Italy

Italy is a country located in the south of Europe. It is a pensinsula, shaped alike a 'boot' and includes the larger islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

Originally formed as a monarchy in 1861, Italy is now a republic, founded in 1946, and is governed by a President elected by the State parliament. The Fascist party governed the country from 1922 to 1943.

The official language is Italian although varieties of German are spoken in the northern Alto Adige (Sued Tirol) region. Regional and local dialects are also common throughout the country.

The capital city is Rome.

Major regions and cities: Lombardy (Milan), Veneto (Venice), Piedmont (Turin), Lazio (Rome), Sicily, Puglia, Tuscany (Florence), Emilai-Romagna (Bologna ).