2. Italy is situated in the Mediterranean Europe and has a great deal of variety in the landscape although it is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines Mountains.

3. Official name: Italian Republic

4. Capital : Rome

5. Official name: Italian Republic Capital: Rome Population: over 58,000,000.

6. Official name: Italian Republic Capital: Rome Flag: The colors of the flag represent the three cardinal virtues: Green:hope; White: faith; Red:charity. Population: over 58,000,000. Official Language: Italian.There are other languages present in Italy: German (parts of Trentino Alto Adige region), French (Valle D’Aosta) and Slovene (Trieste-Gorizia areas)

7. Official name: Italian Republic Capital: Rome Flag: The colors of the flag represent the three cardinal virtues: Green:hope; White: faith; Red:charity. Number of regions: 20, five of which enjoy special regional autonomy Population: over 58,000,000. Official Language: Italian.There are other languages present in Italy: German (parts of Trentino Alto Adige region), French (Valle D’Aosta) and Slovene (Trieste-Gorizia areas)

8. Official name: Italian Republic Capital: Rome Flag: The colors of the flag represent the three cardinal virtues: Green:hope; White: faith; Red:charity. Size: about 116,000 square miles, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia Number of regions: 20, five of which enjoy special regional autonomy Population: over 58,000,000. Official Language: Italian.There are other languages present in Italy: German (parts of Trentino Alto Adige region), French (Valle D’Aosta) and Slovene (Trieste-Gorizia areas)

9. Currency: Euro (EUR)1 euro= 100 cents Religion: 94% Roman Catholic, 6% others Climate: generally hot summers and cold winters Products: grapes, olives, other fruits, wheat, wine, machinery and transport equipment, iron and steel, chemicals, packaged foods, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics. Industry: tourism, textiles, chemicals, food,wines, motor vehicles, clothing, shoes. Internet domain:.it FACT FILE

10. OVERVIEW In 1946 Italians voted to end monarchy and made their nation a democratic republic. Italy was a charter member NATO and one of the six founding members of what is now the European Union, having signed in 1951 the Paris Treaty It joined the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999 It is a member of G8

11. Italy's largest and most important cities are: Milan Venice Rome Florence Naples Palermo