Land area: 113,521 sq mi (294,019 sq km); total area: 116,306 sq mi (301,230 sq km)

Population (2006): 58,133,509 (growth rate: 0.04%); birth rate: 8.7/1000; infant mortality rate: 5.8/1000; life expectancy: 79.8; density per sq mi: 512

Capital City: Rome

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly lira)

Languages: Italian (official); German-, French-, and Slovene-speaking minorities

Ethnicity/race: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian- and Greek-Italians in the south)

Religions: Roman Catholic (predominant), Protestant, Jewish, Islamic

Italy consists predominantly of a large peninsula (the Italian peninsula) that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily and Sardinia are the two major islands of Italy.

The Apennine mountains form the backbone of this peninsula, leading north-west to where they join the Alps, the mountain range that then forms an arc enclosing Italy from the north. Here is also found a large alluvial plain, the Po-Venetian plain, drained by the Po River — which is Italy's biggest river — and its many tributaries flowing down from the Alps, Apennines and Dolomites. Other well-known rivers include the Tiber, Adige and Arno.

Its highest point is Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) at 4,810 metres (15,781 feet), but Italy is more associated with two famous volcanoes: the currently dormant Vesuvius near Naples and the very active Etna on Sicily.

Unparalleled in its diversity, Italy offers delights ranging from fine wines and exceptional cuisine to high art and great historical sites. The peaceful Puglia region in southern Italy is renown for its stunning whitewashed coastal homesteads, serene hills cloaked in olive groves and vineyards, and medieval villages connected by narrow, winding streets.

As in many countries, dancing is an important component of Italian culture. Once such dance, the Tarantella, originated in the Middle Ages, and is said to be probably the most recognized song of all the Italian folklore music. It literally means "tarantula" and dancers rotate clockwise in a large circle. When the music in the set changes, and it becomes faster, the dancers quickly change the direction to counterclockwise.

Football (known as soccer in the United States) is a passion in Italy. Italian fashion, is also world-renowned. Gucci, Valentino, Ungaro, Versace and Armani are just a few of the couture heavyweights whose inspirations fill boutiques from Milan to Rome.

The two best known types of Italian architecture are Roman and Palladian. The Romans adopted classical Greek architecture for their own purposes, which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new architectural style. One of the most famous types of Roman architecture is the Roman baths and aqueducts.

Palladian European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; what is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of Palladio's original concepts. Buildings by Palladio himself are rare, and all are in Italy. They include Villa Capra and Villa Badoer, as well as many churches in the Veneto.