Italy
European Countries project
Description:
Italy also surrounds two of the world’s smallest countries. These are San Marino in Northern Italy, the oldest republic in the world and Vatican City in Rome, the smallest country in the world. Vatican City is led by the Pope and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, led by the Pope.
Government Type:
Democracy, Republic
Population:
61.3 million people live in Italy
Religion:
Currency:
1 Euro=100 cents, before 2001 Italian Lira
Language:
History:
The country has a long history, as Rome its capital city today was founded in 753BC. After the Roman Empire broke down in 395AD, there were many separate kingdoms and city states. However, Italy became one nation only in 1861 and since then includes the islands of Sicily and Sardegna. It was a kingdom until 1946 after the second World War, where Italy sided with the German Nazis. Italy is founding member of the European Union and the NATO.
Cultural Foods:
Pizza: probably the most famous Italian dish, it was invented in Napoli/Naples around 1860
Calzone: just a folded up pizza
Pesto: thick green sauce with olives, herbs and olive oil, pine kernels and parmiggiano cheese. Healthy and mmmmh!
Gelato: ice-cream is an Italian invention
Lasagna: layered pasta dish with tomato, mozzarella cheese and mince meat filling.
Mozzarella: Italian cheese balls, originally made from buffalo milk