ITALYITALYErasmus+Erasmus+

POLITICAL POLITICAL SYSTEMSYSTEM

Italy has a parliamentary government that is perfectly bicameral. The two houses, the Chamber of Deputies

and the Senate of the Republic,

have the same powers. Matteo Renzi - 56th Prime Minister of Italy

Rome is the capital of Italy and today it is one of the most important tourist destinations of the world.

GeographyGeography

Italy is located in the southern Italy is located in the southern Europe and comprises the boot-Europe and comprises the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula and a shaped Italian Peninsula and a number of islands including the two number of islands including the two largestlargest ones: ones: Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily and Sardinia.

Mont Blanc is the highest point in Mont Blanc is the highest point in the Alps and The Po is Italy's the Alps and The Po is Italy's longest river.longest river.

Italian CultureItalian Culture

Italian culture is one of the world's oldest cultures. Italy is considered as the central place of the western culture and the starting point of the worldwide phenomena such as the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, the Renaissance and the Risorgimento. During its history, Italy gave birth to an enormous number of notable people.

Traditions Traditions

of Italyof Italy

Traditions of Italy are some sets of traditions, beliefs, values and customs that form the culture of Italian people.

- Visiting friends and relatives is very popular among the Italians, because family is very important for Italians.-Italians love music. Music is part of their lives.-The majority of Italians are Roman Catholics. When they immigrated, they brought their religious traditions to Canada with them.

Italian cuisineItalian cuisine

Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman ancient Greek, and ancient Roman cuisines. Significant changes occurred cuisines. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World and with the discovery of the New World and the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine but not introduced in quantity the cuisine but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century. Italian cuisine is until the 18th century. Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity,noted for its regional diversity, abundance of difference in taste, and it is abundance of difference in taste, and it is probably the most popular in the world. probably the most popular in the world. Coffee, especially espresso, has become Coffee, especially espresso, has become important in Italian cuisine.important in Italian cuisine.

ReligionReligion

The The mainmain religion in the country is religion in the country is Roman Catholicism.Roman Catholicism.

In Rome there areIn Rome there are:: the Archbasilica the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and the of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope.Pope.

Facts about ItalyFacts about Italy

• Rome is almost 3,000 years old.• The Italian wolf is Italy’s unofficial

national animal and plays a large role in the legend of the founding of Rome.

• There are two independent states within Italy: the Republic of San Marino (25 square miles) and the Vatican City (just 108.7 acres).

• Italy’s birthrate is the second lowest in the Western world.

• Soccer is Italy’s most popular sport.

Useful phrasesUseful phrases

Good morning - BuongiornoGood morning - Buongiorno

Goodbye - ArrivederciGoodbye - Arrivederci

How are you? - Come stai?How are you? - Come stai?

Where are you from? - Di dove sei?Where are you from? - Di dove sei?

What is your name? - Come ti What is your name? - Come ti chiami?chiami?

I'm sorry - ScusiI'm sorry - Scusi