Posted to Suite 101 (defunct) on April 10, 2011
Italy sits at the southern end of Europe and is a peninsula, shaped like a boot. In size, it is 116,320 square miles, and it extends from the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea. The largest city, and the capital of Italy, is Rome. The country also includes a few islands, the most notable of which are Sardinia, which lies just west of the peninsula and Sicily, located at the toe of the boot.
Within the land mass that is Italy, sit two small segments that are independent. The first is San Marino, which is located in the Apennine Mountains and is one of the world’s oldest and smallest republics. The second independent concern within the confines of Italy is Vatican City. It is located within the city of Rome.
How Did Italy Originate, and Who Lives There?
Italy has played a key role in the history of European civilization. It was the center of the Roman Empire until around 400 A.D., which is when it broke up into many competing states. In the 1860s, the country was unified again.
The population of Italy is just under 60 million and is made up of Etruscans, Greeks, Germanics, Arabs, North Africans, and Middle Easterners. The physical appearance of the Italian people varies, but they usually have olive complexions, dark hair and eyes and are shorter than the northern Italians, who look similar to the German and French people. The northerners often have fair complexions and there are even some blondes living in northern Italy.
The language spoken by the most citizens of Italy is Italian, which is derived from Latin. In the northern region, French and German are also spoken. Most Italians are Roman Catholic, but interestingly, most do not attend church regularly.
What Kind of Weather Is Found in Italy?
Italy is technically located in the temperate zone, but because it runs north to south, and because the country is very mountainous, the climate varies from place to place. There are seven types of climates in Italy, from Mediterranean, to humid sub-tropical, all the way to tundra in the north.
The south experiences hot and dry summers and relatively moderate winters. In the north, winter can be severe and summers hot.
Italy’s Economy and Politics
The currency used in Italy is the Euro, which the country adopted in 2002, replacing the lire.
In the north, the economy is mainly industrial with low unemployment, and in the south, agriculture is the main livelihood and the unemployment rate is higher.
As for politics, 50 separate governments have operated in Italy since WWII. The country is actually a multi-party republic with 15 regions. It has a president, Giorgio Napolitano, and a prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi.
In 2009, the country started to experience a high rate of migration from northern Africa due to the unrest in Libya and Tunisia. Italy is situated just across the Mediterranean Sea from northern Africa. In fact, Italy made Libya a colony for more than 30 years in the 20th century.
Even with its current influx of immigrants, Italy’s rich history and culture make it a worthwhile tourist destination. A bit of research prior to visiting the country will result in an experience worthy of reminiscing for years to follow.