Italy is a country in central southern Europe. As well as the mainland, Italy has two large islands and several smaller ones. The largest two are
Scilly at the foot of Italy and Sardinia to the west. Italy is often said to be shaped like a boot.
Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea.
The land is mountainous with lowlands on the coast. The Appennine Mountain range runs right down the middle of Italy from top to bottom.
The geographical coordinates for the centre of Italy, also known as lines of latitude and longitude, are:-
Latitude - 42 50N
Longitude - 12 50E
The capital of Italy is Rome.
Italy is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of the government.
In elections everyone over the age of 18 can vote. In elections to the senate, you have to be over 25.
The currency in Italy is the euro. Italy was a founder member of what is now the European Union.
Italian is the official language.
Check the weather in Rome now.
This is the time in Rome now
Back to the top