Italy Facts

Where is Italy?

The Italian Republic is located in southern Europe. It is on the Italian peninsula and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia and Sicily, the two islands in the Mediterranean, are also part of the Italian Republic. The total area of the republic is 116,346 square miles and it has an estimated population of 60,642,308.

What is the capital of Italy? 

Rome is the capital of Italy. It is located in the central-western area of the Italian Peninsula. Its total area is 496.3 square miles and it has an estimated population of 2,761,477. It was also the capital city of the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

What is the currency of Italy? 

The euro replaced the Italian lira in 2002. It is the sole currency of the country.

Which is the largest city of Italy? 

The largest city of Italy is Rome. It is situated on the Tiber river. The historic center of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of the city spans two-and-a-half thousand years. It is 3rd most visited city in the European Union.

What is the official language of Italy?

 Italian is the official language of Italian Republic. It also has numerous dialects spoken all over the country. French is the c0-official language in the Valle d'Aosta, while German has the same status in the province of South Tyrol. Slovene is recognized in the provinces of Trieste, Gorizia and Udine in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

What is the religion of Italy? 

87.8% of the population in Italy identifies itself as Roman Catholic. Most Italians believe in the existence of God or a form of a spiritual life force. Italy is famous for its rich Catholic culture. Roman catholic art and architecture flourished during the middle ages. It is the country with the greatest number of cardinals in the world. There is also a small number of Jews, Bahais, Muslims and Sikhs in the country.

What is the literacy rate of Italy?

 The literacy rate of Italy is 98.9 %. Public education in the country is free and compulsory from 6 to 15 years of age. It has both public and private education system.

Who is the political leader of Italy?

 Former senator Giorgio Napolitano is the 11th and current president of the Italian Republic. He assumed office on May 15, 2006. Silvio Berlusconi is the current prime minister of the country. In 1977 he received " Oder of Merit for Labour". He assumed office on May 8, 2008.

In 1946 Italy abolished monarchy by a constitutional referendum. Since then it has been a unitary parliamentary republic. The parliament is bicameral. The prime minister is the head of government, while the president is the head of state. The prime minister and the cabinet are appointed by the president.

When is the national day of Italy celebrated? 

Italy celebrates its republic day on June 2. On this day in 1946, the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government. Before the foundation of Italian Republic, the Italian national day was the first Sunday in June. The national day is also known as Festa della Repubblica. A grand parade is held in central Rome to celebrate this day.

What is the economy of Italy like?

Italy has a free-market economy. It was ranked the eighth-largest in the world (2010) and fourth-largest in Europe in terms of nominal GDP. The GDP of the country is 2.055 trillion dollars. It is a developed country with a diversified industrial economy. Its main trading partners are the countries of European Union. It imports engineering products, chemicals, metals, textiles, food, minerals and tobacco. Italy has few natural resources and relies on renewable energy. It is the largest producer of renewable energy.