Travel Bureau

Italy Information

Benvenuti in Italia!

Capital: Rome

Population: 58,126,212 (July 2009 est.)

Government Type: Republic

Currency: Euro (EUR)

Geopolitical Borders: Italy is comprised of 20 unique regions (further divided into provinces), each with its own cuisine, climate, customs and traditions.

National Holiday: Republic Day, June 2 (1946)

Languages Spoken:

• Italian (official)

• German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region)

• French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region)

• Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Executive Branch:

• Chief of state: President Giorgio Napolitano (since May 15, 2006)

• Head of government: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (since May 8, 2008)

• Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president

• Elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by Parliament

Legislative Branch: Bicameral Parliament: Senate (Senato della Repubblica) and Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)

Border Countries:

• Austria

• France

• Holy See (Vatican City)

• San Marino

• Slovenia

• Switzerland

Principal Industries:

• tourism

• machinery

• iron and steel

• chemicals

• food processing

• textiles

• motor vehicles

• clothing, footwear

• ceramics

• agriculture

Some information courtesy of the CIA World Factbook 2009.