Italy

Italy > Regions

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, has existed as a nation since 1861. The capital of Italy is Rome. Milan is the country’s financial center. Italian is the official language of the state. Alongside Italian, German and Ladin are the official languages in Trentino-Alto Adige, French in Valle d’Aosta and Slovenian in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Italy is politically divided into 20 regions, 90 provinces and 15 metropolitan cities. Italy has a total of 7,904 municipalities. At 7,400 square kilometers, the province of Bolzano in South Tyrol is the largest province in Italy in terms of area and, together with Trento, is an autonomous province on a par with the Italian regions.

The country is a modern industrialized nation and the eighth largest economy in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product. The standard of living and level of education are high. Italy has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Italy is a founding member of the European Union, a member of the G7, the G20, NATO, the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), among others.

The peninsula, resembling the shape of a boot, borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. A sea border exists with Croatia. The microstates of Vatican City and San Marino are located in Italy. The largest islands are Sicily and Sardinia, which are also autonomous regions.

58,983,122 inhabitants live on an area of 302,073 km² (8.11.2022). In 2021, 71 percent of Italy’s inhabitants lived in cities. The average population density is quite high at 195.26 inhabitants/km². In the plains, the population density reaches 400 inhabitants/km². In the Po Valley alone, around 20 million inhabitants (more than 1/3 of the population) live on 47,820 km² (approx. 1/6 of Italy’s total area). At the same time, there are many areas in Italy where the population density is below average.

Italy is predominantly mountainous, being characterized by the Apennines and the Alps. The densely populated and highly industrialized Po Valley is located in northern Italy. The climate in Italy is mostly Mediterranean, but due to its strong north-south expansion and the various landscapes, we also find an alpine and continental climate in the north and in the mountains, and a subtropical climate further south. With over 7,600 km of coastline and up to 2,000 hours of sunshine a year, Italy invites millions of vacationers in summer. 24 national parks covering 15,000 km² and 134 regional parks covering 13,000 km² reflect the great love of nature held by Italians.

Italy is also known as the crossroads of civilizations. Italy has shaped the culture and history of mankind for thousands of years. In ancient times, Italy was the core region of the Roman Empire. The Romans still shape European culture in all its facets today. In Tuscany we find the origin of the Renaissance, the “Risorgimento“. Italy was also a pioneer of the Baroque. Italy’s cultural importance is reflected in the fact that most of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Italy.

Click here on the Italian region that is of interest to you. No matter where you are drawn to, every region has its own unique features. Let yourself be captivated by unique landscapes, wonderful colors, beguiling scents and delicious food. Come with us on a fascinating journey, a Grand Tour of modern times.