Regions of Italy. There are 15 ordinary and 5 autonomous regions in Italy.
In this article, we will get some general information about the regions of Italy. Below you can see the Regions of Italy map.
Regions of Italy
Abruzzo
It is an ordinary region. Abruzzo has a population of 1,326,513. The surface area is 10,832 square kilometers. Its capital is L’Aquila.
Aosta Valley
It is an autonomous region. Aosta Valley has a population of 127,329. The surface area is 3,261 square kilometers. Its capital is Aosta.
Apulia
It is an ordinary region. Apulia has a population of 4,077,166. The surface area is 19,541 square kilometers. The capital is Bari.
Basilicata
It is an ordinary region. Basilicata has a population of 573,694. The surface area is 10,073 square kilometers. The capital is Potenza.
Calabria
It is an ordinary region. Calabria has a population of 1,970,521. The surface area is 15,222 square kilometers. The capital is Catanzaro.
Campania
It is an ordinary region. Campania has a population of 5,850,850. The surface area is 13,671 square kilometers. The capital is Naples.
Emilia-Romagna
It is an ordinary region. Emilia-Romagna has a population of 4,448,146. The surface area is 22,453 square kilometers. The capital is Bologna.
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
It is an autonomous region. Friuli-Venezia Giulia has a population of 1,221,218. The surface area is 7,862 square kilometers. The capital is Trieste.
Lazio
It is an ordinary region. Lazio has a population of 5,888,472. The surface area is 17,232 square kilometers. Rome is the capital.
Liguria
It is an ordinary region. Liguria has a population of 1,571,053. The surface area is 5,416 square kilometers. The capital is Genoa.
Lombardy
It is an ordinary region. Lombardy has a population of 10,008,349. The surface area is 23,864 square kilometers. The capital is Milan.
Marches
It is an ordinary region. Marches has a population of 1,543,752. The surface area is 9,401 square kilometers. The capital is Ancona.
Molise
It is an ordinary region. Molise has a population of 312,027. The surface area is 4,461 square kilometers. The capital is Campobasso.
Piedmont
It is an ordinary region. Piedmont has a population of 4,404,246. The surface area is 25,387 square kilometers. The capital was Turin.
Sardinia
It is an autonomous region. Sardinia has a population of 1,658,138. The surface area is 24,100 square kilometers. The capital is Cagliari.
Sicily
It is an autonomous region. Sicily has a population of 5,074,261. The surface area is 25,832 square kilometers. The capital is Palermo.
Trentino-South Tyrol
It is an autonomous region. Trentino-South Tyrol has a population of 1,059,114. The surface area is 13,606 square kilometers. The capital is Trento.
Tuscany
It is an ordinary region. Tuscany has a population of 3,744,398. The surface area is 22,987 square kilometers. Florence is the capital.
Umbria
It is an ordinary region. Umbria has a population of 891,181. The surface area is 8,464 square kilometers. The capital is Perugia.
Veneto
It is an ordinary region. Veneto has a population of 4,915,123. The surface area is 18,407 square kilometers. The capital is Venice.
About Italy
- Population: 59,249,132
- Population Density: 201 per Km2
- Land Area: 294,140 Km ²
Italy is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe. Northwest is France, north is Switzerland and Austria. The Alps form a natural border in the north.
Sicily and Sardinia, the two largest islands of the Mediterranean, belong to Italy. The Renaissance was born in the province of Tuscany in Italy. The capital, Rome, has been the center of Western civilization for centuries, witnessing the birth of Baroque style in architecture and has been the center of the Catholic Church for centuries. It is a republic ruled by democracy and it is in between the developed countries of the world.
History of Italy
Having its origins in the ancient Etruscan tribes, the Italian territory was completely occupied by the Romans in the 8th century BC, with the world’s greatest empire under their dominion till the 5th century AD.
The huge currents of the Germanic tribes of Goths and Longobards gained the entire control soon after the fall of the empire and, by reducing the Byzantine rule to northeastern Ravenna, established their independent kingdoms against the political unity of the country.
Being in the shade of its former glory through the entire Middle Ages, Italians came in the vanguard of giving a new lease of life to the ancient values in their lives, in plastic arts and in science in the 13-14th millennials, that, as a result, led to the Renaissance and its accompanying humanism in Florence and on the rest of the peninsula.
Brimmed with the artificers in all fields, performing to their level best, Italy shortly reached the pinnacle of its success under the reign of the Medici dynasty.
The following periods saw many transformations, both on political and artistic stages, that were crowned with the Risorgimento movement and the country’s final unification in 1861.
Having its fair share of importance and participation in the WWI and WWII with different allies and motivations, the country held under the fascist control for a couple of decades chose its path as a democratic republic since 1946.
Geography
The country is based on the land between the peninsula and the Alps, in the form of a long, bohemian peninsula that protrudes from the mainland to the Mediterranean in Southern Europe.
The country owns many large and small islands in the Mediterranean, including Sicily and Sardinia. The total area is 301,230 kilometers square. Of these, 294.020 island and 7.210 is water. The Messina Passage separates the Italian Peninsula and the Sicilian Island from each other.
It has a coastline of 7,600 km length in total with Adriatic, Ion, and Tire seas, including the islands. It has a land border of 740 with Switzerland, 488 with France, 430 with Austria, 232 with Slovenia, 39 with San Marino and 3,2 kilometers with the Vatican. Moreover, the Vatican and San Marino, which are known as the micro-states, are all located within Italy and the only neighbor is Italy.
The Main Cities of Italy
Having Rome as its capital and the most populous city, the biggest part of Italy’s ancient remains, the Renaissance and the Baroque monuments are kept here. Rome is also the residence of the highest legislative organ and the Pope.
Florence in the region of Tuscany shares the appellation of the most visited art city with its Renaissance heritage scattered across the city.
Milan is the largest economic, cultural and fashion center with its modern image and hundreds of designer stores aligned along its streets. Milan is also home to Italy’s most renowned opera – La Scala.
Turin in northwestern Italy is the country’s one of the biggest industrial hubs. Italy’s largest car production FIAT is located in Turin.
Naples – the southern city with direct access to the sea and a sheer number of cultural monuments. It is deemed Italy’s quintessential part also due to the long-standing culinary traditions.
Governance
Italy, as a government, is a parliamentary republic, divided into 20 regions, 107 provinces and 8100 municipalities. The president is the head of the state, elected by the parliament and serves for seven years. The national legislative authority was given to the parliament, consisting of two assemblies (Representatives and the Senate), which were elected by the general election every five years.
The executive authority is held by the President of the Assembly (elected by the parliament and appointed by the president), a vice-chairperson and a 23-member Government: the executive is carried out by the Council of Ministers, headed by the chairman of the same board. Furthermore, the highest decision-making unit in the judiciary is the Court of Cassation. The Constitutional Court expresses its views on any dispute between the law and the Republic of Italy. In the international context, Italy is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, and the EEC. It is also a member of G-8.
Climate
The climate characteristics of the country vary according to the regions. In general, the country has a Mediterranean climate. Especially during the winter months, high places are cold, rainy and often snowy.
Religion
The Catholic sect of Christianity is the most important religious belief. In the past, the Catholic Church was the official religion, but nowadays it has developed a secular state structure.
Industry and Tourism
The country is famous for fashion and car production. Fiat, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Lamborghini are Italy’s world-famous car brands. Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Valentino, Armani, Robert Cavalli, Benetton, and Prada are the most famous fashion-textile brands.
Furthermore, with its architecture, delicious cuisine, natural and historical places, it is a fascinating country. The tower of Pisa in the city of Pisa, which draws attention due to its inclination, has spread to the world.
Also read: Why You Should Visit Italy
Art
The country is rich in cultural heritage items, as it has hosted the world’s deepest nations, like the Roman Empire, and has the most important center of Christianity in the Vatican.
Italian painters have given important products in every art movement in the country, from Roman and Gothic to Senate, Renaissance, and Baroque style.
Renowned Italian painters are: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian, and Raphael.
From Italian folk music to European classical music, music has always played an important role in Italian culture. At the same time, Italy is the place where classical music such as piano and violin comes out.
Maurizio Pollini and Luciano Pavarotti are some achievements and sovereignty of Italy’s classical music scene. Pop music artists Mina Anna Mazzini, Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Eros Ramazzotti are some of Italy’s most recent internationally successful artists.
Sports
The most popular sports is football in Italy. Moreover, the most popular sports after football are; basketball, volleyball, water polo, fencing, rugby, cycling and motor racing, and ice hockey.
Climate
Inhabited by the acclaimed mountaintops and one of the longest coastlines in Europe, Italy is likely the most sought after destination worldwide.
The wintry resorts of the Alps and Apennines, with their highest peaks in the Monte Rosa (4634m) and the Gran Sasso (2912m).
Slope down to the famous seaside zones stretching from the Amalfi Coast to the Ligurian Riviera and the Tuscany beachside. There are nice beaches also around Venice all the way to the Apulia region. Moreover, you have worldly acclaimed sandy beaches of Sicily and Sardinia.
Italy also has beautiful lakes with the highest percentage of tourists and locals around the northern Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
Given the mild climate year-round, globetrotters enjoy a unique chance to soak up the entire area crawling with the bone-chilling wonders, the summer havens and one-of-a-kind hillside charm in between. A plethora of pintsized towns with characteristic planning that repeats the country’s craggy outline make Italy home to a highbrow legacy other than the ones kept in Florence, Rome, Venice, Naples and Milan.
Italy FAQs
Where is Italy on the world map?
Italy is located in southwestern Europe neighboring France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia to the north and the Mediterranean basin surrounding the peninsula from the remaining three sides.
What are the neighboring countries in Italy?
Apart from the external neighbors that of France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, Italy has borders with the independent republic of San Marino and the Vatican City within its mainland.
Which part of Italy is the most beautiful?
Comprising 20 regions with their geographical and historical peculiarities, Italy boasts great beauty on the account of its high-octane mountainous landscapes, mesmerizing waterfronts and islands in the Mediterranean. The acclaimed cradle of Renaissance, Tuscany and its capital Florence are likely to come on top for their natural beauty pro rata with the highest number of cultural monuments.
How far is Venice from Rome?
Located in the country’s northeastern and central parts relatively, the driving distance between Venice and Rome covers 533.53km that is tantamount to 4 hours and 45 minutes with an average speed of 112km/h.
The Freccia Rossa trains instead take up time from 3 hours and 45 minutes to 6 hours when it comes to the slow-speed railway transportation.
Who is famous from Italy?
Being the cradle of art, music and science, Italy is home to many famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, composers like Giuseppe Verdi, Antonio Vivaldi and Giacomo Puccini. Italy has one of the largest contributions to the cinema world with its names such as Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, Franco Zeffirelli, actors/actresses like Marcello Mastroianni, Sophia Loren, Giulietta Masina. The Italian designers such as Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo, etc. acquired worldwide fame. No less impact was left by the Italian politicians like Benito Mussolini, etc.
Which country is the closest to Italy?
Sharing a land border with four countries, only one, Switzerland, has Italian as an official language within the Canton of Ticino and its neighboring Campione d’Italia.
Is Italy a 1st world country?
Considering the fast rhythm of economic development, Italy ranks the 8th place in the world and the 3rd position in Europe.
Why is Italy called Italy?
According to the ancient data, the country borrowed its name from the Oscan viteliu meaning the ‘land of calves’, while the Greek historian Dionysius Halicarnassus assigns its etymology to Italus, the king of Oenotrians aka Italy’s original settlers.
Is Italy a small country?
With its 301,340 km2 area, Italy takes the 71st place in the world.
Italian Currency / What is the Currency of Italy?
The currency of Italy is the Euro. Italy has been using the euro since 2002. The mark of the euro is € and the code is EUR.
The currency of the country before 2002 is Italian Lira.
The Italian lira is the currency used in Italy from 1861 until 2002. The Italian lira was used outside of Italy in San Marino and part of the Vatican. With passing Euro as the official currency of Italy, the Italian lira of 1936,27 started to change as 1 euro. The lira was the currency of the Albanian kingdom between 1941-1943. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a national sub-unit of the euro. However, cash payments were made in lira since the euro money was not available yet. Lira was the currency of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy between 1807 and 1814 at the same time.
From 1 January 2002, Italy began using the Euro. In 2002, Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Finland, Austria started to use the Euro currency. It is the common and monolithic part of the European Monetary Union, the last stage of the Common Market system that European countries have established to raise the level of prosperity.
What is the Official Language of Italy?
The official language of Italy is Italian.
Italian is a language spoken by 61 million people living in the Ticino Canton, mostly in the south of Italy and Switzerland. Italian-born immigrants often speak in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Australia. It is on the Romance Language branch of the Indo-European language family. Italian is the most loyal to Latin in the Romans languages, so also its other name is “Modern Latin”. There are great similarities with other Romanic languages (such as French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Catalan). Someone who knows Italian well can learn other Romans languages in a short time.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the influence of the culture and literary superiority of the city of Florence shaped the present-day Italian language of Tuscan writing. Boccaccio, Dante Alighieri, and Petrarca have a big influence on the development of the language by using the Tuscan accent instead of Latin. However, the Italian language is very different from region to region due to the fact that the political unity wasn’t complete for a long time. Each region has its own unique accent and there are big differences, especially in the difficulty of negotiating between the North and the South.
Almost all of the words have a unique melody with the famous letter ending and the emphasis of the discovery. Since it was the Lingua Franca during Renaissance, other languages were very influential. And the terminology in the field of music is in particular Italian. It is one of the few melodic languages of the world. Its emotional expressions are very rich.
There are 21 letters in the language. The letters K, J, W, X, and Y are used only in foreign words. The grammar is quite easy. All names are male or female. Male words usually end with the letter “-o”, and female words usually end with “-a”.