Italy Fast Facts

Italy is located on the Mediterranean Sea and is a popular holiday destination for many Germans. The country borders directly on Switzerland, Austria, San Marino, France, Slovenia and the Vatican. The latter is a city-state within Rome. Italy offers beautiful, varied, Mediterranean landscapes, has beautiful islands and impressive cities that are worth a visit at any time of the year. See ANDYEDUCATION for education in Italy.

Capital City	Rome
Size	301,338 km²
Resident	60.497.174
Official Language	Italian
Currency	Euro
Time Zone	UTC+1/+2
Telephone Area Code	+39

Fast facts to know

• The number 17 is considered an unlucky number in Italy.
• Most Italians are Roman Catholic.
• A large area of ​​Italy was once part of ancient Greece.
• Italy is home to the oldest university in the world.
• Italians are crazy about football.
• The average Italian consumes 25 kg of pasta a year.
• Italy has 3 active volcanoes.
• The Vatican has its own telephone company, its own radio station, its own TV station, its own postage stamps and its own army
• Located in Italy, San Marino is the oldest republic in the world.
• An above-average number of cars are stolen in Italy. Petty crime in the cities is high.
• Bathing or sunbathing naked is expressly forbidden in Italy (also applies to children).
• Italy is famous for design and fashion.
• In August, many resorts in Italy are hopelessly overcrowded and expensive. Good travel months are May, June and September.
• A power adapter is often required for electrical devices.
• In the restaurant it is customary to be assigned a table.

Exciting cities in Italy

• Rome
• Florence
• Venice
• Milan
• Naples
• Verona
• sienna
• Pisa
• Rimini
• Sorrento
• Cinque Terre
• Altamura
• Turin
• Aosta
• capri
• Positano

history of Italy

• Traces of modern humans about 43,000 to 45,000 years ago.
• 4th century BC BC: Roman expansion begins, leading to the Roman Empire.
• In the Middle Ages, the country split into different dominions after the invasion of the Goths and the Lombards.
• 11th Century: Southern Italy is conquered by the Normans for several decades.
• 14-15 Century powerful city-states arise (Milan, Florence, Venice).
• In changing coalitions, the political power and resources of the Italian peninsula are divided among the city-states, the southern Italian kingdom of Naples and the Papal States.
• 16th to 18th centuries: Italy’s decline begins after the discovery of America.
• 1805 Napoleon crowns himself King of Italy in Milan.
• After the end of Napoleon’s rule, Italy fell under the sphere of influence of the Austrian Empire.
• 16-19 Century: Italy is under foreign rule.
• 1848-1870: After 3 wars of independence, Italy is reunited.
• Italy appears as a colonial power.
• 1922 Benito Mussolini comes to power with the March on Rome.
• Italy supports the German Reich and Adolf Hitler and enters World War II on Germany’s side in 1940.
• After the end of the war, Italy loses all of its colonies.
• Frequent changes of government in the post-war period.

Climate & travel weather in Italy

• Basically Mediterranean climate.
• Different climate zones:
  • North: high alpine climate.
  • Alpine foothills, South Tyrol: much milder climate.
  • Liguria, Venetia, Po Valley: Mediterranean climate.
  • Sardinia and Sicily: very own climate with North African influence.
• Recommended travel time:
  • Winter sports: November – April.
  • Summer vacation: June – August.
  • Sicily: March.
  • Sardinia, South Tyrol: also very beautiful in autumn.

Ideas for trips in Italy

• Rocca Calascio, Abruzzo
• La Maddalena, Sardinia
• Blue Grotto, Campania
• Aquarium in Genoa
• Colosseum in Rome
• Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Milan Cathedral
• Cinque Terre National Park
• Waterways in Venice
• Pompeii
• St. Peter’s Basilica & Vatican City

Eating & drinking in Italy

• Italian cuisine popular worldwide.
• Originally influenced by Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arabic cuisine.
• Traditional Italian cooking is very simple.
• Vegetables, cheese, wine, extra virgin olive oil important components.
• World famous for pasta and pizzas.
• Main meal usually in the evening, typically as a menu:
  • Antipasti as a starter.
  • First course: pasta dish.
  • Second course: meat or fish.
• Dessert: creamy dessert.
• Bread and cover often cost extra.
• Restaurant opening times: 12.30pm – 2pm and 7.30pm – 10pm.
• Pizzerias often open past midnight.
• Italy is considered a wine country with excellent wines (e.g. Chianti and Barolo).
• Sausage products such as salami, mortadella and Parma ham are known beyond national borders.
• Risotto dishes are very popular in northern Italy.
• Naples is considered the origin of pizza and declares itself the best pizza in the world.
• Also known for its coffee specialties: espresso, cappuccino, latte macchiato, caffé latte.
• Typical dishes:
  • Agnello (roasted lamb or grilled chops).
  • Arrosto di maiale/di cinghiale (roast pork).
  • Brasato (roast beef braised in red wine).
  • Insalata Caprese (tomato, mozzarella, basil).
  • Coniglio (roast rabbit).
  • Insalata di Frutti di Mare (seafood dressed with lemon, olive oil, garlic and parsley).
  • Pesce alla Griglia (fresh grilled fish: sea bream (dorata), dentex (dentice), sea bass (spigola), barbel (triglie), plaice (sogliola), sardines and mackerel (pesce azzurro)).
  • Porchetta (herb-spiced suckling pig roasted on a spit).
  • Spaghetti allo Vongole / allo Scoglio (spaghetti with clams / with seafood).
  • Spaghetti Bolognese.
  • Zabaglione (airy, fluffy, sweet wine foam cream).

Particularly scenic

• Dolomites & South Tyrol
• Lake Como & Lombardy
• Liguria
• Tuscany
• Calabria
• Amalfi Coast, Campania
• Lake Garda
• Vesuvius & Etna volcanoes
• Most beautiful islands:
  • Sardinia
  • Aeolian Islands, Sicily
  • Murano near Venice
  • capri
  • Ischia
  • Elba