3. Rome was raised by the Italian wolf, figuratively
The Italian wolf is Italy’s unofficial national animal. The wolf plays a significant role in the legend of Rome’s founding. According to legend, Rome was founded in 753 BC by Romulus and Remus, who were raised by an Italian she-wolf.
Italy’s history begins with the Italic tribes, followed by the rise of the Etruscans, an ancient civilization that flourished between the Arno and Tiber rivers. By the sixth century BCE, the Etruscans had established a group of states known as Etruria.
The Etruscan kings ruled Rome and the Italian Peninsula for a hundred years. They were supplanted by the growing power of Rome and the merging of Latin and Sabine people.
4. Rome’s rise led to the establishment of the Roman Empire, which temporarily united the Italian Peninsula
Rome grew to dominate the Italian peninsula and became the heart of the Roman Empire, established in 27 BCE. At its peak in AD 117, the Roman Empire stretched from Portugal to Syria and from Britain to North Africa, covering 2.3 million square miles and ruling 120 million people.
After 400 years of rule under leaders like Augustus Caesar, the huge empire began to decline in the 4th century AD, leading to its split in 395 AD and fall in 476 AD.
5. Political fragmentation after Rome’s fall led to modern Italy
Following the fall of Rome, the vast empire fragmented into separate Italian kingdoms and city-states. With political fragmentation, many Italian city states began to assert their individual autonomy, each developing distinct regional cultures, languages, and traditions.
This fragmentation persisted for centuries, shaping the messy and exciting cultural landscape that defines Italy today.
6. Italy fought with the Allies in World War I, but then with the Axis in World War II
Italy only became a unified country in 1861. Italy joined the United Kingdom and the United States in World War I, but the war’s end left the country in poverty.
In the aftermath of war, Italian money was worthless, and the country was poor. Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party rose to power, promising to restore Italy’s former glory.
Mussolini was initially a leftist socialist but became a conservative dictator. He led Italy into World War II alongside Germany and Japan. His rule ended in 1945, ended when he was executed by the Italian resistance.
7. Italy’s last king ruled for only 34 days
The last king, Umberto II, ruled for just 34 days before being exiled to Portugal, earning the nickname “the May King.”
After World War II, Italy transitioned from a monarchy to an Italian republic form. In a 1946 referendum, the monarchy was abolished, hence Umberto’s short rule.
Italy’s national day, Festa della Repubblica, is celebrated on June 2 each year, commemorating the country’s transition to a republic in 1946.
![King Umberto - The last king of Italy]()
King Umberto – The last king of Italy
8. Italy surrounds two independent microstates, Vatican City and San Marino
Vatican City
The world’s smallest country is Vatican City, a city state surrounded by Rome. Vatican City covers 44 acres and home to just 800 people.
The Vatican was established as a sovereign state in 1929 with the Pope serving as head of state and the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The economy of the Vatican relies primarily on donations, and houses monumental sites like St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and Piazza San Pietro. Also, the ATMs can transact in Latin, the official language of Vatican City.
San Marino
San Marino is one of the smallest, oldest republics in the world. It is located in the mountains of Northern Italy and covers an area of 23.5 square miles (61 square kilometers). Founded in A.D. 301, the microstate has a population of less than 30,000. Its citizens are known as the Sammarinese.
9. Italy is the birthplace of ballet, opera and the violin
Italy boasts itself as the art capital of the world, with over 3,800 museums, galleries, and collections, 240 archaeological areas filled with ancient ruins, 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 501 monumental sites. Discover some of these architectural wonders in our list of Famous Buildings in Italy to Visit Right Now. The nation produced famed Italian painters, including Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Caravaggio, Titian, Botticelli, and Bellini, whose masterpieces have left a mark on art history.
Italian art surpasses the visual; Italy is the birthplace of ballet, which originated in the 15th century and was introduced to France by Catherine de Medici.
Italy is the birthplace of opera, which launched in the late 16th century. Composers like Rossini, Puccini, and Verdi elevated opera to its peak in the 19th century, while Luciano Pavarotti and Claudio Monteverdi, the father of modern opera, solidified Italy’s influence in the world of music.
The first violin originated in the workshop of Andrea Amati in Cremona in the 1500s, with Antonio Stradivari later becoming the most famous violin maker in history.
The Italian language has become synonymous with music, with terms like “scale” (from “scala,” meaning “step”), andante, allegro, presto, and vivace being universally used in musical notation. An Italian, Guido d’Arezzo, developed the modern system of music notation.
10. The three colors of the Italian flag either represent hope, faith and charity or the country’s remote places, snow covered mountain ranges and blood shed during war
Italian flag
The Italian flag features three vertical bands of green, white, and red. Known as “Il Tricolore,” the flag carries deep symbolism: green represents hope, white stands for faith, and red symbolizes charity.
But if you read other sources, maybe the colors are linked to Italy’s landscape, with green representing the countryside, white symbolizing the snow-capped Alps, and red reflecting the bloodshed during Italy’s fight for independence.
The Italian flag was inspired by the French Tricolore and was adopted on January 7, 1797, in Reggio Emilia. The date is now celebrated as Tricolore Day.
11. Italy has a low birthrate and an old population
Italy has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe and a rapidly aging population. Up and down the entire Peninsula, Italians are foregoing children and many young Italians living at home well into their 30s, even if they have a job.
Nearly 20% of Italians are over the age of 65. The average age in Italy is 46 years, and it is projected to rise to 54 years by 2050. Political and church leaders have expressed concern over the declining birthrate, offering incentives to encourage larger families.
12. William Shakespeare set many plays in Italy, but probably never visited
Thirteen of Shakespeare’s 38 plays are set in Italy, reflecting his fondness for the country despite not having visited. Among these are Romeo and Juliet in Verona, where visitors can see the famed “Juliet’s balcony,” Julius Caesar in Rome, Othello and The Merchant of Venice in Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing in Messina.
Postage stamp of William Shakespeare. He never went to Italy but wrote about it a lot.
13. Italy was an early adopter of the European Union
Italy joined with five other European countries as founding members of the European Union (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands). Before adopting the euro, Italy used the Lira as its currency.
Italy is also a member of the Group of Seven (G7), a forum that brings together the world’s leading economies.
14. The Italian language is closely related to Latin
The Italian language is the official language of Italy, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City, as well as parts of Croatia and Slovenia. In Europe, 67 million people speak Italian as their first language, with an additional 13 million using it as a second language around the world.
The Italian language shares about 80% similarities with French and Spanish, making it easy for speakers of those languages to learn. The Italian alphabet has only 21 letters, excluding J, K, W, X, and Y in native words.
Italy is also home to 12 recognized minority languages, including Albanian, Catalan, French, German, Greek, Slovene, and Sardinian. In the Dolomite Mountains of Northern Italy, the Ladin people speak Ladin, a Romance language closely related to Swiss Romansh and Friulian.
Regional dialects are widespread in Italy, with significant variations in pronunciation and vocabulary. For example, Napoletano is spoken in Naples, while Romanesco is used in Rome.
Italians are also known for their expressive hand gestures, which are an integral part of communication.
Letters of the Italian Alphabet.
15. Italian explorers shaped global history
Italy is renowned for its explorers, including Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, and Marco Polo. Christopher Columbus, born in Genoa in 1451, sailed under the Spanish flag but was Italian by birth. Columbus led four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean between 1492 and 1502. He had sought to find a direct water route from Europe to Asia, instead, he stumbled upon the Americas.
Amerigo Vespucci was the first to recognize North and South America as distinct continents previously unknown to Europeans, Asians, and Africans. In 1507, the continent was named “America” in his honor.
Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant, traveled to Central Asia and China in 1271 along the Silk Road. His journey and subsequent book introduced Europeans to the geography, customs, and innovations of Asia.
16. Italian culture is full of superstitions
These are just facts about Italian society. Read more in our article on 21 Italian Superstitions You Should Know To Avoid The Evil Eye.
17. Italian innovations shaped the modern world
Italy has a long history of innovations and innovators, starting from the ancient Roman empire to the second world war up until today.
Learn more about Italian innovation in our article on The 27 Best Italian Inventions That Changed the World.
18. Italy has more volcanoes than any other country in Europe
Italy has 31 dormant and active volcanoes, more volcanoes than any other country in Europe due to its position on a fault line.
Among these volcanoes, Mount Vesuvius is famous for its catastrophic eruption in 79 CE, which destroyed the ancient city of Pompeii. No worries, Vesuvius in Naples has been dormant since 1944.
Sicily is home to Mount Etna, which last erupted in 2021. Plumes of steam regularly rise from Etna. Adventurous visitors can trek to its summit. Mount Stromboli is located on a small island near Sicily in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000–5,000 years.
Despite their dangers, Italy’s volcanoes contribute to the region’s fertile soil, benefiting Italian agriculture.
Italy’s volcanic Mount Stromboli
19. The Trevi Fountain in Rome takes in a million dollar a year in coins and gives it to charity
Rome’s Trevi Fountain is Italy’s largest and most famous fountain. It stands 85 feet high and 65 feet across and is located at the junction of three roads (tre vie, get it?). It marks the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct, which supplied water to ancient Rome.
According to legend, tossing a coin into the fountain ensures a return to Rome. Tourists throw nearly $3,500 into the fountain each day. $1,500,000 is donated to charity to feed the poor each year. I guess a lot of people want to return to Rome.
20. Italy is the world’s number one wine producer
Italy is the world’s largest wine producer and exporter, producing around 1.5mm gallons of wine annually. Most Italian wine exports go to Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
One unique aspect of Italy’s wine culture is the free wine fountain in Caldari di Ortona, central Italy, where a locally grown red wine flows 24/7. This fountain is open to everyone, except for those who might abuse the generosity.
21. Residents of Sardinia live longer than most people
Sardinia is an Italian island west of Rome and Naples and one of the world’s five Blue Zones, regions where residents tend to live significantly longer than average. The world’s Blue Zones are:
- Okinawa in Japan
- Sardinia in Italy
- Nicoya in Costa Rica
- Icaria in Greece
- the Seventh-day Adventist community of Loma Linda, California.
Sardinia’s longevity is often attributed to the local diet and lifestyle. In addition to its long-lived population, Sardinia is also known for its “witches,” women who create health potions using traditional knowledge and a secret language passed down through generations.
Italy – Sardinia Dorgali town in Sardinia, Italy.
22. Italians are crazy for soccer (football)
Soccer is immensely popular in Italy, with numerous local clubs and millions of passionate fans. Italy’s historic cities each have their team playing in Serie A, the highest level of Italian soccer. Heavyweights Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus have dominated the league in recent years.
Soccer was introduced to Italians by the British in the late 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1930s, under Mussolini, that the sport gained international prominence. I guess he did one good thing.
Italy’s national team has won the World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), tying with Germany for the second most wins, behind Brazil.
Italian soccer fans, known as tifosi, are passionate and energetic. The term tifosi originally meant “carriers of typhus” and reflects the bawdy behavior of some Italian soccer supporters.
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