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General facts

Population: 61.3 million

Capital: Rome

Official Language: Italian

Currency: Euro

Religions: Roman Catholic

Motto: Per l’onore d’Italia (For honour of Italy)

National Anthem: Il Canto degli Italiani

 

Interesting facts

  • Italy is made up of 20 regions and 6 islands.
  • It is home to the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sights (40) in the world.
  • Italy’s Vatican City is a separate sovereign nation.
  • It is the fourth most visited country in the world and Rome, the capital, is the most visited city with approximately 25 million visitors per year.
  • Italy has three active volcanoes – Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli.
  • The country has more famous fashion designers than anywhere else.
  • Some of the world’s greatest composers were Italian like Vivaldi, Verdi and Puccini.

Tips for doing business in Italy

  • Always maintain eye contact with your Italian colleagues to show you’re sincere.
  • Be prompt and arrive to your meetings 10-15 minutes early.
  • If available, have your printed materials and presentations translated into Italian.

More obscurely, did you know...  

  • The Italians invented the thermometer and the piano.
  • The average Italian consumes 26 gallons of wine and 25 kilograms of pasta a year!
  • Venice has over 400 footbridges.
  • Italy has more hotel rooms than any other nation in Europe.