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Country
Identification |
Italian Republic |
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Language(s)
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Italian(official), German (northern part), French (minority in Valle
d΄ Aoste), Slovene-speaking minority in the Triest-Gorizia area. Regional
dialects in the south (Calabria, Abruzzen,
) |
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Religion(s)
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Predominantly Roman Catholic, some Protestants, Jews and Muslims |
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Political System
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Republic
Head of State: President Carlo Azaglio Ciampi |
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Currency |
Euro |
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Geographical Information |
Capital: Rome
20 regions
Area: 301,230 km2 with Sardinia and Sicily
Border countries: Austria, France, Holy See, San Marino, Slovenia,
Switzerland
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous, plains, coastal lowlands |
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Typical Food and drinks |
Light breakfast: "coffe I biscotti"
Large range of wines. Spirits and drinks
Food: various kinds of pasta with fresh vegetables and fish and meat,
specialities varying from region to region like bacon from Parma and
salami, risotti,
. Desserts and sweets.
Fresh fruits like oranges, lemons, figs,
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Holidays and Festivals |
Republic Day: 2nd of June
Christmas, New Year, 6 January,, most Catholics holidays, 15 August |
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History
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After Greece, Italy has got the oldest History in Europe.
8th and 7th centuries B.C.: Greeks settled in the
south of Italy
Etruscuris, Romans, Celtic population in the central and mainland.
5th 3rd centuries B.C.: Roman unification
1st-4th centuries: domination of the whole
Mediterranean world then the Empire was split into eastern and western
parts.
After series of invasions the Catholic church was seen as the only
stanle institution and acquired a great political power: The Popes of Rome
ruled directly over central Italy.
Different kingdoms and rules in north and south with a series of
dynasties.
1861: Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy under Victor
Emmanuel II.
At the beginning of the 19th century a change started. Kind
Emmanuele III remained head of State but Mussolini signed the Lateran
Pacts with the Catholic Church .
During World War II Italy was first neutral but Mussolini formed the
fascist Italian Social Republic .
1948: birth of the Italian Republic |
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Art and culture |
Very creative nation with lots of poets, philosophers, composers,
architects, painters from the time of the Romans up to the present time.
Literature: Dante Aligheri, Petrarca, Bocaccio, Torquato Tasso,
Machiavelli, Goldini, Verga, Passolini, Alberto Moravia,
.
Art: Giotto, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffael, Boticelli,
Tizian, Guttoso, Burri,
, Gian Lorenzo Bernini (architecture)
Classic Music: Verdi, Puccini, Rossini
Modern Music: Adriano Celentano, Eros
Ramazotti, Angelo Branduardi,
Film: Visconti, De Sica, Rossellini, Sergio Leone, Fellini,
Pasolini,
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Dos and don΄ts for visiting the country |
Respect of traditions and good behaviour are expected.
When meeting someone privately you should arrive ½ hour late.
In restaurants you have to wait to have a table allocated. You are
expected to order more than one course.
Be prepared that discussing a problem can last quite a long period of
time.
The relaxed lifestyle of the Italians does not mean that you are
allowed to do all what you want.
Churches have to be respected. You should be adequately covered before
entering a church. |
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Population and
% of foreign population /minorities |
Population: 57,998,353
Ethnic groups: Italian, German, French, Slovene and Albanian minorities |
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Main Integration Problems
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Intolerance against Italians from the South and people coming from
North Africa and Albania
Unemployment
Lack of contact to Italian people
Discrimination
Lack of education |
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