World
Fact-checked

At CulturalWorld, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Should I Know About Italy?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Italy is a European country that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has a 4,722.4 mile (7,600 km) coastline, but it is shares land border with a number of countries to its north—Austria, France, Slovenia, and Switzerland—as well as Vatican City and San Marino within its borders. The total area of Italy is 187,175.6 square miles (301,230 sq km).

The creation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 with King Victor Emmanuel II, formerly ruler of Piedmont, Savoy, and Sardinia, lasted until 1946, when a republic was established by referendum. True unity was not actually accomplished until 1970. In the early part of the twentieth century, Benito Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship in Italy and formed an alliance with Nazi Germany, leading to Italy’s defeat in World War II. Italy has been a charter member of both the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as the European Economic Community (EEC).

Polenta is commonly served in Italy.
Polenta is commonly served in Italy.

The population of Italy was estimated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to be 58,126,212 in July 2009, making it the 24th most populous country in the world. A fifth of the population is age 65 or over. The population is primarily Italian, but there are also peoples from German, French, and Slovenian origins in the north and Albanian and Greek origins in the south. Ninety percent of the population is considered Roman Catholic, but only a third of those are practicing their faith. The other ten percent is comprised of Protestants, Jews, and Muslims.

A bowl of bocconcini, small balls of fresh mozzarella popular in Italy.
A bowl of bocconcini, small balls of fresh mozzarella popular in Italy.

The official name of Italy is Repubblica Italiana, which is given in English as Italian Republic, and the capital is Rome, once the capital of the Roman Empire. The chief of state is a president, who is elected by both houses of parliament and representatives from the 15 regions and five autonomous regions. Italian is the official language of Italy, but in some parts of the Trentino-Alto Adige region, people predominantly speak German. There are also areas in which there are a French-speaking or Slovene-speaking minority. The literacy rate is 98.4%.

Vatican City, which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is surrounded by the Italian city of Rome.
Vatican City, which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is surrounded by the Italian city of Rome.

Italy’s economy is more focused on industry in the north and agriculture in the south, where there is more unemployment. Overall, 65% of the labor force is in services, with 30.7% in industry, and 4.2% in agriculture. The main industries are tourism, machinery, metals and chemicals, food processing, and textiles. The chief agricultural products are fruits and vegetables, grapes, and potatoes.

The Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome, Italy.
The Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome, Italy.

Italy is known for its cheeses, sausages, hams, and wines, as well as for many prepared dishes from its widely varying regional cuisines. Cheeses include Parmesan, Romano, mozzarella, and gorgonzola. Sausages include pepperoni and sopressata. Some of the dishes for which it is known include pizza, pasta in a wide variety of shapes and prepared with a wide variety of sauces, polenta, risotto, gnocchi, and antipasto. Seafood is also widely served.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to CulturalWorld about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to CulturalWorld about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

surflover00

allienoelle - I visited Sicily on a recent trip to Italy and am so glad that I did.

Sicily often gets overlooked by tourists, but has so much to offer. I stayed in the capital, Palermo, and spent my time visiting ancient ruins and beautiful cathedrals. The food was delicious and I found the people to be laid-back and friendly.

I also spent a considerable amount of time at the beach. Sicily has great beaches and the weather is nice pretty much all year round. I would definitely recommend that anyone planning a trip to Italy make sure and visit Sicily.

allienoelle

People should also be aware that Italy rules over two islands located in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and has a population of just over 5 million people. Sicily has many tourist attractions including ancient Greek and Roman ruins and is well-known for its seafood cuisine. The island even has its own language, Sicilian, which is quickly dying out and is usually only spoken by elderly individuals.

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and has a population of about 1.7 million. Sardinia is known for its beautiful beaches and nice climate.

catapult43

Italy is a beautiful country with with old architecture, beautiful countryside, and many famous resorts such as Portofino, Cinque Terre and others.

The cuisine is exquisite, with pasta and variety sauces leading the way. Of course, do not forget the espresso and gelato.

It is also known for its style in design whether it be clothing, architecture, or art. Very elegant. A great country to visit.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Polenta is commonly served in Italy.
      Polenta is commonly served in Italy.
    • A bowl of bocconcini, small balls of fresh mozzarella popular in Italy.
      By: Viktor
      A bowl of bocconcini, small balls of fresh mozzarella popular in Italy.
    • Vatican City, which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is surrounded by the Italian city of Rome.
      By: SergiyN
      Vatican City, which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, is surrounded by the Italian city of Rome.
    • The Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome, Italy.
      By: Jenifoto
      The Coliseum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome, Italy.
    • Gnocchi is a popular Italian dish.
      By: Marco Mayer
      Gnocchi is a popular Italian dish.
    • Italy is a charter member of NATO.
      By: Sylvana Rega
      Italy is a charter member of NATO.
    • Italy has 15 regions and five autonomous regions.
      By: willypd
      Italy has 15 regions and five autonomous regions.
    • Italy has more than 4,700 miles of coastline.
      By: ronnybas
      Italy has more than 4,700 miles of coastline.
    • Risotto and seafood are commonly served in Italy.
      By: Lilyana Vynogradova
      Risotto and seafood are commonly served in Italy.