ITALY

Facts, Customs

and Traditions

Some facts about Italy Italy was unified in 1861 and became

a Republic in 1946

The population is about 60 million

The surface is 301,338 km2

It is divided in 20 regions

Italy hosts 2 foreign countries, the

Republic of S.Marino and Vatican

City.

The capital and largest city is Rome

More than 75% of Italy is hilly or

mountainous.

Italy is the fourth most visited

country in the world, with about 5

million visitors annually.

About 85% of Italians are Roman

Catholic.

The average Italian eats about 30 kg

of pasta per year and drinks 98 liters of

wine.

The climate is Mediterranean with

hot, dry summers and mild, rainy

winters.

Rome: the capital

With nearly 3,000 years of rich

history, Rome is often called the

Eternal City.

It was founded on the 21st of April

753 B.C. by Romulus, after killing

his brother Remus.

According to the legend Romolus

and Remus were raised by a female

wolf. This image is the symbol of

the city.

For almost five hundred

years, Rome was the largest,

wealthiest, and most politically

important city in Europe.

It has a surface of 1.285 km² and

about 3 million people.

It once was the capital of the

powerful Roman Empire and then

of the Papal State.

In 1871 it became the capital of

Italy and Vatican City became an

independent state within the city

borders.

The North

Northern Italy, with the Alps

mountains, connects our country to

the rest of Europe.

Turin is the home of FIAT motors.

Milan is famous for fashion and

design. Venice is built on 117

islands and has its gondola boats. 5

Terre has beautiful little villages

on the sea. Bologna has the oldest

University of the western world.

Lake Garda is a famous destination

for VIPs.

THE ALPS

TURIN

MILAN VENICE

5 TERRE BOLOGNA LAKE GARDA

The Center

SPERLONGA

FLORENCEPISA

COUNTRYSIDE

CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO

ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK

ROME

Central Italy is mostly made of

smaller mountains and beautiful

countryside . Florence is a

wonderful artistic city. Pisa has its

unique leaning tower. Tuscan

wine is exported all over the

world. The Marsican Bear is the

symbol of Abruzzo’s National

park in the Appennini Mountains.

Rome is right in the middle with

all its history. Many coastal

villages are great holiday

destinations.

The SouthNAPLES

AMALFI

POMPEIITHE TRULLI

SARDINIAN SEASIDE

SIRACUSA

VOLCANO ETNA

Naples was the capital of Southern

Kingdom and is the birthplace of

Pizza and Spaghetti. Pompeii was a

roman city destroyed by the

eruption of Vesuvius in 79 DC.

Etna in Sicily is the bigget

European volcano and one of the

most active of the world. Sardinia

has one of the most beautiful

seasides of Italy.

History: The Roman Empire

Rome grew to control nearly all the land

around the Mediterranean Sea.

At its height, conquered and controlled all

of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle

East.

Some important Roman contributions:

•Invention of concrete

•Advanced Engineering (Roads, aqueducts,

bridges, war and work machineries)

•Strict and well organized Military

•Latin alphabet and Roman Law

Emperor Constantine

The first Christian Emperor.

He left most of the Western

Roman Empire to the papacy.

Emperor Hadrian

Loved the arts and literature.

Hadrian was an humanist and a

promoter of peace and culture.

Octavianus Augustus

Caesars’s adopted son and

first Roman Emperor. Under

his rule the Empire grew.

Julius Caesar

Great military leader. After

conquering many territories he

proclaimed himself Dictator.

Christianity and Middle-Age

Rome was almost abandoned after the

falling of the Empire, but arts and sciences

slowly started to develop again.

In Europe the Christian “Holy Roman

Empire” substitutes the Roman one, in a

picture that has the Pope and the Emperor

competing for power and supremacy.

On the other side in Italy many cities

evolved and became independent, growing

into “Communes”. Economic science, law,

rights, trades and explorations flourish all

over Europe.

St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Patron of Italy. He started

the order of Franciscan monks,

promoting poverty and a simpler

church.

Pope Gregorius VII

transformed the church from

a simple religion to a huge

institution ruled by popes.

Frederick the II of Hoenstaufen

Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Lover of the arts and sciences. He spoke

Arabic and obtained Jerusalem

peacefully using diplomacy.

St. Peter and St. Paul

St. Peter was the first Pope of the

Christian church. St. Paul

improved the rising of

Christianism. Both died in Rome.

Renaissance

The Renaissance was a time of great social

and cultural change in Europe.

The term 'renaissance‘ means 'rebirth'. It is

used because many of the changes

experienced between the 14th and 16th

centuries were inspired by a revival of the

classical art and intellect of Ancient Greece

and Rome. It was a period characterized by

innovation, imagination and creativity with

a huge improvement in art, architecture,

literature, science and philosophy.

Leon Battista Alberti

Together with Leonardo da Vinci he

was talented in many fields. He was

the inventor of the perspective.

Cristoforo Colombo

Columbus is the first European to

have discovered the Americas when

he landed in the Caribbean in 1492.

Pio II Piccolomini

Great humanist and promoter of

the arts. He renewed his birth

city that took the name Pienza

after him.

Lorenzo the Magnificent

Lover and patron of every art,

under his rule, the Tuscan city of

Florence started the Renaissance

movement.

Italian unification

Risorgimento is the Italian movement for

independence and unification.

In 1859 through the efforts of Count

Cavour, the Piedmont prime minister, as

well as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian national

hero.

Garibaldi united the South thanks to the

help of 1000 brave soldiers, thus allowing

King Victor Emmanuel to become the

first King of Italy.

The last city to join to the new Italian

Kingdom was Rome.

Giuseppe Mazzini

The soul of Italy: patriot,

philosopher and politician. His

efforts helped bring about the

modern Italian state.

Camillo Benso Count of Cavour

He was the Prime Minister of

the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia

and Italy's first Prime Minister.

VictorEmmanuel II

King of Piedmont, Savoy,

and Sardinia. On 18th February 1861

he become the first king of a

united Italy

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Italy’s father of the fatherland, leader

of the Unification Movement. He led a

group called the Red Shirts through

the Kingdom of Two Sicilies to bring

together Italy in 1860.

Arts: Painting

Raffaello

In Rome he was known as the

"Prince of Painters". He spent

the last 12 years of his life in

Rome creating many of his

most famous works.

Leonardo Da Vinci

Painter, scientist,

mathematician, engineer,

inventor, anatomist,

sculptor, architect,

botanist, musician and

writer. Leonardo is the

biggest genius of

humanity.

Botticelli

Lorenzo de' Medici was quick

to discover him and employ

his wonderful talent. He was a

pioneer of Renaissance

Birth of VenusMagnificat Madonna

The Mona Lisa

Vatican rooms

The Last SupperMadonna

Mary’s WeddingPope Julius II

Arts: Painting

Caravaggio

He painted things how they

actually looked, using very

dark shadows and bright

lights (chiaroscuro).

Tiziano

One of the most famous

painters of Venice. His

special use of color

influenced many other

artists.

Michelangelo

Some of his works are among

the most famous that have

ever been made by mankind.

His masterpiece is the Sistine

Chapel for Pope Julius II.

Sistine ChapelCreation of Adam

Sacred and Profane LoveThe Burial of Christ

Boy with fruit

basket

Supper at Emmaus

Arts: Sculpture

Donatello

One of the best sculptors

of his times. He used a

special technique, which

made his work look very

real.

Michelangelo

He lived an

extremely busy

life, creating a

great number of

different

artworks.

Sculpting was his

favourite art.

Bronze David

The Piety David

Isaac’s sacrifice

St. Rossore’s Reliquary

Moses

Arts: Sculpture

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

One of the greatest artists of

the Baroque period. He was a

famous sculptor and architect.

He sculpted many classical

myths.

Antonio Canova

Neoclassical master.

He became famous for

his marble sculptures

that perfectly rendered

nude bodies.

The three GracesLove and Psyche Theseus and the

Minotaur

Kidnapping of Proserpina

David

Arts: Architecture

Florence Cathedral Dome St. Lawrence Basilica

Cloister of S.Maria della

pace

The Tempietto

St. Peter’s DomeRome: The Capitol

Filippo Brunelleschi

Great architect and engineer

of the Italian Renaissance in

Florence. His masterpiece is

the dome of Florence

Cathedral.

Donato Bramante

One of the greatest artists of

the Baroque period. Famous

sculptor and architect. He

was worked for many Popes

Michelangelo

In 1547 he took on the job of

completing St Peter's

Basilica. His masterpiece is

the dome of St.Peter’s

Basilica for Pope Julius II.

Arts: Architecture

Francesco Borromini

One of the most important

architects of the Roman

Baroque period. He was

Bernini’s lifelong rival.

Villa "La Rotonda" Basilica Palladiana

S. Carlino’s Dome

St. Peter’s squareSaint Andrew's at the Quirinal

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

The square he built for St.

Peter’s Basilica is the greatest

entrance to the greatest

Christian church in the whole

world.

Andrea Palladio

He was deeply influenced by

Greek and Roman architecture.

His works inspired architects

for centuries all over the world

St. Agnes

Arts: Literature

Giacomo Leopardi

poet, essayist,

philosopher, he created

many remarkable and

important poetic works,

symbol of the

Romantic era.

Dante Alighieri

Is considered the father of the Italian

language. His “Divine Comedy” is widely

considered the greatest literary Italian

work and a masterpiece of world literature.

Alessandro Manzoni

He is mainly famous

for the novel ”The

Betrothed” ranked

among the masterpieces

of world literature.

The book is important

for the development of

modern Italian.

Virgil

One of ancient Rome's greatest poets.

His ”Aeneid” is considered the national

epic of ancient Rome.

Arts: Literature

Elsa Morante

Southern Italy is the backdrop

for much of her work.

Her controversial book "The

Story“ is about Rome during

World War II

Umberto Eco

Semiotician, essayist, philosopher,

literary critic, and novelist. He is

best known for his groundbreaking

1980 historical mystery novel ”The

Name of the Rose”.

Luigi Pirandello

Novelist and prolific dramatist. “The Late

Mattia Pascal” is one of his most famous

novels. He received the Nobel Prize for

literature in 1934. GabrieleD’Annunzio

Writer, poet, journalist, playwright and war

hero during World War I.

His “The Child of Pleasure” is the

masterpiece of Italian decadent movement.

Sciences

Alessandro Volta

Volta wrote the “Law of

capacitance”. The unit of electrical

potential has been named the ”volt”

after him. The battery he made is the

first electrochemical cell.

Leonardo da Vinci

He was extremely fascinated by

anatomy, bird flight, animals,

engineering and nature. His projects

include flying, warfare and agriculture

machineries.

Galileo Galilei

Thanks to his discoveries he can

be considered the Father of

modern observational astronomy,

modern physics and of modern

science“.

Pythagoras

Mathematician,

mystic and

Scientist from

Sicily. His most

famous work is

the Pythagorean

theorem.

Sciences

Rita Levi Montalcini

Important neurologist, she

received the 1986 Nobel

Prize in Physiology and

Medicine.

Enrico Fermi

Worked on the

first Nuclear

reactor and

contributed to the

development of

Quantum theory,

nuclear and

particle physics and

statistical

mechanics.

He won Nobel Prize

in Physics in 1938.

Margherita Hack

Astrophysicist and science writer.

The asteroid 8558 Hack, discovered

in 1995, was named in her honour.

Antonio Meucci

Best known for

developing the first

electric telephone.

Guglielmo Marconi

Known for his work

on radio transmission

and for the radio

telegraph system.

Nobel Prize in

Physics in 1909.

Music

TIZIANO

FERRO

ANTONIO

VIVALDIGIACOMO

PUCCINI

GIUSEPPE

VERDI

LAURA

PAUSINI

Italian innovation in scales,

harmony, notation, and theatre

enabled the development of opera

in the late 16th century, and much

of modern European classical

music. Antonio Vivaldi and his

“Four Season” was the greatest

Baroque composer. Puccini and

Verdi wrote the best and most

famous Operas of the world, like

the “Tosca” and the “Aida”.

Pavarotti was the most successful

Tenors singer of the world.

Nowadays Italy has many famous

pop, rock and melodic singers that

sell their music even abroad.

LUCIANO

PAVAROTTILUCIANO

LIGABUE

Cinema

SOFIA LOREN

FEDERICO

FELLINI

SERGIO

LEONE

VITTORIO

DE SICA

MARCELLO

MASTROIANNI

Italian Cinema experienced many

domestic and international

success, and have influenced film

movements throughout the world.

Italian films have won

13 Academy Awards for Best

Foreign Language Film, the most

of any country.

From comedies with the funny

Totò, to “Spaghetti Westerns”

made by Sergio Leone, from

romantic or dramatic films

starring De Sica, Mastroianni or

Sophia Loren, to the absolute

triumphs of world famous

director Fellini and actor Benigni.

TOTO’ROBERTO

BENIGNI

Artisanal handicraftEvery region of Italy has its

traditions and its peculiar artisanal

products.

The artisans take great pride in

their works and there are many

fairs and festivals all over Italy

that display their products.

Some of these works can be really

expensive because the artists

spends many hours or days to

complete the final piece.

Some cities even have museums

dedicated to their most famous

handicrafts products, like the

Violin Museum of Cremona or the

Murano one in Venice.

MURANO GLASSWORK

CAPODIMONTE PORCELAIN

CREMONA VIOLINS

NAPLES NATIVITY SETSLEATHER WORKS DERUTA PORCELAIN

JEWELLERY

Fashion DesignItalians believe it’s better to look

good and feel great every day than

only on special occasions. That’s

why in Italy there are so many top

fashion design brands known all

over the world.

Every Italian city has its shopping

streets: Via Condotti in Rome and

Via Montenapoleone or Via della

Spiga in Milan are the top

destination for fashion lovers.

Every year in Milan there’s a

special event called Fashion Week

where stylists can show their best

works.

MILAN FASHION WEEK

Cars and MotorsItaly is well renowned all over

the world for its cars and

bikes.

Vespa, Alfa Romeo and FIAT

are probably the most

common and popular brands.

Top Luxury Cars like Ferrari

Lamborghini and Maserati are

great for speed lovers.

For bikes Aprilia and Ducati

are great for their

performances and design.

Food

PIZZA

SPAGHETTI

MEATBALLS

LASAGNA

CHEESES - HAMS

TORTELLINI

Everybody knows spaghetti and

pizza, but there are a million more

tasty dishes in Italy.

Every region and every city has

its typical foods and every Italian

is proud of them all. We are all

good food lovers and love to eat

with our family and friends!CHICKEN CACCIATORA

CAPRESE SALAD

Desserts

CORNETTI E BOMBE

GELATO TIRAMISU

CROSTATA

PANETTONE

PASTE, CANNOLI, CASSATE GRANDMOTHER’S CAKE

Italian desserts are all amazing.

Some are eaten for special occasions

like Panettone at Christmas or

chocolate Eggs for Easter. Others,

like cornetti, are eaten for breakfast.

Cakes an Tiramisu are usually eaten

after a meal and gelato? It’s always

good, expecially in summer!

EASTER EGGS

Drinks and Wines

ITALIAN WINES

ESPRESSO COFFEE CAPPUCCINO

LIMONCELLO

LICOR

GRAPPA, AMARI, SAMBUCA

SPUMANTE CHINOTTO

Italians love their coffee short and

strong and drink many coffees

during the day. Cappuccino is for

Breakfast. Chinotto is the Italian

answer to CocaCola. Limoncello

and Grappa and Amaro are tasty

digestive licors, good after a big

lunch or dinner. Spumante is

usually drunk for special occasions.

Italian wines are among the best

and most famous wines of the

world.

Sports

FRANCESCO TOTTI - KING OF ROME

FORMULA 1

VOLEYBALL

GIRO D’ITALIA

Italians love football, and our team

is one of the best! We won 4 world

cups, the last one in 2006.

In Roma the best football team is

AS ROMA, and Totti, its Captain is

considered the King of Rome. But

there’s also the great Ferrari and

many other sports that Italians love!

RUGBY

VALENTINO ROSSI

4 TIMES FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONS

Festivals and Events

HISTORICAL FLORENCE FOOTBALL

VENICE CARNIVAL PALIO OF SIENA

ROMAN BEFANA

UMBRIA JAZZVENICE FILM FESTIVAL

AREZZO JOUST

Every city in Italy has its festivals

and traditions, it was very hard to

just pick up some! Venice Carnival

is probably the most famous,

togheter with the historical horse

race of the “Palio” that is held in

Siena twice a year. In Rome there’s

the Befana, a good witch that brings

sweets to well behaved kids on the

6° of January. Other famous

historical events are the Saracin

Jous in Arezzo and the historical

football matches in Florence.

Religious Festivities

MARCH/APRIL - HOLY EASTER - Resurrection of Jesus

Italians are Roman Catholic and Rome is the main city of

Christianity. In Italy there are many National religious events,

Easter and Christmas are the most important, but every city and

village has its own celebrations and festivals for its Saints

Patrons (holy figures that protect the city).

Houses are decorated with a tree and a Presepe

(model of the Nativity). We celebrate with our

families having a big dinner, then we go to

church to thank God for the birth of the Jesus.

2nd NOV. – COMMEMORATION OF THE DECEASED

On this celebration there are special Masses to

pray for the souls of our beloved dead relatives

and friends. We visit cemeteries to decorate the

tombs with flowers and candles.

Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of fasting, prayer

and penitence. The typical Easter breakfast is Eggs,

Salame and a Cheese bread. Easter is the culmination

of the Passion of Christ. On this holy day the Pope

does big blessing in Rome to cherish for the rebirth of

Jesus.

VITERBO: S.ROSA NAPLES: S.GENNARO

25° DEC. – HOLY CHRISTMAS

National Festivities

4/11: ARMED FORCES DAY 31/12: NEW YEARS’ CELEBRATIONS

1/6: WORKERS’ DAY25/5: ITALY’S LIBERATION8/3 - WOMEN FESTIVAL 17/3.– ITALY UNIFICATION

2 JUNE. – CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC

GRAZIE!

THANK YOU!