User:Foghe/U

Italy (Italia) is a nation in Europe. Its territory consists of the Italian Peninsula, delimited by the Alps to the north and by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and of all of the surrounding and related islands, among which are the three largest of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica.

The nation is governed separately by eight states, of which only four include an Italian population majority: the Italian Republic, the Republic of San Marino, the Vatican City State, the Republic of Malta, the French Republic, the Swiss Confederation, the Republic of Slovenia, and the Republic of Croatia. Italy has a population of circa 60 million people, of which 55 million are citizens of states ruling part of the territory. With an area of circa 322,000 square kilometers (124,300 sq mi) it has a population density of around 186 inhabitants per square kilometer (480/sq mi). The largest city is Rome, with 2.9 million residents.

Italy has been for millennia the focus of Western civilization and culture. In legal studies, Roman law forms the ground for several juridical orders. Religiously, Christianity has been the main creed since the end of the Classical period—the Catholic Church holds its headquarters in Vatican City, an enclaved independent city-state in Rome. Italians mantain a set of distinctive characters of Italian culture, concerning interest regarding food, fashion, architecture, art, and music, scattered around the world through the Italian diaspora (1860s–1920s).

Classical period
The current sociological extent of Italy came into existence during the process of expansion of the Roman Republic in the region, spanning six centuries, from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD. Initially, Italy, as originally defined by the Greeks, geographically identified only the southern part of the region, know as Magna Graecia, in which Hellenic civilization flourished starting from the 8th century BC.

With the consolidation of Roman rule over the peninsula (275 BC) and over the surrounding islands (237 BC), as results of the Pyrrhic and Punic Wars, the territory

Abc. Abc.

Modern period
Abc. Abc. Abc. Abc. Abc.

Contemporary period
Abc. Abc. Abc. Abc. Abc.

Physical geography


"Il bel paese ch'Appennin parte e 'l mar circonda et l'Alpe. That fair country the Apennines divide, and Alps and sea surround."

Continental part
Abc.

Peninsular part
Abc.

Insular part
Abc.

Sicily
Abc.

Sardinia
Abc.

Corsica
Abc.

List of island by area
Abc.

Bodies of water
Abc.

Political geography
"Dall'Alpi a Sicilia, dovunque è Legnano. From the Alps to Sicily, Legnano is everywhere."

Abc.

Italian territory by sovereign state

Demography


Abc.

Natives
Abc.

Oriundi
Abc.

Languages
Abc.

Religions
Abc.

Pagan period
Abc.

Christian period
Abc.