Italy is considered to be one of the centers of European tourism. A rich history, unique architecture, outstanding representatives of different areas of art – these are the main advantages of this peninsula in the center of modern civilization. Italy was among the first countries whose indigenous people were able to achieve not only political and military superiority, but also made a breakthrough in the field of education, democracy and statehood. You can talk about the contribution of Italy for a long time, but let's focus only on the most interesting facts from the life of the Apennine Peninsula.
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Uniqueness in statistics
Italy is considered one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. On a modest area of 301,000 square kilometers, more than 60 million people live today! Just imagine, there are more than 200 people for every square kilometer.
The country can boast of similar achievements in relation to works of art. There is information that in Italy there is the largest accumulation of these masterpieces of different times.
The Italians hold another absolute record. In 2007, the largest truffle was found in the province of Tuscany. The weight of this valuable representative of the truffle family was 1.5 kg, and the cost as a result of bidding at the auction reached 333 thousand US dollars.
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Well, do not forget that within the borders of modern Italy there are two independent state entities at once – the Vatican and San Marino. By the way, it is the last republic that is considered the most ancient on the entire globe. Its history begins in 301, and the constitution is the oldest of those that have survived. And the Vatican is famous not only for its supreme pontiff, but also for the fact that it has its own army, radio, television and even currency. And at night the gates of this city-state are locked.
The most famous educational institution in Italy, the University of Rome, can boast of no less impressive achievements. This is the oldest place for students to study, which was opened in 1303 by a teacher of the Catholic Church. Today, more than one and a half hundred thousand students are studying at the same time.
Volcanoes, pizza and witches
According to official data, the largest number of volcanoes is located on the territory of the state. Many of them systematically remind of their presence, sometimes taking out all their anger on this amazing people.
Italian cuisine is considered one of the most popular and rich in culinary masterpieces. It was here that a round shape of dough with various fillings first appeared, which later taught the name of pizza. In local cafes and restaurants, you can simply fall in love with the amazing taste of spaghetti with signature sauce or experience the amazing aroma of one of the varieties of Italian cheese. The most famous cheeses are parmesan and mozzarella, which have long been among the delicacies of cuisines around the world.
By the way, recently more and more Italian chefs can be found among the representatives of the strong half of humanity. Men from Italy are famous not only for their excellent taste, but also for being great inventors. This is why restaurants run by an Italian-born chef are so popular.
The Italian islands are also full of surprises. How many legends and myths do you know about the islands of Corsica and Sardinia? Is everything pure fiction, or is there a certain amount of truth in the legends? For example, the islands of Sardinia are famous all over the world for local witches and healers. They make healing potions, the secrets of which are passed down from generation to generation through the female line.
Don't know what to bring from Italy? Check out our roundup of the best souvenirs.