Location Capital Italys shaped like a boot.

Most of the land is covered by mountains and is divided into eight different regions. To the north, it borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia along the Alps. To the south, it consists of the entirety of the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Sardiniathe two largest islands in the Mediterranean Seaand many other smaller islands. The territory of Italy covers some 301,338 km2 (116,347 sq mi) and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate. With 60.8 million inhabitants, it is the fifth most populous country in Europe, and the 23rd most populous in the world. The name "Italy" (Italia) can be traced back to ancient times for the peninsula, though it was initially designated for the region of the lower part of Southern Italy by Greek settlers. Mythological roots of the name mention a legendary ancient king named 'Italus', though a more likely origin may be from ancient Oscan VTELI, meaning "land of young cattle", as Italy was a rich agricultural country since ancient times.

Rome, the capital of Italy, Modern Italy is a democratic republic. It has been ranked as the world's 24th most-developed country[6] and its Qualityof-life Index has been ranked in the world's top ten in 2005.[10] Italy enjoys a very high standard of living, and has a high GDP per capita.[11][12] It has the world's third-largest gold reserves, eighth-largest nominal GDP, tenth highest GDP (PPP)[13] and the sixth highest government budget in the world. Italy plays a prominent role in European and global military, cultural and diplomatic affairs. The country's European political, social and economic influence make it a major regional power.[15][16] The country has a high public education level and is a highly globalised nation.[17] Government Italyo ifficially the Italian Republic is a unitary parliamentary republic in Southern Europe. Unitary parliamentaryconstitutional republic President Giorgio Napolitano Prime Minister Mario Monti In 1946 Italy changed its government. In this year, the people voted to change their nation from a monarchy, which was ruled by a king to a republic that was headed by a president. King Humbert the 2nd fastest left the throne and the voters elected 556 members to the Constituent Assembly to write a constitution. The constitution was passed in 1947 and took effect on January 1,1948. The constitution established a government, which was made up of a president, the Council of Ministers headed by a prime minister, and a Parliament with a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. Art and History Italy, a land of art and history Italy has been, since antiquity, the centre of history, culture and art. Our museums, collections and archaeological sites reveal countless tokens of the past and the many civilizations that have passed across this country, evidence of which is still inextricably woven into the present day landscape.

Artistic wonders can be found everywhere, and every corner of the country holds countless and wonderful surprises. Our artistic and cultural heritage is one of the most valuable in the world. Italy has more cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country. Rome, Florence, Assisi, Venice, Siena, Pisa, and Naples are its most renowned cities of art, but the whole country can boast towns of breathtaking beauty, as these numbers demonstrate: 95,000 monumental churches, 40,000 forts and castles, 30,000 historical residences with 4,000 gardens, 36,000 archives and libraries, 20,000 historical cities and towns, 5,600 museums and archaeological sites, and 1,500 convents.

As the heart of one of the world's most significant religions , Italy has always been a destination for those who have made their faith a way of life and who wish to explore the roots of a world that has produced art, architecture, and objects of inestimable value. But the ultimate destination for religious pilgrimages is undoubtedly Rome, the Capital of Christianity and Seat of the Papacy, where one can find St. Peter's Basilica, the largest Christian church in the world. Religion

Roman Catholicism is by far the largest religion in the country, although Catholicism is no longer officially the state religion. The proportion of Italians that identify themselves as Roman Catholic is 87.8%,[138] although only about onethird of these described themselves as active members (36.8%). Most Italians believe in God, or a form of a spiritual life force. According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005:[139]74% of Italian citizens responded that 'they believe there is a God', 16% answered that 'they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force' and 6% answered that 'they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force'.

Italy, Territory of Adventure Italy offers endless and amazing opportunities for those seeking a vacation dedicated to sports and physical activity - for those who want to be in close contact with nature both during the summer and the winter, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and unique landscapes. There are qualified and well-equipped facilities to assist guests and meet their every need. Italy's countless marinas and ports, and various tourist organizations offer opportunities to indulge in water sports, such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, swimming, sailing, and waterskiing. For mountain lovers, there are infinite options. During the summer: biking, walking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and kayaking along streams and rapids, fishing in the pristine waters of rivers and lakes,

Eating and Drinking Italy, Territory of Taste Italy has always been a synonym for "good food," offering an unmistakable explosion of flavours, scents, and aromas. Aside from having one of the most famous cuisines, it also proposes an immense variety of different regional dishes and recipes. Visitors cannot miss the food and wine itineraries - journeys through Italy's gastronomic culture, in search of ancient recipes, genuine products, and simple food inspired by classic Italian cooking and innovative creations. World renowned products such as Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan) cheese, Parma and San Daniele ham, Modena balsamic vinegar, Genoa's pesto, buffalo mozzarella from Campania, Alba truffles, and cured meats are just some of the symbols that make Italy the land of good food. And how could anyone forget pasta and pizza, universal synonyms for Italy? Italys wines, those noble ambassadors of Italian excellence throughout the world,

Science Through the centuries, Italy has given birth to some notable scientific minds. Amongst them, and perhaps the most famous polymath in history, Leonardo da Vincimade several contributions to a variety of fields including art, biology, and technology. Galileo Galilei was a physicist, mathematician, and astronomer who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations, and support forCopernicanism. The physicist Enrico Fermi, a Nobel prize laureate, was the leader of the team that built the first nuclear reactor and is also noted for his many other contributions to physics, including the co-development of the quantum theory. Education Education in Italy is free and mandatory from ages six to sixteen,[155] and consists five stages: kindergarten primary school lower secondary school upper secondary school and university

Recreation

Italians like a wide amount of sports. Soccer is the most popular sport in Italy. Every major city has a professional soccer team. But soccer is not just a big sport- on the weekends. Italys parks are filled with kids and adults playing the game of soccer. Basketball is also very popular; some cities have more than one professional basketball team. Other popular sports are fishing, cycling, roller-skating, and baseball. Family recreational activities are taking a traditional Sunday passeggiata (family stroll), driving to the seashore or the mountains, and watching TV. Italians insist going to the movies, but growing popularity of watching TV has led to a decline in the movie attendance.