 1998, and held the arts and sports portfolio. As mayor, he has been away from national politics for a decade and, unlike Berlusconi who is contesting his fifth election, has never run for the top job.

* Last October, Veltroni was elected to lead the Democratic Party, which was formed via a merger between ex-communists and centrists.

* The part-time novelist and movie buff also created the Rome film festival. He resigned as mayor of Rome in February to lead the centre left in the election.

* The endorsement of Hollywood actor George Clooney, Italian footballer Francesco Totti and actor and Italian film director Roberto Benigni have added some glamour to Veltroni's campaign.

(Writing by Robin Pomeroy and David Cutler, London Editorial Reference Unit)