When most people think about Italy they think about pizza and pasta. While it is true that Italian food is delicious, there is a lot more to the country than food. Italy is a peninsula. This means that it is surrounded by water on three sides. Many people compare the country to a boot that juts into the Mediterranean Sea. For centuries, Italy has been a center of arts and power in the world. When the Greeks ruled Italy, great thinkers like Plato and Aristotle developed theories that are still discussed today. Next the Romans, with Rome as their capital, conquered much of the world and brought all the riches and learning back to Italian soil. When Italy became European, it was rich with trade and full of arts. In fact, it started the European Renaissance in the 14th century, which brought great improvements in science and arts for the entire world.
• 61.3 million people live in Italy.
• Rome is the capital and biggest city.
• The highest mountain is Monte Bianco (4,807m).
• The Po is the longest river.
• There are three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli.
• Mozzarella was originally made from Bison milk.
• Pizza was invented in Naples in 1860.
• Italy is a little bigger than Arizona.
• Alessandro Volta, inventor of the battery, was Italian.
• The last time Mt. Vesuvius erupted was 1944.
• Italy has more than 3,000 museums.
• Rome is nicknamed “The Eternal City.”
• Milan is the second largest city in Italy.
• Rome is almost 3,000 years old.
• Rome has been the capital sine 1871.
• There are more than 500 different types of pasta eaten in Italy.
• The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built in 1173.
• The first operas were in Italian.
• Italy comes from the Greek italos, which means calf.
Today Italy is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. There are many reasons to visit this amazing country. Perhaps the most popular reason to visit, however, is the history. Archeologists are still excavating ancient ruins all over Italy and learning about these ancient societies. One of the biggest and most popular dig sites is Pompeii. This ancient city was destroyed by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The city was covered in layers of ash, and while it destroyed the city, it also perfectly preserved everyday life in the city. By digging through Pompeii, archeologists can get a better look at the past than ever before.
