lItalia

l’Italia, or Italia, is the name used in Italian to refer to the country commonly known in English as Italy. Officially, it is the Repubblica Italiana. Located in Southern Europe, it occupies the Italian Peninsula and includes several islands, notably Sicily and Sardinia. It is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, with enclaved microstates San Marino and Vatican City within its territory. The surrounding seas are the Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic, and Ligurian.

The capital is Rome, a city with long-standing political and cultural influence. Italy has a population of about 60 million and covers roughly 301,000 square kilometers. The geography ranges from the alpine north, with the Alps and the Po Valley, to the central Apennine mountain spine and the southern Mediterranean coastline. The climate is diverse, with alpine, continental, and Mediterranean zones.

Italy is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Italy is divided into 20 regions, five of which have special autonomous status.

The Italian economy is highly developed and diversified, with strengths in manufacturing, fashion, design, arts, and tourism. It is a member of the European Union and uses the euro. Italy has a rich cultural heritage, including contributions to art, science, cuisine, and music, and contains numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The official language is Italian, with regional languages and minorities recognized in various regions.