FULL COUNTRY NAME : Italian Republic CAPITAL CITY : Rome
ITALY ID CARD
POPULATION : 60.592.547 ( 92 % Italian , 8 % Other Ethnic Groups ) ETHNIC GROUPS : 54 % European , 22 % African , 16 % Asian , 8 % American LANGUAGES : Italian ( official language ), other minorities : French , German , Slovenian
RELIGIONS : 83.3 % Christianity , 12.4 % No religion , 3.7 % Islam , 0.2 % Buddhism , 0.1 % Hinduism , 0.3 % other religions
FORM OF GOVERNMENT : Parliamentary republic HEAD OF STATE : President of Italian Republic CURRENCY : Euro ( Ilenia Inglima )
Italy or “ The Boot ”
Italy is a peninsula and , because of its shape , it is nicknamed “ Lo Stivale ”, that is “ The Boot ”. One of its best aspect is the climate , typically Mediterranean , with mild rainy winters and dry summers . But this year winter is much colder than usual , and many regions are covered with snow . The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula ' s backbone ; the Alps form its northern boundary . The largest of its northern lakes is Garda and the principal river is Po . There are also volcanos and the most important is Etna , the highest volcano in Europe . Italy is surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic Sea .
It has also 800 islands , but only 80 of them are inhabited , including the island of Lampedusa , the gateway to Europe for thousands of migrants . Italy has an extended coastline , with cliffs and beaches that attract millions of tourists .
The Italian territory is really varied and beautiful , but frail . The central regions have been hit by several earthquakes recently , that have destroyed ancient monuments and small villages , with tens of victims , and an avalanche of snow has caused destruction too in Abruzzo , a mountainous region in the centre of Italy .
Italy has great literature and art . Italian food is famous all over the world , with ingredients and recipes that vary from region to region . One typical food is pizza , that is really good !
Gresia Fratacci