geography, history, arts, literature, scientists, food, fashion, music, cinema, sports, festivals: everything about italy.

1. ITALY
Facts, Customs
and Traditions

2. Some facts about Italy
 Italy was unified in 1861 and became
a Republic in 1946
 The population is about 60 million
 The surface is 301,338 km2
 It is divided in 20 regions
 Italy hosts 2 foreign countries, the
Republic of S.Marino and Vatican
City.
 The capital and largest city is Rome
 More than 75% of Italy is hilly or
mountainous.
 Italy is the fourth most visited
country in the world, with about 5
million visitors annually.
 About 85% of Italians are Roman
Catholic.
 The average Italian eats about 30 kg
of pasta per year and drinks 98 liters of
wine.
 The climate is Mediterranean with
hot, dry summers and mild, rainy

3. Rome: the capital
 With nearly 3,000 years of rich
history, Rome is often called the
Eternal City.
 It was founded on the 21st of April
753 B.C. by Romulus, after killing
his brother Remus.
 According to the legend Romolus
and Remus were raised by a female
wolf. This image is the symbol of
the city.
For almost five hundred
years, Rome was the largest,
wealthiest, and most politically
important city in Europe.
 It has a surface of 1.285 km² and
about 3 million people.
 It once was the capital of the
powerful Roman Empire and then
of the Papal State.
 In 1871 it became the capital of
Italy and Vatican City became an
independent state within the city
borders.

4. The North
Northern Italy, with the Alps
mountains, connects our country to
the rest of Europe.
Turin is the home of FIAT motors.
Milan is famous for fashion and
design. Venice is built on 117
islands and has its gondola boats. 5
Terre has beautiful little villages
on the sea. Bologna has the oldest
University of the western world.
Lake Garda is a famous destination
for VIPs.
THE ALPS
TURIN
MILAN VENICE
5 TERRE BOLOGNA LAKE GARDA

5. The Center
SPERLONGA
FLORENCE PISA
COUNTRYSIDE
CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO
ABRUZZO NATIONAL PARK
ROME
Central Italy is mostly made of
smaller mountains and beautiful
countryside . Florence is a
wonderful artistic city. Pisa has its
unique leaning tower. Tuscan
wine is exported all over the
world. The Marsican Bear is the
symbol of Abruzzo’s National
park in the Appennini Mountains.
Rome is right in the middle with
all its history. Many coastal
villages are great holiday
destinations.

6. The South
NAPLES
AMALFI
POMPEII THE TRULLI
SARDINIAN SEASIDE
SIRACUSA
VOLCANO ETNA
Naples was the capital of Southern
Kingdom and is the birthplace of
Pizza and Spaghetti. Pompeii was a
roman city destroyed by the
eruption of Vesuvius in 79 DC.
Etna in Sicily is the bigget
European volcano and one of the
most active of the world. Sardinia
has one of the most beautiful
seasides of Italy.

7. History: The Roman Empire
Rome grew to control nearly all the land
around the Mediterranean Sea.
At its height, conquered and controlled all
of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle
East.
Some important Roman contributions:
•Invention of concrete
•Advanced Engineering (Roads, aqueducts,
bridges, war and work machineries)
•Strict and well organized Military
•Latin alphabet and Roman Law
Emperor Constantine
The first Christian Emperor.
He left most of the Western
Roman Empire to the papacy.
Emperor Hadrian
Loved the arts and literature.
Hadrian was an humanist and a
promoter of peace and culture.
Octavianus Augustus
Caesars’s adopted son and
first Roman Emperor. Under
his rule the Empire grew.
Julius Caesar
Great military leader. After
conquering many territories he
proclaimed himself Dictator.

8. Christianity and Middle-Age
Rome was almost abandoned after the
falling of the Empire, but arts and sciences
slowly started to develop again.
In Europe the Christian “Holy Roman
Empire” substitutes the Roman one, in a
picture that has the Pope and the Emperor
competing for power and supremacy.
On the other side in Italy many cities
evolved and became independent, growing
into “Communes”. Economic science, law,
rights, trades and explorations flourish all
over Europe.
St. Francis of Assisi
Saint Patron of Italy. He started
the order of Franciscan monks,
promoting poverty and a simpler
church.
Pope Gregorius VII
transformed the church from
a simple religion to a huge
institution ruled by popes.
Frederick the II of Hoenstaufen
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Lover of the arts and sciences. He spoke
Arabic and obtained Jerusalem
peacefully using diplomacy.
St. Peter and St. Paul
St. Peter was the first Pope of the
Christian church. St. Paul
improved the rising of
Christianism. Both died in Rome.

9. Renaissance
The Renaissance was a time of great social
and cultural change in Europe.
The term 'renaissance‘ means 'rebirth'. It is
used because many of the changes
experienced between the 14th and 16th
centuries were inspired by a revival of the
classical art and intellect of Ancient Greece
and Rome. It was a period characterized by
innovation, imagination and creativity with
a huge improvement in art, architecture,
literature, science and philosophy.
Leon Battista Alberti
Together with Leonardo da Vinci he
was talented in many fields. He was
the inventor of the perspective.
Cristoforo Colombo
Columbus is the first European to
have discovered the Americas when
he landed in the Caribbean in 1492.
Pio II Piccolomini
Great humanist and promoter of
the arts. He renewed his birth
city that took the name Pienza
after him.
Lorenzo the Magnificent
Lover and patron of every art,
under his rule, the Tuscan city of
Florence started the Renaissance
movement.

10. Italian unification
Risorgimento is the Italian movement for
independence and unification.
In 1859 through the efforts of Count
Cavour, the Piedmont prime minister, as
well as Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italian national
hero.
Garibaldi united the South thanks to the
help of 1000 brave soldiers, thus allowing
King Victor Emmanuel to become the
first King of Italy.
The last city to join to the new Italian
Kingdom was Rome.
Giuseppe Mazzini
The soul of Italy: patriot,
philosopher and politician. His
efforts helped bring about the
modern Italian state.
Camillo Benso Count of Cavour
He was the Prime Minister of
the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia
and Italy's first Prime Minister.
VictorEmmanuel II
King of Piedmont, Savoy,
and Sardinia. On 18th February 1861
he become the first king of a
united Italy
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Italy’s father of the fatherland, leader
of the Unification Movement. He led a
group called the Red Shirts through
the Kingdom of Two Sicilies to bring
together Italy in 1860.

11. Arts: Painting
Raffaello
In Rome he was known as the
"Prince of Painters". He spent
the last 12 years of his life in
Rome creating many of his
most famous works.
Leonardo Da Vinci
Painter, scientist,
mathematician, engineer,
inventor, anatomist,
sculptor, architect,
botanist, musician and
writer. Leonardo is the
biggest genius of
humanity.
Botticelli
Lorenzo de' Medici was quick
to discover him and employ
his wonderful talent. He was a
pioneer of Renaissance
Birth of Venus
Magnificat Madonna
The Mona Lisa
Vatican rooms
The Last Supper
Madonna
Mary’s WeddingPope Julius II

12. Arts: Painting
Caravaggio
He painted things how they
actually looked, using very
dark shadows and bright
lights (chiaroscuro).
Tiziano
One of the most famous
painters of Venice. His
special use of color
influenced many other
artists.
Michelangelo
Some of his works are among
the most famous that have
ever been made by mankind.
His masterpiece is the Sistine
Chapel for Pope Julius II.
Sistine Chapel
Creation of Adam
Sacred and Profane Love
The Burial of Christ
Boy with fruit Supper at Emmaus

13. Arts: Sculpture
Donatello
One of the best sculptors
of his times. He used a
special technique, which
made his work look very
real.
Michelangelo
He lived an
extremely busy
life, creating a
great number of
different
artworks.
Sculpting was his
favourite art.
Bronze David
The Piety David
Isaac’s sacrifice
St. Rossore’s Reliquary
Moses

14. Arts: Sculpture
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
One of the greatest artists of
the Baroque period. He was a
famous sculptor and architect.
He sculpted many classical
myths.
Antonio Canova
Neoclassical master.
He became famous for
his marble sculptures
that perfectly rendered
nude bodies.
The three Graces
Love and Psyche Theseus and the
Minotaur
Kidnapping of Proserpina
David

15. Arts: Architecture
Florence Cathedral Dome St. Lawrence Basilica
Cloister of S.Maria della
pace
The Tempietto
St. Peter’s Dome
Rome: The Capitol
Filippo Brunelleschi
Great architect and engineer
of the Italian Renaissance in
Florence. His masterpiece is
the dome of Florence
Cathedral.
Donato Bramante
One of the greatest artists of
the Baroque period. Famous
sculptor and architect. He
was worked for many Popes
Michelangelo
In 1547 he took on the job of
completing St Peter's
Basilica. His masterpiece is
the dome of St.Peter’s
Basilica for Pope Julius II.

16. Arts: Architecture
Francesco Borromini
One of the most important
architects of the Roman
Baroque period. He was
Bernini’s lifelong rival.
Villa "La Rotonda" Basilica Palladiana
S. Carlino’s Dome
St. Peter’s square
Saint Andrew's at the Quirinal
Gian Lorenzo Bernini
The square he built for St.
Peter’s Basilica is the greatest
entrance to the greatest
Christian church in the whole
world.
Andrea Palladio
He was deeply influenced by
Greek and Roman architecture.
His works inspired architects
for centuries all over the world
St. Agnes

17. Arts: Literature
Giacomo Leopardi
poet, essayist,
philosopher, he created
many remarkable and
important poetic works,
symbol of the
Dante Alighieri
Is considered the father of the Italian
language. His “Divine Comedy” is widely
considered the greatest literary Italian
work and a masterpiece of world literature.
Alessandro Manzoni
He is mainly famous
for the novel ”The
Betrothed” ranked
among the masterpieces
of world literature.
The book is important
for the development of
modern Italian.
Virgil
One of ancient Rome's greatest poets.
His ”Aeneid” is considered the national
epic of ancient Rome.

18. Arts: Literature
Elsa Morante
Southern Italy is the backdrop
for much of her work.
Her controversial book "The
Story“ is about Rome during
World War II
Umberto Eco
Semiotician, essayist, philosopher,
literary critic, and novelist. He is
best known for his groundbreaking
1980 historical mystery novel ”The
Name of the Rose”.
Luigi Pirandello
Novelist and prolific dramatist. “The Late
Mattia Pascal” is one of his most famous
novels. He received the Nobel Prize for
literature in 1934.
GabrieleD’Annunzio
Writer, poet, journalist, playwright and war
hero during World War I.
His “The Child of Pleasure” is the
masterpiece of Italian decadent movement.

19. Sciences
Alessandro Volta
Volta wrote the “Law of
capacitance”. The unit of electrical
potential has been named the ”volt”
after him. The battery he made is the
first electrochemical cell.
Leonardo da Vinci
He was extremely fascinated by
anatomy, bird flight, animals,
engineering and nature. His projects
include flying, warfare and agriculture
machineries.
Galileo Galilei
Thanks to his discoveries he can
be considered the Father of
modern observational astronomy,
modern physics and of modern
science“.
Pythagoras
Mathematician,
mystic and
Scientist from
Sicily. His most
famous work is
the Pythagorean
theorem.

20. Sciences
Rita Levi Montalcini
Important neurologist, she
received the 1986 Nobel
Prize in Physiology and
Medicine.
Enrico Fermi
Worked on the
first Nuclear
reactor and
contributed to the
development of
Quantum theory,
nuclear and
particle physics and
statistical
mechanics.
He won Nobel Prize
in Physics in 1938.
Margherita Hack
Astrophysicist and science writer.
The asteroid 8558 Hack, discovered
in 1995, was named in her honour.
Antonio Meucci
Best known for
developing the first
electric telephone.
Guglielmo Marconi
Known for his work
on radio transmission
and for the radio
telegraph system.
Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1909.

21. Music
TIZIANO
FERRO
ANTONIO
VIVALDI
GIACOMO
PUCCINI
GIUSEPPE
VERDI
LAURA
PAUSINI
Italian innovation in scales,
harmony, notation, and theatre
enabled the development of opera
in the late 16th century, and much
of modern European classical
music. Antonio Vivaldi and his
“Four Season” was the greatest
Baroque composer. Puccini and
Verdi wrote the best and most
famous Operas of the world, like
the “Tosca” and the “Aida”.
Pavarotti was the most successful
Tenors singer of the world.
Nowadays Italy has many famous
pop, rock and melodic singers that
sell their music even abroad.
LUCIANO
PAVAROTTI
LUCIANO
LIGABUE

22. Cinema
SOFIA LOREN
FEDERICO
FELLINI
SERGIO
LEONE
VITTORIO
DE SICA
MARCELLO
MASTROIANNI
Italian Cinema experienced many
domestic and international
success, and have influenced film
movements throughout the world.
Italian films have won
13 Academy Awards for Best
Foreign Language Film, the most
of any country.
From comedies with the funny
Totò, to “Spaghetti Westerns”
made by Sergio Leone, from
romantic or dramatic films
starring De Sica, Mastroianni or
Sophia Loren, to the absolute
triumphs of world famous
director Fellini and actor Benigni.
TOTO’
ROBERTO
BENIGNI

23. Artisanal handicraft
Every region of Italy has its
traditions and its peculiar artisanal
products.
The artisans take great pride in
their works and there are many
fairs and festivals all over Italy
that display their products.
Some of these works can be really
expensive because the artists
spends many hours or days to
complete the final piece.
Some cities even have museums
dedicated to their most famous
handicrafts products, like the
Violin Museum of Cremona or the
Murano one in Venice.
MURANO GLASSWORK
CAPODIMONTE PORCELAIN
CREMONA VIOLINS
NAPLES NATIVITY SETSLEATHER WORKS DERUTA PORCELAIN
JEWELLERY

24. Fashion Design
Italians believe it’s better to look
good and feel great every day than
only on special occasions. That’s
why in Italy there are so many top
fashion design brands known all
over the world.
Every Italian city has its shopping
streets: Via Condotti in Rome and
Via Montenapoleone or Via della
Spiga in Milan are the top
destination for fashion lovers.
Every year in Milan there’s a
special event called Fashion Week
where stylists can show their best
works.
MILAN FASHION WEEK

25. Cars and Motors
Italy is well renowned all over
the world for its cars and
bikes.
Vespa, Alfa Romeo and FIAT
are probably the most
common and popular brands.
Top Luxury Cars like Ferrari
Lamborghini and Maserati are
great for speed lovers.
For bikes Aprilia and Ducati
are great for their
performances and design.

26. Food
PIZZA
SPAGHETTI
MEATBALLS
LASAGNA
CHEESES - HAMS
TORTELLINI
Everybody knows spaghetti and
pizza, but there are a million more
tasty dishes in Italy.
Every region and every city has
its typical foods and every Italian
is proud of them all. We are all
good food lovers and love to eat
with our family and friends!CHICKEN CACCIATORA
CAPRESE SALAD

27. Desserts
CORNETTI E BOMBE
GELATO TIRAMISU
CROSTATA
PANETTONE
PASTE, CANNOLI, CASSATE GRANDMOTHER’S CAKE
Italian desserts are all amazing.
Some are eaten for special occasions
like Panettone at Christmas or
chocolate Eggs for Easter. Others,
like cornetti, are eaten for breakfast.
Cakes an Tiramisu are usually eaten
after a meal and gelato? It’s always
good, expecially in summer!
EASTER EGGS

28. Drinks and Wines
ITALIAN WINES
ESPRESSO COFFEE CAPPUCCINO
LIMONCELLO
LICOR
GRAPPA, AMARI, SAMBUCA
SPUMANTE CHINOTTO
Italians love their coffee short and
strong and drink many coffees
during the day. Cappuccino is for
Breakfast. Chinotto is the Italian
answer to CocaCola. Limoncello
and Grappa and Amaro are tasty
digestive licors, good after a big
lunch or dinner. Spumante is
usually drunk for special occasions.
Italian wines are among the best
and most famous wines of the
world.

29. Sports
FRANCESCO TOTTI - KING OF ROME
FORMULA 1
VOLEYBALL
GIRO D’ITALIA
Italians love football, and our team
is one of the best! We won 4 world
cups, the last one in 2006.
In Roma the best football team is
AS ROMA, and Totti, its Captain is
considered the King of Rome. But
there’s also the great Ferrari and
many other sports that Italians love!
RUGBY
VALENTINO ROSSI
4 TIMES FOOTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONS

30. Festivals and Events
HISTORICAL FLORENCE FOOTBALL
VENICE CARNIVAL PALIO OF SIENA
ROMAN BEFANA
UMBRIA JAZZVENICE FILM FESTIVAL
AREZZO JOUST
Every city in Italy has its festivals
and traditions, it was very hard to
just pick up some! Venice Carnival
is probably the most famous,
togheter with the historical horse
race of the “Palio” that is held in
Siena twice a year. In Rome there’s
the Befana, a good witch that brings
sweets to well behaved kids on the
6° of January. Other famous
historical events are the Saracin
Jous in Arezzo and the historical
football matches in Florence.

31. Religious Festivities
MARCH/APRIL - HOLY EASTER - Resurrection of Jesus
Italians are Roman Catholic and Rome is the main city of
Christianity. In Italy there are many National religious events,
Easter and Christmas are the most important, but every city and
village has its own celebrations and festivals for its Saints
Patrons (holy figures that protect the city).
Houses are decorated with a tree and a Presepe
(model of the Nativity). We celebrate with our
families having a big dinner, then we go to
church to thank God for the birth of the Jesus.
2nd NOV. – COMMEMORATION OF THE DECEASED
On this celebration there are special Masses to
pray for the souls of our beloved dead relatives
and friends. We visit cemeteries to decorate the
tombs with flowers and candles.
Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of fasting, prayer
and penitence. The typical Easter breakfast is Eggs,
Salame and a Cheese bread. Easter is the culmination
of the Passion of Christ. On this holy day the Pope
does big blessing in Rome to cherish for the rebirth of
Jesus.
VITERBO: S.ROSA NAPLES: S.GENNARO
25° DEC. – HOLY CHRISTMAS

32. National Festivities
4/11: ARMED FORCES DAY 31/12: NEW YEARS’ CELEBRATIONS
1/6: WORKERS’ DAY25/5: ITALY’S LIBERATION8/3 - WOMEN FESTIVAL 17/3.– ITALY UNIFICATION
2 JUNE. – CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN REPUBLIC

33. GRAZIE!
THANK YOU!