Factsheet

• Official name: Italian Republic (RepubblicaItaliana)

• Capital: Rome (Roma), nickname “The Eternal City”

• Amount needed for living costs: €12,000 (~US$13,500) per year

• Average international undergraduate tuition fees: from €900 (~US$1,000) per year

• Borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia

• Italy has numerous islands, and the mainland is famously shaped like a boot.

• There are two independent states within Italy, both enclaves: Republic of San Marino and Vatican City.

• Italy has the only active volcano in mainland Europe: Mount Vesuvius. Of Italy’s 14 volcanoes, three others are active: Mount Etna, Stromboli and Vulcano.

• Europe’s third-largest economy, eighth largest in the world

• 51 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other country

• Official language: Italian. Other recognized linguistic groups have coofficial status including French, German, Ladin and Slovene.

• Main religion: Roman Catholic

• Currency: Euro (€)

• Main exports: engineering products, textiles and clothing, machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals, tobacco, minerals, and nonferrous metals

• Italy’s national football (soccer) team has won the FIFA World Cup four times, in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 – only Brazil has been more successful.

• Other popular team sports in Italy include volleyball, basketball and rugby.

• There is a European law safeguarding the ‘traditional Italian pizza’.

• The language of music is in Italian (for example mezzo, lento, andante, allegro, vivace and presto).

• Famous Italian cheeses include Parmesan, from the Parma area in Northern Italy and mozzarella, traditionally made using Italian buffalo milk.

• Time zone: Central European Time (UTC+1), UTC+2 in the summer

• International dialing code: +39 • Internet domain: .it