Overview of ItalyPopulation: 58,742,000

Capital: Rome

Area: 301,333 square kilometers (116,345 square miles)

Language: Italian, German, French, Slovene

Religion: Roman Catholic

Currency: Euro

Life Expectancy: 80

GDP per Capita: U.S. $25,100

Literacy Percent: 99

FAMOUS SITES AND PLACES TO SEE IN ITALY

Colosseum, Rome

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical Mythology.

Venice

Venice is one of the cities in Italy and it is one of the world’s greatest and most beautiful cities of art, the city has an average of 50,000 tourists a day.

Lake Como, Lombardy

Lights line the banks of Lake Como, as seen from Monte San Primo in Lombardy. Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy, its capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

In Catholic tradition, the basilica is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession. Tradition and some historical evidence hold that Saint Peter's tomb is directly below the altar of the basilica. For this reason, many Popes have been interred at St Peter's since the Early Christian period.

Orcia Valley, Tuscany

Tuscany is a region in central Italy. Tuscany is known for its beautiful landscapes, its rich artistic legacy and vast influence on high culture. Tuscany is widely regarded as the true birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Orcia Valley or Val d'Orcia is listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

Florence’s Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore—popularly known as the Duomo—has been a local landmark from the moment Filippo Brunelleschi started working on it in 1296 and completed its record-setting dome in 1436. The city of Florence lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany

It is one of the most famous sites of Italy. This tower is 183 feet (59m) high and its construction occurred in three stages across 177 years. Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift direction.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

The Uffizi Gallery is one of the oldest and most famous art museums of the Western world. It contains many a masterpieces by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, etc. Building of the palace was begun by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 as the offices for the Florentine magistrates — hence the name "uffizi" ("offices") and ended in 1581. The Uffizi is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Florence

Pantheon, Rome

The Pantheon is a building in Rome, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in about 126 AD. The nearly-contemporary writer (2nd-3rd c. CE), Cassius Dio, speculated that the name comes either from the statues of so many gods placed around this building, or else from the resemblance of the dome to the heavens.