Italy is a European country located in the south of the continent, its territory is bathed by the Mediterranean Sea; it borders on the north with Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia; and to the northwest, with France.
The country in question has an estimated population of 59.8 million inhabitants, spread over an area of 301,268 km², the main city being Rome, the national capital.
City of Rome, capital of Italy
Italy is a developed country, occupies a prominent place on the world stage, as it has one of the largest GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on the planet, in addition to integrating the main international bodies such as the G-8, WTO (World Trade Organization), NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and creator of the Union European.
The topography of the country is quite rugged, the highest point being Mont Blanc, with 4,810 meters of altitude. There are two volcanoes in Italian territory, Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius. There are several types of climates in Italy, with emphasis on the continental type, altitude and Mediterranean (with hot, dry summers and cold, rainy winters).
There is an economic disparity within the Italian territory, which is explained by the fact that the north is highly industrially developed, while the south is highly agricultural. The country imports about 75% of the energy consumed and a high amount of raw material. The main Italian export products are: automobiles (Fiat, Aprilia, Ducati, Piaggio, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini and Pegani), chemicals, petrochemicals, electrical products, household appliances, aerospace and defense technology, firearms, fashion and foods. Tourism is an important activity for the Italian economy, as the country has the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites. This factor makes the country one of the main tourist destinations in the world, receiving around 37 million tourists annually.
The Italian people emerged from the mixture of different peoples, such as the Latins, Sabines, Umbrians, Samnites, Oscans, Etruscans, Greeks, Celts, as well as Germans, Saracens and Normans. The country's official language is Italian, however, others are spoken by the population, such as: Sardinian, Neapolitan, Veneto, Friulan, French, German and Slovenian.
The country's main religion is Roman Catholicism, but many others are practiced, such as Orthodox Catholicism, Protestantism, Jehovah's Witness, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhs and Hinduism.
Miscellaneous information
Name: Italian Republic.
Gentile: Italian (a).
Coat of Arms:
Government: Parliamentary Republic.
HDI (Human Development Index): 0.854 (very high).
Life expectancy: 80.4 years.
Infant mortality: 5.94/thousand births.
Literacy: 98.5%.
Euro currency.
Official site: www.italia.gov.it
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Brazil School Team
