| Area Total | 301,340 sq km |
| Climate | predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south |
| Natural Resources | coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land |
| Imports | Germany 16.3%, France 8.8%, China 7.1%, Netherlands 5.6%, Spain 5.3%, Belgium 4.5% (2017) – engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, tobacco |
| Government | parliamentary republic |
| Capital | Rome |
| Population | 62.2 million (July 2018 est.) |
| Ethnicity | Italian (small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek Italians in the south) |
| Language | Italian (official), German, French, Slovene |
| Exports | Germany 12.5%, France 10.3%, US 9%, Spain 5.2%, UK 5.2%, Switzerland 4.6% (2017) – engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals |
News about Italy
- What we know about hoax bomb threats hitting Italian schools and flightsby The Local Italy on November 12, 2026
Authorities are yet to confirm who is behind hoax bomb threats sent to thousands of Italian schools this week, after similar emails targeted flights across Europe.
- Travellers accused of overstaying EU's 90-day rule after being caught in EES chaosby The Local Italy on November 12, 2026
Several British travellers have told how they were incorrectly accused of overstaying their 90-day allowance due to the chaotic introduction of the EU's new EES biometric border checks.
- New bomb threats sent to Italian schools after day of chaosby The Local Italy on November 12, 2026
Italy's government told schools on Thursday there was no need to evacuate over a mass email alone, a day after threats at around 6,000 schools caused chaos across the country.
- How Italy’s 'forced heirship' rules decide who inherits your estateby The Local Italy on November 12, 2026
The most notable difference between Italian inheritance law and that of many English-speaking countries is that you can't decide who gets a large chunk of your property.
- Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Thursdayby The Local Italy on November 12, 2026
Meloni says bomb threats 'will not decide school calendar', nine regions under severe weather alerts as storms hit, and more news from Italy on Thursday.
- Ryanair changes bag drop rules for all European travellersby The Local Italy on November 11, 2026
As of November 10th, passengers flying with Europe's biggest budget airline must check their luggage at least an hour before departure.
- Italy braces for strong winds and heavy rain heading into weekendby The Local Italy on November 11, 2026
An Atlantic weather system was forecast to reach central-northern Italy on Thursday, intensifying the severe weather that has already hit parts of the country this week.
- What to expect from transport strikes in Milan and Venice on Fridayby The Local Italy on November 11, 2026
Milan’s public transit system faces disruption on Friday, November 13th due to a planned staff walkout, while bus services to Venice’s airport may also be affected.
- Readers’ tips: How to cut your energy bills in Italyby The Local Italy on November 10, 2026
With the government's new price cap expected to save households little more than a euro a month, readers share how they're keeping their gas and electricity bills down.
- Italian word of the day: ‘Colmo’by The Local Italy on November 10, 2026
This word really is the limit.
- KFC heads for Italy's Dolomites ski slopes despite backlashby The Local Italy on November 10, 2026
As fast food giants continue their expansion across Italy, government ministers and local councillors said the arrival of KFC in the Unesco-listed Dolomites was a step too far.
- How much will Italy's energy price cap really lower your bills?by The Local Italy on November 10, 2026
Italy’s government has passed a measure to bring down electricity costs from the start of 2027, but the benefit to consumers is expected to be marginal.
- Ghost rulings and fake ancestors: The Italian citizenship scams targeting foreignersby The Local Italy on November 10, 2026
New cases of fraud around Italian citizenship by descent are coming to light, most of them in cases where unscrupulous agencies target South Americans with Italian ancestry.
- On the Agenda: What's happening in Italy this weekby The Local Italy on November 9, 2026
Italy’s 2027 budget faces its first scrutiny in parliament, San Martino brings new wine and the ATP Finals return to Turin this week.
- Italian expression of the day: ‘Avere una brutta cera’by The Local Italy on November 9, 2026
This is one for flu season.
- TELL US: What are your tips for choosing a school in Italy?by The Local Italy on November 9, 2026
With the season of school open days and applications about to begin, we want to hear from parents about what they learned about the process - and what they'd do differently.
- The costly mistakes to avoid when shipping your belongings to Italyby The Local Italy on November 5, 2026
Planning to ship your household belongings to Italy? Get the timing wrong and you could end up paying import duty or storage fees, and that's not the only mistake that could prove expensive.
- CALENDAR: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in November 2026by The Local Italy on October 21, 2026
From several air traffic control strikes to another national general strike, here's what to expect if you're travelling in Italy in November 2026.
- What to know about getting the flu vaccine in Italy this winterby The Local Italy on October 19, 2026
Flu vaccination campaigns are underway across Italy and the age for enhanced vaccines for older adults drops to 60 this year. Here's what to know about getting jabs for yourself and family members.
- Italian expression of the day: 'Finire a tarallucci e vino'by The Local Italy on September 30, 2021
All’s well that ends...in biscuits and wine.























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