Jack Goldstein - 101 Amazing Facts about Italy

Title Page

101 AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ITALY

Jack Goldstein

Publisher Information

Published in 2013 by

Andrews UK Limited

www.andrewsuk.com

The right of Jack Goldstein to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998

Copyright 2013 Jack Goldstein

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Disclaimer: All facts presented in this title were gained from common and reputable sources in print and on the internet. If any detail within this title is found to be incorrect, the author will be happy to publish a corrected version.

Introduction

In this amazing eBook you can find more than one hundred facts about the country of Italy. Separated into sections such as its geography, its landmarks, famous Italian figures from history and many more you will find some fascinating information inside!

Whether you are planning on visiting Italy, working on a geography project or just want to know more about this beautiful country, this is an excellent addition to your bookshelf. Find the information you need, fast!

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Key Facts and Figures

1. Italy is the fifth most populated country in Europe.
2. The country has a population of just over 60 million.
3. It covers just over 116,000 square miles.
4. Italy shares borders with Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland.
5. The country boasts the ninth largest economy in the world.
6. The capital of Italy is Rome.
7. The country was unified in 1861, although it became the republic we know today on the 2 nd June 1946. Of course, the history of the region Italy now covers has thousands of years of stories to tell!
8. The currency used in Italy is the Euro.
9. It has a GDP of around 1.8 trillion Euros - at the time of writing that is around 2.4 trillion US Dollars.
10. In 2005, Italy was ranked in the top ten countries to live by the Quality of Life Index .

Italy is Famous For...

1. Pizza - a true Italian pizza is a work of culinary art.
2. Pasta - every Italian family have their own secret recipe!
3. Fine Art - especially from the renaissance period.
4. Wine - Italy is known for producing some of the worlds greatest wine, both red and white.
5. Cheese - from soft ones such as mozzarella to hard ones such as parmesan.
6. Opera - Italian has always been seen as the true language of opera.
7. Fast Cars - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati...
8. Fashion - Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and far too many others to list!
9. Motorbikes - with Ducati being the best known.
10. Gelato - ice cream of every flavour imaginable.

Tossing a Pizza

Geography

1. Italy is easily recognisable on a map of the world - it looks like a boot jutting out into the sea.
2. The most famous rivers in Italy are the Po, Adige, Piave and Tiber.
3. Italy is particularly hilly, in fact eighty per cent of the country is covered by hills or mountains.
4. There are more earthquakes every year in Italy than in any other European nation.
5. The country is also home to the largest number of volcanoes on the continent - three of which have erupted in the last hundred years. These are Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli.
6. The highest mountain in Europe is known to most people as Mont Blanc and is 4810 metres tall. However, Italy disputes the international border which runs through the alps, and Italians consider Monte Bianco to be part of their territory.
7. The longest tunnel under land in the world is the Ltschberg Base Tunnel which links Italy and Switzerland underneath the Alps. It is just over twenty-one miles in length.
8. As the country is home to a sunny climate, Italy has well-developed environmental policies. It is now one of the worlds leading producers of renewable energy, particularly using solar power.
9. The country is famous for some beautiful lakes, including Como, Maggiore, Orta, Lugano and many more.
10. In addition to its mainland, Italys territory includes several large islands; these include Sicily, Sardinia and Elba.

A View from Lake Como

Rome

1. Rome is built around the river Tiber.
2. Its nickname is The Eternal City.
3. During the middle ages, Rome was only home to around 13,000 people.
4. Its population has grown significantly over the years - the city is now home to 2.8 million people!
5. Rome is one of the most visited cities in the world by tourists, and boasts an incredible number of attractions, including museums, galleries and architecture.
6. Legend says that Rome was founded by twins Romulus and Remus who were abandoned at birth and suckled by a she-wolf. Even today, Romes mascot is that of a wolf.
7. As well as being the capital of Italy today, Rome was of course once the centre of the ancient Roman empire, which spanned half of the world.
8. Every year, 700,000 euros worth of coins are thrown into the famous Trevi fountain in Rome (it is customary to make a wish whilst you do this). As the well fills up, the coins are taken from it and the money given to good causes.
9. The foundation of the City of Rome in 753 BC is celebrated by its modern inhabitants on the 21 st of April every year. The event includes huge firework displays, parades, traditional Roman banquets and even staged gladiator fights.
10. There is a museum in Rome entirely dedicated to pasta.

The Trevi Fountain

Landmarks to Visit

1. The Colosseum - the most famous amphitheatre in the Roman world.
2. The Canals of Venice - probably the most romantic city on the planet.
3. The Leaning Tower of Pisa - thousand year-old tower famous for its four degree tilt.
4. The Vatican City - a country within a country; the home of the Pope.
5. Santa Maria del Fiore - Florences huge Byzantine-style church, known as a basilica.
6. Piazza del Campo - The worlds most beautiful medieval square.
7. The ruins of Pompeii - see the town that was covered in ash by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on the 24 th August 79AD.
8. Lake Como - one of Italys most scenic spots.
9. The Towers of San Gimignano - fourteen stone towers in a village in Tuscany, built to keep invaders out.
10. Palazzo Vecchio - The old town hall in Florence.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

General Facts

1. The University of Rome is Europes largest and is home to 150,000 students.