30 interesting facts about Italy

Italy isn’t just another pretty European postcard; it’s a country packed with surprises.

The country holds some of the world’s most impressive records, from having more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country to being home to Europe’s most active volcano.

Whether you’re planning your first trip or you’ve already booked your trip, these fun facts about Italy will deepen your appreciation for everything from its ancient landmarks to its modern cities.

1. Italy is famously shaped like a boot kicking a football (Sicily)

When you look at a map of Italy, you’ll instantly recognise why everyone calls it “the boot.” The country’s unique shape is one of the most recognisable silhouettes in the world.

Millions of years ago, Africa slowly pushed north, crumpling the land into the Mediterranean Basin. The Apennines rose along its spine, giving Italy its unmistakable shape.

Today, Italy’s 20 regions maintain distinct traditions, cuisine, and cultural practices shaped by this geography and history.

2. Five different seas surround the Italian peninsula

Italy’s coastline stretches for 7,600 kilometres (4,700 miles), and the Mediterranean Sea is the main body of water that encompasses all the smaller seas around it.

These smaller seas include the Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea, Ligurian Sea, and Sardinian Sea.

If you’re renting a car to explore some of these gorgeous coastal towns, check out our tips for driving in Italy.

3. Italy experiences frequent earthquakes due to its tectonic location

The country lies where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates constantly push against each other. This collision creates intense pressure along Italy’s two major mountain ranges, the Alps and the Apennines, and fault lines. When that pressure suddenly releases, you get earthquakes.

The country has experienced over 30,000 medium-to-high intensity earthquakes in the last 2,500 years, with major earthquakes occurring on average every four years.

4. Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country

When planning your Ultimate Italy adventure, you’re literally choosing the world’s most extensive collection of UNESCO treasures.

Italy currently holds 61 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other country, so every visit feels like a living museum. These range from ancient Roman ruins to Renaissance masterpieces to stunning natural landscapes.

5. Rome was the largest ancient city in the world

Rome earned its nickname “the Eternal City” for good reason.

According to legend, the city was founded in 753 BC. At its peak in the 1st century CE, it had grown into the largest city in the ancient world, with approximately 1.5 million people, and the Roman Empire stretched across three continents.

6. The Colosseum stands as Rome’s most iconic landmark

The engineering marvel could hold over 50,000 spectators for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Once construction finished in 80 CE, the opening games lasted 100 days and featured exotic animals, gladiator fights, and mock naval battles.

You’ll have an opportunity to see inside the Colosseum on our Simply Italy itinerary.

7. Throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain is said to guarantee your return to Rome

You’ve probably seen this famous Italian landmark in countless movies and Instagram posts.

Tourists stand with their backs to Rome’s most famous fountain, tossing coins over their shoulders. This tradition got a huge boost from the 1954 film Three Coins in the Fountain. The movie made the custom famous worldwide and cemented its place in popular culture.

But proper technique matters if you want the magic to work. You must toss the coin over your left shoulder with your right hand while standing with your back to the fountain. The baroque masterpiece collects approximately €3,000 daily, which funds social programmes for Rome’s needy families.

8. The Eternal City is home to the smallest country on earth

Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent state at just 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 square miles), sits within Rome’s boundaries.

Inside the home of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Peter’s Basilica dominates the skyline with Michelangelo’s famous dome reaching 136 metres high.

9. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling by hand

Michelangelo actually painted while standing on scaffolding, craning his neck upward in an incredibly uncomfortable position. He worked on custom-built wooden platforms that allowed him access to the massive ceiling.

The artist himself described the physical torture of the work. His neck ached constantly from looking up, and paint dripped into his eyes as he worked above his head. It took him 4 years to complete the painting.

10. Italy is home to another independent country within its borders, San Marino

You might know about Vatican City, but did you know there’s another small country within Italy?

San Marino is the world’s oldest republic, founded in 301 CE, surrounded by Italian territory. At just 61 square kilometres, it’s the third-smallest country in Europe and the fifth-smallest in the world.

San Marino remained independent when Italy unified in the late 19th century. While other Italian city-states joined, San Marino chose to stay alone. Today, it functions as a fully independent republic with its own government and postal system and even issues its own euro coins.

11. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually a bell tower

The tower serves as the bell tower for Pisa’s cathedral. Construction began in 1173 and took nearly 200 years to complete.

The tower leans at a 3.97-degree angle, about 4 metres (13 feet) off vertical.

12. The Tower leans less today than it did in the 1990s

The Leaning Tower of Pisa tilted during construction due to soft ground and poor foundation planning.

Modern stabilization efforts between 1990 and 2001 reduced the lean by 45 centimetres. Engineers removed soil beneath the tower’s north side to slightly correct its angle. The tower has eight stories and now stands 56 metres (184 feet) tall on the low side.

13. Mount Vesuvius towers over the city and the Bay of Naples

This sleeping giant stands about 1,280 metres (4,200 feet) tall. You can actually hike to the crater rim for incredible views of the surrounding countryside.

The climb is steady but manageable, so comfortable shoes and layers should be at the top of your personal Italy packing list.

14. The volcano’s eruption in 79 CE caused the tragic destruction of Pompeii

The city housed between 10,000-20,000 residents at the time of the eruption. Since the city was preserved under volcanic ash for nearly 1,700 years, archaeological discoveries continue today, with new findings regularly adding to our understanding of Roman civilization.

Today, Pompeii is preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best places to visit in Italy.

15. At 3,330 metres (10,900 ft), Mount Etna is Europe’s tallest active volcano

Over in Sicily, this volcano puts on quite the show, with regular eruptions that light up the night sky.

On our Real Sicily itinerary, you can reach Mount Etna’s summit on a guided tour.

16. Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake

Stretching 52 kilometres (32 miles) from north to south, Lake Garda will steal your heart with its crystal-clear waters and dramatic mountain backdrop.

The northern end feels almost Norwegian with cliffs plunging into deep blue water, while the southern shores are gentler, with olive groves and pebble beaches.

17. Milan is Italy’s financial and fashion powerhouse

The metropolitan area generates nearly one fifth of Italy’s GDP and hosts Fashion Week twice yearly.

Italian fashion sets trends for the global industry right in Milan’s Quadrilatero della Moda, a luxury shopping district that houses flagship stores from Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana.

18. Venice has 471 bridges connecting its maze of islands

Venice floats on 118 islands connected by over 400 bridges, creating the world’s most unique cityscape.

The city was a powerful maritime republic controlling Mediterranean trade routes for centuries.

19. Venice is slowly sinking, but engineers are working to save it

You’ve probably heard Venice called the “floating city,” but it’s actually sinking. Over the past century, this magical city has dropped about 25 centimetres (nearly 10 inches), while sea levels have climbed almost a foot since 1900.

The city already has the MOSE flood barrier system to help control tides, but raising the entire city could buy decades to find a more permanent solution.

In 2025, Italian engineer Pietro Teatini introduced an idea to lift the entire city. His plan involves injecting water into underground aquifers to raise Venice by up to 30 centimetres (12 inches).

It sounds like science fiction, but it might just work to save a favourite travel destination. With these rising sea levels and restoration projects underway, the best time to visit Italy, especially Venice, truly is now.

20. The University of Bologna is the oldest operating university in the world

Established in 1088, the University of Bologna has never stopped teaching students for nearly 1,000 years. It literally invented the concept of awarding degrees; before Bologna, there was no such thing as earning a diploma to prove you’d completed your studies.

When you wander through Bologna’s historic centre for lunch on an Italian Espresso, you’re walking through what was essentially medieval Europe’s first “university town.” Students from across the continent travelled here to study law, medicine, and the arts.

21. Pizza was invented in Naples

The world’s first true pizza, the Margherita, was created in Naples in 1889 to honor Queen Margherita of Savoy. Its colours, tomato red, mozzarella white, and basil green, represented the Italian flag.

Traditional Neapolitan pizza is cooked in a wood-fired oven at blistering temperatures for less than 90 seconds, giving it a soft, chewy crust and slightly charred edges. Each pizza arrives unsliced, and sharing isn’t the norm; you get your own personal masterpiece.

Naples even hosts lively pizza festivals throughout the year, proof that food is always the main event when it comes to festivals in Italy.

22. The city of Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance

The Renaissance transformed our thoughts on science, philosophy, education, and art. This cultural rebirth started in 14th-century Tuscany and gave us legendary artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. The movement spread from Italy across Europe, making Italian cities the cultural centres of the Western world.

23. Medieval writer Dante Alighieri is considered the grandfather of modern-day Italian

Dante Alighieri sparked the Italian language we know today by writing The Divine Comedy in the Florentine dialect instead of Latin. His choice made literature accessible to regular people and helped establish Italian as we know it today.

You can see his death mask in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.

24. Italian is not the only language in Italy

You might think everyone in Italy speaks the same language, but Italy recognises 12 minority languages, including Albanian, German, and French. Hundreds of regional dialects exist that can make communication between regions challenging.

This linguistic diversity reflects Italy’s complex history of foreign rule and late unification in 1861.

25. Italy recognises over 600 different pasta shapes

Yes, that’s a real number, and each is designed to hold sauces in unique ways. From spaghetti to penne, every shape serves a purpose.

Many travellers even bring home bags of regional pasta as edible souvenirs from Italy, each shape a reminder of where it came from.

26. Italians do not eat their pasta overcooked

This slightly firm texture might seem undercooked, but al dente is the only way Italians eat their pasta.

By strictly following the cook time noted on the bag for each pasta shape, you can get the perfect pasta every time.

27. Italy is the largest wind producer in the world

With more than 350 native grape varieties, Italy’s wine diversity is unmatched. The country produces roughly 50 million hectolitres of wine annually and exports it to nearly every corner of the globe.

Our Tuscan Escape includes vineyard visits in the region’s famous rolling hills for an unforgettable tasting.

28. Gelato was born in Italy, along with the first ice cream cone

Italy’s most beloved dessert dates back to the Renaissance, when Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti is said to have invented gelato in the 1500s. His frozen creation was lighter and silkier than traditional ice cream, with a higher milk-to-cream ratio that gives gelato its famously smooth texture.

Italians later pioneered the idea of the edible cone, transforming gelato into the perfect passeggiata companion. Enjoying a gelato while wandering the Florence’s Medieval streets is one of the best things to do in Italy.

29. The Italian flag’s colours symbolise hope, faith, and charity – or basil, mozzarella, and tomato

The Italian flag evolved over several hundred years before reaching its current form. Green symbolizes hope for the future, white stands for faith and trust, and red represents charity and love.

However, there’s another interpretation you’ll hear locals share. In honor of pizza, green stands for basil, white symbolizes mozzarella, and red represents tomato. You can taste this UNESCO-protected dish straight from its birthplace on our Italian Escape.

30. Many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays are set in Italy

Shakespeare clearly had a soft spot for Italy, from Romeo and Juliet in Verona to Julius Caesar in Rome.

During the Elizabethan era, Italy was seen as a land of passion, beauty, and intrigue, which made a perfect backdrop for tales of love and betrayal. Shakespeare’s fascination with Italian cities helped immortalize them in world literature, proving that Italy’s romance has always been larger than life.

Italy is a country that never stops surprising you. From ancient ruins and artistic masterpieces to gelato, fashion, and fiery volcanoes, its contrasts make it unforgettable. These fun facts about Italy only scratch the surface; the rest you’ll have to discover for yourself, one city, one plate of pasta, and one memory at a time.