Italy Culture, Map, Flag, Tourist Places

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.

According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus, the word Italy derives either from the name of the king Italos descendant of Oenotrus, or from the Homeric (Aeolic) word ?ta??? [1], which means "bull". Excavations throughout Italy have found proof of life in Italy dating back to the Palaeolithic period (the "Old Stone Age") some 200,000 years ago. The first Greek settlers, who arrived in Italy from Euboea island the 8th century BC, possibly named their new land "land of bulls".

Italy has influenced the cultural and social development of the whole Mediterranean area, deeply influencing European culture as well. As a result, it has also influenced other important cultures. Such cultures and civilizations have existed there since prehistoric times. After Magna Graecia, the Etruscan civilization and especially the Roman Republic and Empire that dominated this part of the world for many centuries, Italy was central to European science and art during the Renaissance.

Italian culture is as varied and diverse as the Italian people. The culture of Italy can be found in the Roman ruins remaining in much of the country, the precepts of the Roman Catholic Church, the spirit of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, the architecture, and on the terraces of the many football clubs. It can also be tasted in Italy's magnificent food.

Italy currently has one national language, Italian. Several other languages are also spoken throughout the country. Over the centuries many regional languages have developed that some consider dialects of modern Italian. Examples include Milanese, spoken near the city of Milan, Neapolitan, spoken near Naples, Sicilian, spoken on Sicily, etc.

Roman Catholicism is the major religion - 85% of native-born citizens are nominally Catholic - there are mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community. All religious faiths are provided equal freedom before the law by the constitution. Before the arrival of Christianity in the 1st century A.D. the country was mostly pagan and worshiped the Roman gods. Eventually Christianity replaced paganism and became the majority religion of the Roman Empire and Italy. The Pope of the Roman Catholic Faith resides within Rome in what is now known as Vatican City.

Tourist attractions in Italy include art, museums, architecture, restaurants and beautiful countryside throughout the country. This article mentions some of the most famous tourist attractions in Italy. For more information about visiting Italy and for travel tips, visit the Italy main page.
Tourist Attractions in Tuscany
Tuscany is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the world. This Italian region is home to Florence, Pisa, Lucca and Siena. There you will find great works of Renaissance painters, sculptors and architects, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Filippo Brunelleschi.

Uffizi Gallery - Florence
Uffizi Gallery includes paintings by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Rubens, Caravaggio, Rembrandt and other famous painters. Find out more about visiting the Uffizi in Florence.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral in Pisa whose construction began in 1173. Soon after the construction began, the tower started to lean to one side because of the soft ground it is situated on. After almost 12 years of repairs, the tower once again opened to the public in 2001. Guided visits take about 35 and are physically challenging - there are over 300 steps winding up a narrow staircase. Learn more about the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Tourist Attractions in Rome
The Colosseum
The Colosseum in Rome was built by emperor Vespasiano and inaugurated in 80 A.D. for gladiator fights. Today you can enter and tour this immense structure. Learn more about visiting The Colosseum.

The Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica
The Vatican City includes the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, Vatican gardens, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square. Find more information about visiting the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.

Fontana di Trevi
A legend says that whoever throws a coin into this fountain will return to Rome. Fontana di Trevi was built in 1700s and is a popular tourist spot.

Piazza di Spagna or the Spanish Steps
A series of steps with Trinita' dei Monti church on top and Fontana della Barcaccia fountain at the bottom, this piazza is popular with tourists and local vendors, especially in the summer.


Italian Republic
National name: Repubblica Italiana
Area: 116,306 sq mi (301,230 sq km)
Population (2006 est.): 58,133,509 (growth rate: 0.04%); birth rate: 8.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.8/1000; life expectancy: 79.8; density per sq mi: 512
Capital : Rome
Other Cities: Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Bari, Catania, Venice,
Currency : Euro (formerly lira)
Languages: Italian (official); German-, French-, and Slovene-speaking minorities
Ethnicity/race: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian- and Greek-Italians in the south)
Literacy rate: 99%
Religions: Roman Catholic approx. 90%, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic