Top 10 most interesting facts about Italy

She gave the world masterpieces of painting and opera art, high fashion and magnificent cars, pizza and espresso coffee. We have collected the most interesting facts about Italy, which are useful for everyone who wants to get to know this amazing country better.

10 No one knows where Italy got its name from

In ancient times, Italy was called the area in the south of the Apennine Peninsula (modern Calabria), inhabited by Italic tribes. After the III century BC. e., when Rome conquered these lands, the name spread to the entire territory of the peninsula, from Sicily to the southern foot of the Alps. The meaning of the word “Italy” is still a mystery. According to one version, it comes from the Umbrian vitlo (young bull) and translates as “land of calves.”

It is known that the southern tribes revered the bull as a sacred animal and often used its image as a symbol of the fight against the Roman invaders. According to another version, the name comes from the ancient Greek adjective “aitalia”, which can be translated as “fiery” or “flaming”. This may be due to the fact that Italy is the most volcanically active region in Europe. 

9. Ranks fourth in Europe in terms of population

Italy is one of the most densely populated countries in the European Union. Currently, over 60 million people live in its relatively small territory. In the prosperous northern regions – Lombardy, Liguria and Campania, there are over 1 inhabitants per 300 km². In recent years, population growth has been mainly due to mass migration from Eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia. Immigrants make up about 10% of the population.

For reference! The average life expectancy has a significant impact on demography, in Italy it is 83 years is one of the highest figures in the world.

8. Trevi Fountain and other fountains in Rome

Since antiquity, Rome has been famous for its magnificent fountains. The oldest of them were rectangular stone structures erected around a natural spring. Water from them was used for household needs and religious ceremonies. Already in the 40st century A.D. e. in Rome there were XNUMX fountains and several hundred public pools, which were supplied with water from aqueducts.

The art of building fountains reached its peak in the Late Renaissance. Baroque creations of outstanding architects – Giovanni Bernini, Domenico Fontana and Nicolo Salvi still adorn the squares of the Eternal City. The Fountain of the Bees and the Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini, the Barcaccia Fountain, made in the form of a boat, in Piazza di Spagna, the Turtle Fountain in Piazza Mattei, Aqua Felice, known as the “Fountain of Moses”, located on the Quirinal Hill, are very popular.

The largest and most majestic fountain in Rome is the Trevi Fountain. forms a single ensemble with the Palazzo Poli. In the center of the composition is the god Ocean, sitting on a sea shell, which, like a chariot, is pulled by mythical newts and hippocampi. This grandiose building was captured in a number of famous films – Roman Holiday, La Dolce Vita, Madly in Love. Tourists throw coins into the fountain, hoping to come back here again.

Interesting fact: Roman public utilities annually extract coins worth up to 1,5 million euros from the fountain.

7. Situated on a tectonic fault line

Italy regularly suffers from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This is due to its geographical position. One of the most interesting facts about Italy: the state is located at the junction of two tectonic plates – the Eurasian and African, which are in constant motion. When the speed of their movement increases, tremors occur and volcanic activity intensifies. At the point of contact of the plates, the Apennines were formed – a mountain range stretching for 1000 km along the Apennine Peninsula.

6. The highest mountain in Europe is located

The highest mountain in Europe – Mont Blanc. It is located in the Western Alps, on the border of Italy and France. Its height reaches 4810 m. Disputes about the territorial belonging of the mountain have been going on for centuries. According to the Treaty of Turin in 1860, the French-Italian border runs right along the top of Mont Blanc, dividing the highest peak into two parts. At the foot of the southern, Italian side of the mountain is the famous ski resort of Courmayeur.

5. Football is the most popular sport

The three main passions in the life of an Italian are religion, food and football. The oldest football club in Italy, Juventus, was founded in the XNUMXth century. At the same time, the first regional championships began to take place in the country. Nowadays, during important matches, people drop everything to cheer for their favorite team. Life stops, the streets seem to die out, and the bars and restaurants are filled with football fans.

Did you know? Football is included in the compulsory school curriculum, news about the latest events in the world of football is published on the front pages of newspapers.

Not a single election campaign is complete without talking about football, and famous football players become objects of almost religious worship. An interesting fact: most people are sure that football was invented in England, but the Italians will not agree with them. The ball game, reminiscent of modern football, appeared in Florence in the XNUMXth century. The Calcio Tournament is held annually in Piazza Santa Croce, Florence.

4. Christmas is the main holiday of the year

Italy is the birthplace of Catholicism, and Christmas is celebrated here on a special scale. Cities and dwellings begin to decorate a few weeks before the holiday. The most important element of decor is sculptural compositions depicting the scene of the birth of Christ. On December 24, Italians gather for a traditional family dinner. On Christmas Eve, it is customary to serve eel dishes and sweet panettone pastries. Faithful Italians must attend the Christmas mass.

Divine service with the participation of the Pope in St. Peter’s Basilica annually collects tens of thousands of viewers. Gifts for children are presented by the Italian Santa Claus – Babbo Natale, which translates as “father of Christmas”.

3. Florence is the city with the largest pedestrian zone in the world.

Florence is the main treasure trove of Renaissance culture. The historic center of the city is a grandiose open-air museum crowded with tourists at any time of the year. Most of the Old Town is a continuous pedestrian zone, which is constantly expanding. In its length (136 km) it is the largest pedestrian zone in the world. The Florentine authorities plan to reduce the number of private cars to a minimum, and move all parking to the periphery.

2. The worst violation of food culture would be the attempt to put ketchup on pasta or pizza

Italians are incredibly sensitive to their national cuisine. Trying to fill traditional dishes with ordinary ketchup gives them a real shock. To prepare tomato sauce, Italian housewives, as a rule, use a product called passata di pomodoro, which can be purchased at any supermarket. The classic trade wind is the pureed pulp of ripe tomatoes in its own juice, packed in jars or boxes. Passata with the addition of herbs and spices is used as the basis for pizza, pasta and other Italian dishes.

1. All musical notations are always written in Italian.

Few people know that it was the Italian who invented modern musical notation. Guido Aretino was a Benedictine monk who lived in Tuscany in the XNUMXth century. Worldwide he is revered as the most significant reformer in the history of music. Guido taught singing at the Benedictine monastery of Pomposa. With his students, he learned the most difficult Catholic masses, which took a lot of time to memorize.

To make it easier for the singers, he began to designate sounds with special icons – notes. Singing from notes later became known as solfeggio. Guido Aretinsky used the hymn to John the Baptist as the basis for the notes. The first syllable of each stanza is the name of the note. Over time, the name of the first note, which ended in a consonant, was replaced by a more convenient Do (from Latin Dominus – Lord).