A TASTE OF ITALY

I. GEOGRAPHY

• Location- Southern Europe
• Size- 6.8million people

3.) Climate- varies considerably from north to south. The north is very cold and has harsh winters and very hot and humid summers. Central locations are milder, smaller difference of temperature between winter and summer. In the South winders are never really that harsh spring and autumn temperature are similar to the summer.

4.) Topography- borders Switzerland (740km/460mi), France (488km/303mi), Austria (430 km/270 mi), and Slovenia (232 km/144mi).

HISTORY
Ancient Rome was at first a small agricultural community founded in 8th century BCE. The Lombards( Germans ) invade Italy and divide into Eastern Roman Empire and Papal States(est. 756)
Charlemagne crowned Roman Emperor. Then in 962 BCE Otto the Great(Turkish) was crowned emperor establishing the Holy Roman Empire. Charles I of Spain became emperor Charles v of the Holy Roman Empire after defeating Otto the Great.

HISTORY

• 1936- Mussolini and Hitler sign an agrement(Roman-Berlin Axis)
• 1939-Italy conqures Albania and Mussolini sides with Hitler
• 1943-8th of Sept: Italy surrenders to the allies(WWII)
• 1943-13th of October: Italy declares war on Germany
• 1946-10th of Jun:Itay abolishes the monarchy and establishes a republic.

III.) Economy-
unemployment-10.6%
$1.8 trillion
-2.4% growth
-1.4% 5 year annual growth
$30,136 per Capita
External debt- $1.682 trillion
Currency- Euros

Agriculture- fruits, vegetables,grapes,potatoes, sugar beets, soy beans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish.
Industries- tourism, Machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, foot wear, ceramics,etc.
Agriculture-3.9%
Industry- 28.3%
Services-67.8%

IV.) Government /Law
Italian republic
Capital- Rome
Legal system- civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in constitutional court.
Suffrage- 18 years old; except in senatorial elections, where the minimum is 25 years of age.
Chief of state- President Giorgio Napolitano
Bicameral parliament.

V.) Education
Structure like the United States education system where kids go to school 5 to 6 days a week and schools go from pre-school, elementary, high school, and then to University.
Their schools stat September and go until June.
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write
Male- 99.2%
Female-98.7%

VI.) Language

• Italian(official language of course)
• German
• French
• Slovene

VII.) RELIGION

• Christian- 80%
• Muslims-700,000 and growing
• Athesists and Agnostics-20%
• Roman Catholics-87%
• Protestant

VII.) RELIGION

• Jewish
• The seat of the Chatholic Church is in Rome

VIII.) Sports

• Soccer- World Cup winners:1834,1938,1982,&2006
• Basketball
• Cycling
• Motor Racing

IX.) People/ Lifestyle
In Italy, the people are warming, love to relax, celebrate, and socialize.
A.) food is very important in Italy, if it could be a religion they would be a part of it. For lunch, a sandwich would not do. Pasta and salad and meals are never hurried.
B.) You won't see the people of Italy alone.

IX.) Holidays
A.) New Year's Eve- Dec. 31, New Years- January 1
Epiphany Jan 6, (based on the three wise men), Easter Day April 20, Easter Monday April 21, Liberation Day April 25,( marks the fall of Mussolini's Italian social republic and end of the nazi occupation), Labor Day may 1, Republic Day June 2, assumption of Mary August 15 ( the Catholic belief that God took the body of Jesus' mother Mary into heaven) , All Saints Day Nov. 1,( to celebrate all Catholic saints), Feasts of the Immaculate conception in Italy Dec. 8,( the day commemorates when Mary, the mother of Jesus, was graced by God to lead a life "free of sin" according to Catholic belief), Christmas Day- Dec. 25, St. Stephen's Day Dec. 26(feast day.),

IX.) Traditions
B.) Epiphany, marks the 12th day of Christmas, one popular tradition is that la befana, a witch on a broomstick who brings candy and coal to children. Christmas, season lasts for 3 weeks. Dec 17 to Jan.6. Each day children go from home to home reciting poems and singing. Panettone, a traditional cake filled with candied fruit.