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Joined the European Union: 1957
Area: 301 230 Km² (116,306 square miles)
Population: 60 157 214
Density: 198 inhabitants per sq. Km.
Type of government: Republic
President: Giorgio Napolitano
Prime Minister: Silvio Berlusconi
Religion: Roman Catholic
Language: Italian
Italian unification took place in 1870 but there is still great regional contrast. Its exceptional history and its cities, in themselves museums (Rome, Venice, Florence), make Italy a country to which tourists flock in great numbers. There is the attraction of Ancient Roman remains as well as art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The Vatican City State, located in Rome, was founded in 1929.
The Italian economy is distinguished by strong regional differences; between the highly industrialized and dynamic north; the center around Rome, which is characterized by service industries and governmental activities around the capital; and the south, the Mezzogiorno, which is more rural and suffers from high unemployment. The other characteristic is the importance of small and medium sized companies, which contribute to the know-how for which Italy has a worldwide reputation. It must be remembered that there is strong concentration in certain sectors, such as the automotive industry, which is almost monopolized by Fiat.
Italy has maintained a very refined culture, which is expressed today in fashion and design. Italians love to meet in small restaurants to enjoy their gastronomic specialties such as pizza and pasta….) and their wines (Chianti) and to discuss soccer (il calico) and politics.
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