Italy
The first Italian national flag was adopted on Feb. 25, 1797, by the Cispadane Republic. Its stripes were vertically positioned on May 11, 1798, and thereafter it was honored by all Italian nationalists. The design was guaranteed by a decree (March 23, 1848) of King Charles Albert of Sardinia, ordering troops to carry the flag into battle.
| Official name: | Italian Republic |
| Capital: | Rome |
| Government type: | republic |
| Population: | 58,057,477 (July 2004 est.) |
| Languages: | Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area) |
| Official Currency: | Euro(EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European
Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be
used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1
January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday
transactions within the member countries Current Euro Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: | EUR |
| Independence Day: | 17 March 1861 |
| Religion: | predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community |
| Area: | total: 301,230 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily water: 7,210 sq km land: 294,020 sq km |
| Climate: | predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south |
Top Destinations in Italy
Tuscany | Florence | Siena | Chianti | Pisa | Rome |
Venice | Milan | Costiera Amalfitana e Sorrentina |
Sorrento and Amalfi Coast | Italian Riviera | Sicily Coast and Dolomites Islands | Lake Garda
Portofino | Ischia | Cinque Terre | Capri | Elba
