Italy Facts - 82 Interesting Facts about Italy

Here is a collection of 82 interesting facts about Italy that you might not know about such as Italian people, history of Italy, total area of Italy, climate of Italy, Religions in Italy etc. Italy has a rich history. For centuries, Italy has been a seat of culture and arts.

Interesting Facts about Italy

1. Italy has the highest number of cultural sites recognized by UNESCO World Heritage.
2. Italy has over 3000 museums.
3. The population of Italy is somewhere around 60 million as per the 2009 estimates.
4. Italy is the third oldest country in the world behind Japan and Germany.
5. With almost 40 million visitors, Italy is the fourth most visited country in the world.
6. Total area of Italy is 301,230 square kilometers out of which 294,020 square kilometers is occupied by the land area including Sardinia and Sicily and 7,210 square kilometers covered by the water.
7. The average Italian mother has 1.3 children and is 31 years old when she gives birth.
8. 87.8% of Italians identify themselves as Roman Catholic. However, only about 37% are active members of the church. Other religions found in Italy are Protestants, Jews and Muslim community who have migrated to Italy from other countries.
9. Rome, the capital of Italy is almost 3000 years old. The Roman Catholic Church is also based in Rome.
10. The colors of the Italian flag represent three virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red). colors of the Italian flag represent three virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red).
11. Italian is the official language of Italy. Other languages spoken in Italy are German, French, Slovene and English.
12. Italy is the world's largest Pasta producer.
13. The ice cream cone is an Italian invention.
14. Italy's old age dependency ratio is the highest in Europe. For every 100 working-age Italians there are 30 elderly Italians to care for.
15. Italy has a republican government.
16. On average, Italian men retire when they are 61 years old, Italian woman when they are 59. Italy spends more of its national income on pensions.
17. More than 50 million tourists visit Italy every year. Tourism provides nearly 63% of Italy's national income.
18. Italy is the world's seventh largest industrial economy.
19. Italy has more volcanoes and experience maximum earthquakes than any other European country.
20. The name Italy comes from the word Italia, meaning "calf land", perhaps because the bull was a symbol of the Southern Italian tribes.
21. The climate of Italy is a Mediterranean type of climate with cold winters towards the northern regions.
22. Eyeglasses are an Italian invention.
23. The Seven Hills of Rome are Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal.
24. The symbol SPQR can be found on many ancient buildings in Rome. It stands for "the senate and people of Rome."
25. Rome was founded in 753 BC.
26. Italy did not become a united country until 1861.
27. Every kid between the ages of 6-14 in Italy goes to mandatory school. More than 90 percent of them attend public schools considered better for learning than private schools.
28. The average Italian is 41.5 years old.
29. Italy is also home to some of the world's greatest fashion houses, and Milan is counted as one of the world's fashion capitals.
30. The thermometer is an Italian invention.
31. Italy is said to have more masterpieces per square mile than any other country in the world.
32. Republic of San Marino and the Vatican City are the two independent states within Italy.
33. Italy holds the record for the country with the most elevators.
34. The typewriter is an Italian invention.
35. Italy is the world's largest Kiwi fruit producing country.
36. Italy has more hotel rooms than any other nation in Europe.
37. The University of Rome is one of the world's oldest universities and was founded by the Catholic Church in A.D. 1303.
38. The Italian flag is inspired by the French flag introduced during Napoleon's 1797 invasion of the peninsula.
39. No other country in Europe has as many volcanoes as Italy. This is because the Italian peninsula stands on a fault line.
40. Over 600,000 Romanian immigrants live in Italy.
41. The average life expectancy at birth for an Italian is 79.54 years.
42. Soccer was introduced to Italians in the late 1800s by the British, but it was not until the 1930s under Mussolini that the sport took off on an international level.
43. Famous Italian explorers include Christopher Columbus, Marco Polo, John Cabot, and Amerigo Vespucci.
44. Cricket is slowly gaining in popularity in Italy. They are currently ranked 27th in the world.
45. Italy's contributions to science include the barometer, electric battery, nitroglycerin, and wireless telegraphy.
46. Many single Italian children live at home until their 30s, even if they have a job. The Italian family stands at the heart of Italian society.
47. Forty percent of Italians aged 30 to 34 live with their parents. Over half of parents 65 or over live within 1 kilometer of a son or daughter.
48. Enrico Fermi, inventor of the nuclear reactor, was an Italian.
49. Italy is slightly larger than Arizona.
50. Almost 20% of Italy's population is over 65 years old.
51. Italy borders Austria, France, Vatican City, San Marino, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Its longest border is with Switzerland.
52. Some of the most famous stories of William Shakespeare happened in Italy, let's name just few of them: Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Winter's Tale. of the most famous stories of William Shakespeare happened in Italy, let's name just few of them: julius caesar, romeo and juliet, the merchant of venice, othello, the two gentlemen of verona and the winter's tale.
53. Italians invented Ice Cream.
54. Italians refer to their country as Italia.
55. Pizza is one of the very few words which is understood all over the world.
56. The average Italian consumes half a pound of bread a day.
57. Cologne came out of Italy.
58. Italy's currency is Euro. Before adopting the euro, Italy's currency was known as the lira.
59. The average Italian consumes 26 gallons of wine a year.
60. Italy's major industries include tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, and ceramics.
61. Barely a third of Italy's land is arable and suitable for farming.
62. The service sector accounts for almost 70% of the Italian economy.
63. The espresso machine hails from Italy.
64. Italy is the world's seventh largest industrial economy.
65. Over 75% of Italy is mountainous or hilly.
66. The area around Venice is one of the wealthiest region in Europe.
67. The average Italian consumes 25 kilograms of pasta in a year.
68. Italy imports over 75% of its energy.
69. Agriculture used to make up over a third of Italy's economy. It now makes up less than 3%.
70. Before Rome became a republic and an empire, it had 7 kings.
71. "Ars longa, vita brevis" is a common saying in Italy. It means "art is long, life is short" and reflects the Italian love of leisure.
72. The president of Italy is a ceremonial figure.
73. The prime minister serves as the head of government and is the one who runs the country.
74. Since October 1946, the national anthem of Italy is "Inno de Memeli".
75. The Italian language evolved from the Latin of the Roman Empire.
76. The national sport of Italy is soccer (known as football outside of America).
77. Italy's national dish is pasta.
78. The Alps mountain range form part of Italy's northern border, and for a long time, protected the peninsula from invasion.
79. Italy has three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli. has three active volcanoes: vesuvius, etna, and stromboli.
80. The Italian peninsula is surrounded by five seas (the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, Ligurian, and Mediterranean).
81. Naples is the largest city in southern Italy.
82. Milan is the second-largest city in Italy after Rome. Milan is home to Italian fashion and finance.