Italy

We explain everything about Italy and its physical and cultural characteristics. Also, what is its economy, religion and the history of this country like?

Italy

Italy is a country located in Western Europe whose official name is the Italian Republic. He is a member of the European Union and is bordered to the north by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, to the west by the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, to the south by the Mediterranean Sea, to the southeast by the Ionian Sea and to the east by the Adriatic Sea.

It is one of the main world economies and stands out in textile, naval, automotive and food production (such as wines and olives). Its population is 59 million inhabitants which are distributed in the 20 regions that make up the country. The majority of the population speaks the Italian language.

Italy is a parliamentary republicso it has an executive branch made up of the president, a Council of Ministers and the president of the Council of Ministers; a legislative branch, made up of a chamber of deputies and the Senate; and a judicial power.

Italy was home to many European cultureslike the Etruscans, the Greeks and the Romans, so it is a country that has a great history, culture, monuments, buildings and traditions.

The capital of Italy is Romea city located in the east of the country and where the Vatican City is located, an autonomous state that is considered a holy place for the Catholic religion. Other important cities in Italy are Milan (considered the fashion capital), Turin (an important industrial and automobile production center), Genoa, Bologna, Venice, Naples, Palermo and Florence.

See also: England

Characteristics of Italy

Some characteristics of this country are:

• It has a population of 59,300,000 inhabitants.
• Its area is 302,000 square kilometers, with a population density of 196.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.
• Its capital is the city of Rome.
• The official language is Italian.
• The predominant religion is Catholic. In Rome is the city of Vatican, where the Pope, the highest authority of the Catholic Church, resides.
• Its predominant climates are temperate Mediterranean and temperate humid. In the Alps, in the north of the country, the cold alpine tundra climate predominates.
• The main relief is mountainous. In the north of the country, the Po River plain stands out.
• Some of the greatest exponents of literature and painting in history were born in Italy.
• Its official currency is the euro.
• Its main economic activities are agriculture, mining, industry, services and tourism.

Area, population and capital of Italy

Italy has an area of ​​302,000 square kilometers. It has a population of 59,300,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth most populous country in Europe. Its population density is 196.3 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The country is divided into 20 states called “regions.” subdivided into 110 provinces. The most populated region is Lombardy, with just over 10 million inhabitants. Next in demographic importance is the region of Lazio, where the capital Rome is located, with 5.7 million inhabitants, and the region of Campania with 5.5 million.

The capital of Italy is the city of Rome. It has a population of 2,800,000 inhabitants, making it the most populated city in the country. Rome is known as “The Eternal City”, and this is related to the political importance it had throughout history and that it has today.

It was the capital of the Roman Empire with a history spanning more than 2500 yearsand houses the Vatican City, which is the headquarters of the Catholic Church.

Climate, relief and hydrography of Italy

Most of southern Italy is characterized by a temperate Mediterranean climate.. This climate features warm summers, cool winters, and precipitation concentrated in the winter months.

On the contrary, the Northern Italy has a humid temperate climatewith warm summers, cool winters and abundant rainfall all year round. In the mountainous areas of the extreme north, where the Alps are located, the climate is cold alpine tundrawith temperatures significantly reduced due to the altitude.

In terms of relief, Italy is made up of different mountain ranges and valleys. To the north are the Alps and to the south are the Apennines, the mountain range that runs like a spine across the entire Italian peninsula. Towards the sides of both mountain ranges there are hills and valleys that flow into the sea. Also in this area is the Padana plain, the largest in the country formed by the valley of the Po River.

In the south of Italy is the island of Sicily, considered an extension of the Apennines, in which Mount Etna stands out, what is he volcano highest asset in Europe with a height of 3,345 meters above sea level.

The hydrography of Italy is characterized by having short rivers that originate in the mountain ranges that cross the country and flow into some of the seas that surround it. The most important river is the Poin northern Italy, which makes up the valley of the same name, fundamental for the practice of agriculture in the region. At 652 kilometers long, it is the longest in the country. The second largest is the Adige River, 405 kilometers long.

Towards the west coast, Italy has a large number of bays and gulfs that flow into the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea.

The flora of Italy is mainly made up of species of citrus trees, olive trees and palms.. Towards the southern area you can distinguish fig trees, dates, pomegranates, sugar cane, cotton and almond trees.

Italy's fauna has little variety compared to other European countries. Bears, mountain goats, marmots, wolves, foxes and wild boars are some of the species that can be found.

There is also a great variety of reptiles and arachnids such as vipers, scorpions, lizards and snakes. As for birds, predators predominate, such as buzzards, falcons, vultures and eagles.

Due to its large number of coastlines, Italy presents a varied marine fauna. Among the species that stand out are crustaceans and mollusks, such as crabs and snails, and species of fish and mammals such as eel, shrimp, clams, tuna, cod and dolphin.

culture of italy

The main language of Italy is Italianwhich derives from Latin. However, in some areas of Italy there are people who speak other languages ​​such as French, German, Catalan, Greek and Croatian.

The predominant religion is Catholicismalthough other religions such as Protestantism, Judaism and Islam are also professed. The city of Rome attracts a large amount of religious tourism since it has the independent state of Vatican City within its territory.

Italy is a country with a great diversity of customs, traditions and festivities that extend throughout its territory. Due to the waves of migration that led Italian citizens to settle in other parts of the planet, there is a great influence of Italian customs in various countries, especially in America.

Italian gastronomy is Mediterranean and It is recognized for its pasta (such as spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli and agnolotti) and its pizzas. Other typical Italian foods and dishes are risottos, minestrone soup, carpaccio, focaccia and desserts such as tiramisu and cannoli. Some of the typical drinks of Italy are coffee, wine, grappa, limoncello, sambuca, amaretto, fernet, among others.

The typical dance of Italy is the tarantellaa dance that emerged in the southern part of the country. In classical music, composers such as Antonio Vivaldi, Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini stand out, and singers such as Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Tebaldi.

Italy is one of the most prestigious countries in the field of fashion. The city of Milan is considered one of the capitals of fashion and most of the big brands are based there. Some of the most prestigious Italian designers are Valentino, Domenico Dolce, Stefano Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace, Alberta Ferretti, Donatella Versace and Miuccia Prada.

art of italy

Italy is a country with a long tradition in art, especially in painting and sculpture. It saw its peak during the Renaissance (5th to 6th centuries), a period that was characterized by the flourishing of artists in painting, sculpture, literature and architecture.

Some of the main representatives of Italian art throughout history were:

In plastic arts:

• Donato di Betto Bardi (Donatello) (1386-1466). He was a painter and sculptor who was a precursor of the Renaissance movement. He revolutionized the field of sculpture with his relief works and made works in bronze, wood and marble. Some of his most notable sculptures are David (sculpted in bronze) and Penitent Mary Magdalene (sculpted in wood).
• Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510). He was a painter and exponent of the first Renaissance period. He made many of his works for the Medici (Florentine family), among which are The birth of Venus, The abyss of hell and spring.
• Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). He was a painter, architect and scientist of the Renaissance. Da Vinci stood out in multiple disciplines and made important contributions and discoveries, which is why he is considered one of the most important personalities in world history. His most recognized works are The Mona Lisa, The last supper and the drawing of Vitruvian Man.
• Michelangelo Buonarroti (Michelangelo) (1475-1564). He was an architect and artist who was an exponent of the Renaissance. He is considered one of the great artists in universal history and stood out in painting and sculpture. His most famous works are David, The mercy and the frescoes and ceiling paintings of the Sistine Chapel.
• Raphael Sanzio (Raphael) (1483-1520). He was a painter and architect of the Renaissance who painted, above all, works of religious content such as The School of Athens, The transfiguration and The betrothal of the Virgin.
• Tiziano Vecellio di Gregorio (1490-1576). He was a painter of the Renaissance period who stood out in painting portraits and landscapes. Some of his most important works are Venus of Urbino, The Assumption of the Virgin and Bacchus and Ariadne.
• Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610). He was one of the precursors of the baroque style. His work was characterized by the use of chiaroscuro. Some of his most recognized paintings are The vocation of Saint Matthew, Bacchus and Crucifixion of Saint Peter.
• Sofonisba Anguissola (1584-1625). She is considered the first woman painter of the Renaissance. He was noted for his portraits and self-portraits.
• Artemisa Gentileschi (1593-1653). She was a baroque painter recognized for her realism and drama.

In literature:

• Dante Alighieri (1265-321). He was a poet and author of The Divine Comedyconsidered one of the most important works of universal literature.
• Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374). He was one of the most important writers of Italian literature. His most notable work is Song book and is a representative of the humanist movement of the 14th century.
• Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527). He was a diplomat, philosopher and writer of the Renaissance period. He was one of the first references of modern political science and among his most notable works are The prince, Of the art of war and Discourse on the first decade of Livy.
• Baltasar Castiglione (1478-1529). He was a writer and diplomat recognized for his work The courtierconsidered one of the most representative works of the Renaissance period in Italy.
• Alessandro Manzoni (1785-1873). He was the author of the work Bride and groom, a classic of universal literature. He was a reference of the romantic movement of his country and author of other works such as Adelchi and The sacred hymns.
• Italo Svevo (1861-1928). He was the author of novels such as Zeno's conscience (his most notable work), a life and Senility.
• Gabriele D'annunzio (1863-1938). He was one of the main representatives of the artistic movement of decadence. He stood out in poetry and novels with works such as The pleasure, The triumph of death and The innocent.
• Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936). He was winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1934. He stood out in writing plays, novels and short stories and some of his most famous works are Six characters in search of an author, The late Matías Pascal and That's right (if that's what you think).
• Grazia Deledda (1871-1936). She was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature. Some of his works such as ashes and The Grazia They were taken to the cinema.
• Elsa Morante (1912-1985). She is considered one of the most important writers in the world in the second half of the 20th century. Some of his most notable works are Arthur's Island and The story.
• Natalia Ginzburg (1916-1991). She was a writer and politician who, in addition to devoting herself to writing, held political positions as an Italian deputy. Some of his most recognized works are the words of the night and The Voices of the Night.
• Umberto Eco (1932-2016). He was an influential philosopher, writer and thinker of the 20th century. His work is composed of essays and novels, among which stand out the name of the rose, Foucault's pendulum and The Prague cemetery.

National symbols of Italy

The national symbols of Italy are:

• The flag of Italy. It has three vertical stripes. The one on the left is green, the one in the center is white and the one on the right is red. It was adopted as the national flag in 1946.
• The national anthem of Italy. It is known as “Il canto degli italiani”. It was written by Goffredo Mameli and its music composed by Michele Novaro in 1847.
• The coat of arms of Italy. It was designed by Paolo Paschetto and adopted as the national emblem in 1948. It consists of a white five-point star with red edges located on a gray gear wheel. The whole is surrounded by an oak branch and an olive branch and both branches are joined by a red ribbon with the legend “ITALIAN REPUBLIC”.

Economic activities of Italy

Italy has one of the ten most developed economies in the world and, according to its GDP, it is the third most developed in Europe after Germany and France.

Its main trading partners are France, the United States, Germany and Spain. Its official currency, as in all countries of the European Union, is the euro.

Its main economic activities are:

• Agriculture. The production and export of grains, grapevines, dairy products, meat, olives and citrus trees stands out.
• Mining. Among its natural resources, the deposits of natural gas, lignite, sulfur, pyrite and oil and marble stones stand out. Due to its prominent geographical position, with connection to other parts of Europe and Asia, Italy exports many of these products.
• Industry. The automotive, machinery, naval, technology, textile and pharmaceutical industries provide the country's main exports.
• Services. Much of Italy's workforce works in the service sector, in restaurants, hotels, shops, banks and healthcare entities.

History of Italy

Etruscan city-states emerged in northern Italy around 800 BC. C. Shortly afterward, Greek colonies were established on the southern coasts. Other areas were inhabited by Italic peoples, such as the Latins in Latium, who founded the city of Rome.

In 509 BC C., the Romans expelled the last Etruscan king from the city and founded a republic that expanded its territory through conquests. By 272 BC. C., Rome controlled most of the Italian peninsula. In 264 BC C. went to war against Carthage, a North African empire that it defeated in 146 BC. C. Since then Rome dominated most of the Mediterranean and formally established itself as an empire in 27 BC. c.

The Roman Empire was later divided into two halves: eastern and western. In 476 AD. C. the Western Roman Empire fell to the Germanic invasions. From then on Italy went through periods of territorial fragmentation and predominance of some peoples or others, such as the Ostrogoths, the Lombards, the Byzantines, the Franks, the Arabs, the Normans or the Holy Roman Empire.

In the Middle Ages, the Papal States were created, dependent on the Pope, and commercial maritime republics emerged, such as Venice and Genoa. In the Modern Age, some families acquired power, such as the Medici in Florence, who sponsored Renaissance art. Naples and Sicily, for their part, were dominated by the Spanish monarchy until the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively.

After the Congress of Vienna (1815) that followed the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, Italy remained divided and the northern regions were occupied by the Austrian Empire. However, During the 19th century, a movement for the unification of Italy developed. led by King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia, the Count of Cavour and Giuseppe Garibaldi. This movement led to the formation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, which completed its unification in 1870.

Italy participated in the First World War on the side of the Entente. In 1922 Benito Mussolini came to power, establishing a fascist dictatorship and allying himself with Nazi Germany during World War II. In 1946 the Italian Republic was established, in whose government Christian democracy predominated until the 1990s. The last governments corresponded to new parties or coalitions.

References

• “Italy” in Agenzia Nazionale Turismo.
• “Rafael Sanzio” in the Prado Museum.
• “Botticelli” in Arte It.
• “Italy” in Traccani.
• “Il Presidente” in Italian Government
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2023) Italy. Country sheet. Diplomatic Information Office of Spain. Exteriors
• Nieves, V. (2022) The unexpected rebirth of Italy's economy: it leaves Spain behind and approaches France and Germany. TheEconomist
• Osorio, U. (2022) Flora and fauna of Italy. EcologyGreen
• Superprof (2021) Italian artists who have marked the history of art. Superprof