Benvenuti! Welcome to the land of “La Dolce Vita”—Italy, a sun-drenched peninsula in Southern Europe famously shaped like a boot. There are around 59 million people living here, and the capital is Rome, the “Eternal City,” which was the heart of one of the greatest empires in history. The official language is Italian, though you will hear distinct regional dialects from the snowy Alps in the north to the rugged coast of Sicily in the south.

Italy covers about 301,340 square kilometers (116,348 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of Arizona in the U.S., or about the same size as Poland. It is a land of incredible geographical variety, featuring the highest peaks in Europe and over 7,600 kilometers of coastline.

The most popular sport is Football (Calcio), and the national team, the Azzurri, is one of the most successful in history. Their national animal is the Italian Wolf, which plays a central role in the legend of the founding of Rome.

The flag consists of three vertical stripes of green, white, and red, where the green represents the plains and the hills, the white symbolizes the snow-capped Alps, and the red stands for the blood spilt in the wars of Italian independence.

The food is arguably Italy’s greatest global export, emphasizing fresh, high-quality ingredients. You must try Pizza Margherita from Naples, Pasta Carbonara from Rome, and Risotto from the north. Every region has its own specialty, from the Pesto of Liguria to the Arancini of Sicily. Italy is also the world’s largest producer of Wine and is famous for its Gelato, which is denser and more flavorful than traditional ice cream.

Italy is home to more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world. You can walk through the Colosseum, see the leaning Tower of Pisa, or take a gondola through the canals of Venice. The country was the birthplace of the Renaissance, producing geniuses like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. It is also the fashion capital of the world, with cities like Milan setting global trends. Within the borders of Italy, you will also find two independent countries: San Marino and the Vatican City, the latter being the smallest country in the world.

From the colorful cliffside villages of the Cinque Terre to the rolling vineyards of Tuscany, Italy is a masterpiece of art, history, and flavor. Grazie! That means “Thank you!”