United Kingdom
Italy Travel and Destination Guide
BACKGROUND INFO
Full Name
Italian Republic
Capital City
Rome
Area
301,230 sq km
Population
57,300,000
Time Zone
GMT/UTC +1 (+2 in summer)
Daylight Saving Start
last Sunday in March
Daylight Saving End
last Sunday in October
Weights Measures System
Metric
Geography
Italy's instantly recognisable boot shape kicks its way into the Adriatic, Ionian, Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas - all of which form part of the Mediterranean Sea. The islands of Elba, Sardinia, Ischia, Capri, the Aeolians and Sicily lie offshore. Mountains feature prominently in Italy's topography, and bolster its landlocked borders all the way from Genoa in the west to Trieste in the east. Italy's backbone is formed by the Apennines, extending from Genoa right down to the soccer ball that bounces off the toe of Calabria: Sicily. The Po River Valley in the country's northeast forms the largest lowland area, and is heavily populated and industrialised as a result. Underground rambunctiousness is evident from the country's three active volcanoes - Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, Vesuvius near Naples and Etna on Sicily - and the devastation wrought by earthquakes, especially fierce in 1908 and 1980. Beauty abounds in Italy but, unfortunately, so does pollution, particularly in the big cities and along the coast.
Languages
• Italian (official)
A Latin language related to French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian. Standard Italian and numerous dialects are spoken.
People
Italian
Religion
84% Roman Catholic, 6% Jewish, Muslim and Protestant
Government Type
Republic
Government Leaders
Silvio Berlusconi
Prime Minister (head of government)
Country Dialing Code
39
©2007 Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.
