TEFL Italy
Capital City – Rome
Population – 60,157,214
Language – Italian
Religion – Roman Catholic
Currency – Euro
History
The first people to rule the Italian peninsula were the Etruscans in the 8th century BC. It was later taken over by the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire became hugely powerful, expanding its territories throughout much of Europe. Eventually they suffered difficult times with invasions from the Muslims and Normans. Once the country had settled, the cities and wealth expanded which led to the Renaissance in the 15th century. The country became increasingly modernised and industrialised through the 19th century until it became politically and economically instable with the fascist reign of Mussolini. After WWII, Italy was liberated and became a Republic.
Geography
Borders with – France, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City
Regions – Very mountainous with the Alps and Apennine Mountains, many rivers and large coastal areas.
Culture
Italy is famed for its rich cultural heritage. It is believed that 70% of the world’s art, culture and literature are found in Italy.
Cuisine – Italy is famed for its tasty cuisine, a lot of which is enjoyed globally, like pizza, pasta and coffee.
Art - Italian painting is known for its warmth of colour and light. Many Italian artists are still praised today for their exceptional skill and attention to detail such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci.
Music – There is a wealth of world class composers who came from Italy, such as Vivaldi and Rossini. Modern day Italy now has a large industry of Pop music.
Sport – Italy holds an important name in many sports around the globe, like football, rugby and cycling.
Top things to Do
Get lost in the history of Rome, go diving in Sardinia, carve up the slopes of the Alps, play dress up games at Venice Carnival, relax in the beautiful town of Cinque Terre, explore the Vatican City.
