Table of Contents Show
Italy has so many fascinating facts to know about. Italy features incredible cuisine, recognizable landscapes, outstanding wine, a lengthy history, and vibrant Italian culture. Moreover, Italy is a beautiful country to know about and travel to someday.
1) Italians Enjoy Lentils at the New Year’s Celebration
Italy believes that lentils are lucky. Italian families traditionally get together for dinner on December 31, New Year’s Eve. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy. They put a lot of lentils on the dish a few minutes before midnight and then devoured them in a flash. The Italians liken the shape of lentils to coins. Therefore, that’s why. Because of this, they believe that eating lentils will bring them financial success in the upcoming year.
2) Each Italian Consumes 35 kilos of Pasta Annually on Average
Along with pizza, pasta is the most popular food in Italy. Pasta is a favorite food of Italians, who have dozens of various ways to prepare it.
Italians consume 35 kilos of pasta annually, according to some research! Compared to the average amount in other nations, 35 kg of pasta is a significant amount. 8 kg of pasta is consumed annually in the US and France. Italians are pasta maniacs! However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
3) Italians Believe that the Number 17 is Unlucky
However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy. The number 13 is unlucky in many nations, but Italy is an exception. Italians believe the number 17 is unfortunate because it would have been written as XVII in old Roman numerals, which can be an anagram of XIVI. The latter is translated as “I have lived,” which means “I am done with living,” and as a result, I am dying.
4) Over 1.2 million Euros are dropped into Rome’s Trevi Fountain Yearly
Every day, hundreds of individuals visit the Trevi Fountain, the subject of a well-known legend. According to a legend, if you toss a penny into the fountain, you will return to Rome, and if you throw another coin while you are there a second time, you will find love. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
Of course, to prevent theft, city workers collect these coins daily. After that, they are donated to charitable groups.
5) Italy’s Most Significant Holiday is Christmas
Despite being a considerable holiday in many other nations, Christmas is the most significant holiday in Italy.
You might know that Italy is home to the Holy See in Vatican City. This indicates that Christianity has a significant influence on the Italian people. Christmas celebrations in Italy begin on December 8 with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and culminate on January 6 with the Epiphany, commemorating the first day that Jesus’ divinity is said to have been revealed historically.
Of course, Christmas Day is the most joyous occasion as it marks the birth of Jesus Christ. In Italian custom, children wait for “Babbo Natale” to offer them presents, and Christmas lights and decorations adorn every city.
6) No Roads exist in the Italian City of Venice
It surprises us that Italy has such a fascinating fact! The road that leads to Venice is the only one you can drive on. You can travel the Ponte Della Libertà and leave your vehicle in one of the parking areas you see as you approach the city.
You’re probably asking how it’s feasible for a city to be without roadways. The city of Venice is entirely submerged in water, which is the explanation. The number of canals in Venice has been calculated to be at least 160. Even while the city’s two most extensive canals, the “Canale Grande” and “Canale della Guidecca,” are much more profound, measuring 5 meters and 15 meters deep, respectively, the majority are intense, ranging at around 2 meters.
7) The Final Italian King ruled the Country for 34 days
Victor Emmanuel III, often known as Vittorio Emanuele II, was the second-to-last Italian king. He ruled the country from July 29, 1900, until May 9, 1946. Following him, Prince Umberto II assumed the throne as Italy’s King on May 9, 1946. Italy was voting at the time to establish the republic. And after only 34 days in power, specifically on June 12th, 1946, Italians cast their ballots in support of the democracy, and the monarchy was overthrown that same day.
8) It is Common for Italians to Discuss their Evening Plans over Lunch
Even if it might surprise you, it happens a lot in Italy!
However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy. Italians who share a home with several other people frequently make multiple phone calls throughout the day to select what they will eat. Still, they also often spend 30% of their lunch or dinner conversations discussing their upcoming meals.
9) Pizza with Pepperoni isn’t made in Italy
We all know that pizza is a highly well-known Italian meal. Pizza is not originally from Italy, even though the term “Pepperoni pizza” can give it away. Bell peppers—not salami—are what Italians refer to as “pepperoni.”
Because of this, servers will give you strange looks if you go to an Italian restaurant and request a pepperoni pizza.
10) The Shortest Railway System in the World is the Vatican
This railroad has two tracks, each measuring 300 meters, and two cargo sidings, each measuring over 1.30 kilometers.
The station was formerly known as “Vatican City railway,” which is “Stazione Città del Vaticano” in Italian. Only diplomats and the 825 citizens of Vatican City are permitted entrance to the station’s modest Vatican tax-free department shop.
11) Italians do not Eat Spaghetti and Meatballs!
Even though everyone associates spaghetti with meatballs in Italy, it is not a typical Italian meal, despite what individuals worldwide believe! Nevertheless, it’s accurate! Although to realize it is challenging for you to picture it.
This is merely a myth or prejudice. The only meatballs you’ll find in Italy are “polpette,” which are tiny meatballs frequently served with tomato sauce or with potatoes and beans but may also be eaten on their own.
Italian immigrants created the dish of spaghetti and meatballs in the 20th century, yet Italians have never had it in their own country. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
12) Each year, 13 billion Espressos are Consumed in Italy
We all know how much Italians adore their coffee, which is arguably the best in the world. But did you anticipate these figures?
For a country that seems to have about 60 million people, this is a fairly sizable quantity of coffee. An Italian typically has two to three coffees every day. Every Italian home has at least one coffee maker, and they like drinking coffee in neighborhood cafés. An Italian household drinks 35 kilograms of coffee annually on average. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
13) Italy has Two Micronations: San Marino and Vatican City
You won’t believe it, but Vatican City is the world’s tiniest country! It is almost in the city’s heart in Rome, the capital of Italy. Eight hundred twenty-five members of the clergy and the Swiss Guards, the country’s police force, reside inside Vatican City. Additionally, more than 2,000 additional people commute daily from Italy to the country where they work.
San Marino is the other country that is part of Italy. With roughly 34,000 inhabitants, it is the fifth-smallest country in the world. It borders the Italian states of Marche in the south and Emilia Romagna in the north.
14) Although Rome was Founded over 2,000 years ago, Italy is one of the Newest European Countries!
It has been 160 years since Italy became a legitimate country. Rome, its capital, was established in 753 BC, or about 30 centuries ago. Since ancient times, Italy has been split into several independent nations headed by different people. In 1861, the Kingdom of Italy was founded.
15) Sicily is the Largest Island in the Mediterranean
There are more than 50 beautiful islands in the Mediterranean Sea, and Sicily in Italy is the biggest. It has a surface area of nearly 26,000 square kilometers (10 thousand square miles). However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
But there’s more! Moreover, to be the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is also the largest area in Italy, with 20 distinct regions in all.
16) Dried Pasta was Introduced to Italy by Arab Invaders
Lagana is a dish consisting of thin, fried dough sheets with meat on them (the ancestor of lasagna, of course). Nonetheless, dry pasta? That originated from an Arab invasion of Sicily in the late seventh century. Not that Italians didn’t consume pasta before then. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
Dried pasta served as a reliable source of fuel for extended desert excursions. Pasta drying methods arrived, stayed, and spread throughout the Italian peninsula.
17) In Italy, there is a Fountain where you can get Free Red Wine 24/7
The Fontana del Vino, or awkwardly “Free Red Wine Fountain,” has been established in the Abruzzo region.
It is situated explicitly in Caldari di Ortona. It is located along the San Tommaso pilgrimage route. It’s about time they had a complimentary red wine fountain, as people have been using the trail for years.
18) Venice is Submerging
You might not believe that, but it’s been said a lot and for a long time. The fact that Venice is sinking, though, is one aspect of Italy that won’t be changing any time soon. In addition to sinking, the Mediterranean Sea is also getting deeper. The city floods throughout the winter every year. It might be submerged by the year 2100. Building a city on mud and reclaimed ground is difficult.
Unfortunately, Venice is slowly sinking into the water due to centuries of strain from the city’s structures, bridges, and streets. Pumping water underneath the city, a problem that wasn’t addressed until the 1980s, worsened this reluctance.
Plate tectonics is the main reason for Venice’s sinking. The Adriatic Plate is on top of Venice. The Apennines Mountains are where this plate is subducting. When a plate on the Earth’s crust travels sideways and downward under another plate, it is said to be subducting. This procedure lowers the height of the city.
19) The Local Italians were Displeased when McDonald’s Opened in Rome.
One more of the best McDonald’s-related exciting facts about Italy. When McDonald’s arrived in Rome in 1986, it was given the location of the beloved old bar that shut its doors directly by the Spanish Steps, across from the Spanish embassy, and adjacent to the headquarters of the fashion label Valentino.
At the entryway, free spaghetti was distributed. Valentino claimed that the scent of fried food was destroying his clothes.
20) Over Three-quarters of Italy is either Hilly or Mountainous.
Three mountain groups that make up Italy are the Alps, Dolomites, and Apennines. Due to the climbable pinnacles begging to be scaled in the Dolomites and the excellent skiing in the Alps, the nation is somewhat of an adventure playground. Don’t forget about the hills; Rome is renowned for its Seven Hills. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
21) Italy Experiences a Few Quite Large Earthquakes
Italy has seen a total of 15 significant earthquakes since 1905. In reality, the nation is situated on a tectonic plate boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. Italy experiences the highest level of tectonic activity in all of Europe. This is a prescription for disaster, as there will undoubtedly be many large earthquakes in the future.
22) Locals in Marostica Play Actual Giant Chess
Human chess may seem like some Harry Potter-level lunacy to you, but in Marostica, it’s true. Every two years in September, residents gather, dress historically, take their places on a chessboard, and play out the moves of a fabled chess game between two local aristocrats in the fifteenth century. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy. A story about chess and forbidden love.
23) San Gimignano, A Town With 72 Towers in Siena, Tuscany
The towers at San Gimignano were formerly supposed to have numbered 72 and were built by affluent families to display their wealth. Some cite 44. In any case, there are still 14 towers standing, creating a fascinating skyline reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings. The taller, the wealthier.
24) People in Matera still Reside in the Same Caves where their Ancestors did 9,000 Years Ago
One of the fascinating things about Italy is this! A vast network of cave houses has been inhabited in a remote area in Basilicata for many years. Imagine living where your grandparents did, let alone your long-gone ancestors—that is absurd. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
In the 1950s, inhabitants of the caves were expelled because they had turned into malaria-infested filth pits. Wealthy former residents refurbished their old caverns after moving away in the past. In 1983, UNESCO declared it to be a World Heritage Site.
25) The World’s Most Cheese Varieties Are Found in Italy
A nation with 12 different types of cheese ought to have plenty. Possibly hundreds. But there are literally over 2,500 different kinds of cheese in Italy. There are 500 recognized commercially, 52 of which are “protected.” Parmigiano Reggiano, gorgonzola, ricotta, and mozzarella must be the most well-known, but there are thousands more. This is a noteworthy tidbit regarding Italian cuisine.
26) Italians were Responsible for Making Forks Fashionable.
The fork was not widely used in Europe for a very long period. Of course, people used knives to cut things, and spikes were utilized in place of forks. A spike, indeed.
However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy. A slender wooden stick for stabbing things. Forks weren’t used until people were tired of attempting to eat their spaghetti with a single stick since they were long regarded as the devil’s instrument (perhaps because they originated in the pagan Ottoman Empire). This occurred in the fourteenth century. Following a very long time later, in the 18th century, was the rest of Europe.
27) The Birth Rate Is Very Low in Italy
Among the fascinating cultural facts about Italy! It’s common knowledge that Japan has an aging population and a low birth rate, but Italy is essentially on par. Japan experienced 1.44 births per woman in 2016, compared to 1.35 in Italy during the same year.
28) The Roman Empire Traveled approximately 2.3 million miles.
Rome had modest origins as a fledgling city on the Italian peninsula, yet it never stopped advancing. This massive empire, which at its height covered well over two million miles and dozens of distinct cultures, profoundly influenced Europe. Around 117 AD, there were thought to be 56 million people living in the Roman Empire.
29) Italy is known as the “Land of Calves” in English
It’s interesting to note that several tribes in southern Italy had adopted the bull as a symbol. It was known as vteli by the Oscan civilization, which translates as “Land of Calves.” During a brief social uprising against Roman domination, other Italian tribes used the image of a bull goring the wolf of Rome as another symbol. However, this is one of the interesting facts about Italy.
30) Acciaronli, a Village in Southern Italy, has one of the Highest Concentrations of Centenarians Worldwide
Acciaroli is not your typical city. About 2,000 people are living in this small coastal village in Campania. Twenty percent of the 300 people in this group have reached the age of 110.
Heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease are uncommon, even though many people smoke or are overweight. Being examined for the benefit of humanity are these centenarians.
Conclusion
Thanks to its culture, fashion, and welcoming people, Italy is now a distinctive nation. Ancient ruins, unique towns, world-class museums, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, and magnificent landscapes may all be found in Italy. However, the following are all the interesting facts about Italy that you should know.
Last Updated on by ayeshayusuf
