Country: Italy is a country in southern
Europe. Its neighbouring countries are France, Switzerland,
Austria and Slovenia. A large part of the mainland of Italy
is situated on what is referred to as the Italian peninsula.
The landscape of Italy is mainly mountains (75%) such as the
Alps, Dolomites and Apennine mountains. 20% of the country
is forest area and then there are strips of lowland along
the Adriatic coast.
The capital of Italy is Rome. This name is of course
reminiscent of the once so mighty Roman Empire that is spread
out from this city. At its peak, in the 2nd century, the Empire
encompassed all the countries surrounding Mediterranean Sea,
plus a large part of Western Europe and the Middle East.
Modern-day Italy has been a parliamentary Republic since
1946, when the Sovereignity was voted off. There are 58,126,212
people living in Italy (2009). 87.8% of Italians profess to
be Roman Catholic.
