ITALY

The center of the Roman Empire, Italy is amongst the most visited countries in the world. The rural south offers a quiet and privacy getaway with the wonderful Sicily and Neapolitan Riviera drawing the crowds. Head to north and you will have numerous artistic treasures in Rome and Florence, where Botticelli and Da Vinci plied their trades. From snow covered slopes for the winter sports to awesome beaches for the summer and numerous beautiful lakes, Italy has something to offer for everyone.

Official name: Italian Republic

 Population: 61,016,804 as of July 2011 Size: 116,348 square miles (301, 340 square kilometers); slightly larger than Arizona


Capital: Rome


Official Language: Italian


Literacy: 98.4%


Currency: The Euro


Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%


Climate: Cooler in far north; hot, dry in south


Agriculture Products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives, beef and dairy products, fish


Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

                                         
                                                                                -Elif Basumli