Italy is in Western Europe. It is a long boot shaped peninsula that is slightly larger than Arizona. It is bordered by: The Tyrrhenian Sea on the west & on the east by the Adriatic. It's shares borders with: France, Switzerland, Austria & Slovenia to the north. The country's nothern boundary is formed by the Alpine Mountains.

Italy's largest lake, to the north is Lake Garda, which is the largest of it's many northern lakes. Italy's main river is the Po which flows from the Alps, on the western border, crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea.

Italy has several islands, the largest of these islands is Sicily & Sardinia. Sardinia is the Island from whence the Sardinian Horse comes.

Italy is a republic with a relatively free system of government. The rule of Mussolini was one of tyranny & very bad times. The country has done an "about face" & returned to a freedom loving country. Mussolini was executed by partisans on April 28th, 1945. Italy has had a tumultuous political past, from the Roman Empire, to the ruling of the fascists & alliance with Hitler in W.W.II, but for the good of the Italian people their great country has become "Repubblica Italiana"

In 1999 the Euro became Italy's national currency.

 

Italy is blessed with many natural resources, including beautiful granite, coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, pyrite (or sulfur), natural gas & crude oil reserves, fish and arable land. Italy is rich in agricultural activity. We've all heard about Italy's grape vineyards, but they do grow other things! Other crops include: Vegetables, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives (of course) along with plenty of meats, beautifully craft cheeses & other dairy product & fish.

 

Italy is predominately Roman Catholic but their are some Protestants, Jews & Moslems. Italy is not the most ethnically diverse country but there are small clusters of, German, French, Slovene-Italians(in the north), Albanians and Greek-Italians-to the south.

 

The official language of Italy is Italian but there is German, French & Slovene spoken, in minority.

 

The capital is Rome, or Roma. The population (2006 est) is 58,133,509 with almost a 0% growth rate. The average life expectancy is 79.8 Italy is a well educated country with a 99% literacy rate.

 

The climate in Italy is mostly Mediterranean, however in the far north, it turns to more Alpine. In the south it is hot & dry. Most of the terrain is rugged & mountainous but there are some planes & coastal lowlands.

 

Italy's natural hazards include: Earthquake, Landslides, Mudflows, avalanche, Volcanic eruption, flooding & land subsidence in Venice.

 

Italy's Flag

This looks like Mexico's flag turned on it's side.