Italy was the first video in our “Countries” series, and with 53 facts we tried to show that the country is about much more than pizza and pasta. In this article we picked 15 of those facts and added notes that will come in handy as you travel around Italy. For trip planning, see our Italy travel guide.
Italy’s surprising map
1. There are two countries inside the country. Vatican City, inside Rome, is the smallest independent state in the world by area, and San Marino, in the northeast, is known as one of the oldest republics in the world.
2. Europe’s most active volcano is in Sicily. Mount Etna erupts frequently. Vesuvius, looming over Naples, buried Pompeii in ash in AD 79.
3. Venice sits on more than a hundred islands. The city is made up of small islands linked by hundreds of bridges and built on wooden piles.
4. The Tower of Pisa started leaning during construction. Because of the soft ground, the tower began to tilt while it was still being built; construction took about two centuries. Recent stabilization work reduced the lean and secured the tower.
Gifts to the world
5. The piano was invented in Italy. It was developed in Florence in the early 18th century by Bartolomeo Cristofori. Its name comes from its ability to play both soft (piano) and loud (forte).
6. The Western world’s oldest university is in Bologna. The University of Bologna, considered to have been founded in 1088, is among the oldest universities in continuous operation.
7. Eyeglasses are thought to have appeared in 13th-century Italy. The first reading glasses are believed to have been made in northern Italy around that time.
8. The Pantheon’s dome still holds a record. The nearly 2,000-year-old Pantheon has the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. The opening at its center (the oculus) is the only source of light.
Food and coffee culture
9. Coffee has its hours. Cappuccino and other milky coffees are usually drunk in the morning; after lunch and dinner, espresso is the choice.
For travelers: An espresso drunk standing at the bar is usually cheaper than one served at a table.
10. Every region has its own pasta. Italy has hundreds of pasta shapes, each paired with particular sauces: carbonara and cacio e pepe in Rome, ragù in Bologna, pesto in Genoa.
11. The queen behind the Margherita. In Naples, the story goes that the pizza bearing the colors of the Italian flag, with tomato, mozzarella and basil, was named in honor of Queen Margherita.
12. Mid-August is vacation time. Ferragosto, on August 15, marks the peak of the period when most Italians go on vacation.
For travelers: During this time, some family-run businesses in cities close, while beaches fill with Italian vacationers.
Art and heritage
13. A UNESCO champion. Italy ranks at the top among countries with the most sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List. On one trip you’ll only see a small fraction of them.
14. The coins in the Trevi go to a good cause. The coins tossed into the fountain every day are collected regularly and given to charity. According to tradition, if you toss a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder, with your back to the fountain, you’ll return to Rome.
15. Rome has thousands of fountains. Drinking water flows from the street fountains called “nasoni” all over the city.
For travelers: Carry an empty bottle in summer; you may never need to buy water in Rome.
Final word
As you travel around Italy, these small details turn the places you see into much more than a museum visit. You’ll find all 53 facts in the full video. Before you go, we also recommend reading our article on tourist traps in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport to enter the Vatican?
There are no border controls between the Vatican and Italy; you walk straight from Rome into the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Is it true Italians don’t drink cappuccino in the afternoon?
It’s not forbidden, but by tradition milky coffees are a morning drink, and espresso is preferred after meals.
