About Itally

Italy, officially the Italian Republic is a Southern European country. It comprises the Italian peninsula, the Po River valley, and two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia, and shares its northern alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. The country also shares a sea border with Croatia, and France. The independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within Italian territory. It is shaped like a boot, and thus called lo stivale (Italian for boot). In 1861 Italy became a nation-state. Italy is well known for its spectacular landscapes and has the world’s largest artistic patrimony. There are numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At present, Italy is a highly developed country with the 8th highest GDP in 2006, a member of the G8 and a founding member of what is now the European Union, having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

Culture

The effect of the traditional Mediterranean culture is visible in the inhabitants of the central and southern parts of the country. People of the north are taller, blonder and have lighter eyes while those of the south are shorter with olive skin and dark hair. You will notice that Italians are warm, passionate and very demonstrative by nature. Italians are proud of their culture and heritage. You will see that most Italians are Roman Catholics, and the church has a great deal of influence on them. Most religious monuments and paintings as well as local traditions are based on Christian celebrations and the lives of the saints. Italy has produced some of the greatest artists of the world like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael , Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, among many others Museums, churches and courtyards all over the country proudly exhibit their works. Distinguished literary figures Boccaccio, Castiglione and Pirandello, and the poets Tasso, Ariosto, Leopardi, and Petrarch have made their own impact. Italy is home to the Opera and Opera music. Everyone's heard of Rossini, Verdi and Puccini - the classics. It's accessible to everybody; people have a firm understanding of opera and will attend a performance on every possible occasion. The main meal is savoured, normally in the evening. It's a very social and family orientated event. Italians often go on eating, drinking and socializing well into the early hours. The typical Italian home is plain yet realistic and always bright, reflecting love, beauty, colour, style, family and friendship. There are blue railings, tables full of apples, grapes, fresh cheese and bottles of local wine; colourful flowers everywhere, tiny courtyards and gardens with picturesque statues.

RELIGION

Nearly 90% of Italians are Roman Catholics of which one-third are active members. Roman Catholicism is the most popular religion of the country. Muslims, Buddhists and Jewish people have made Italy their homes.