Fun Facts about Italy and the Italian Heritage:
· 96 Percent of population in Italy is Italian
· Official Language of country - Italian
· Major religion is Roman Catholicism. Located in heart of Rome is Vatican City where Pope resides.
· Italy’s official form of currency is the euro
· Italy is home to some of the most famous architectural structures in the world including the Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa
· Florence, Venice and Rome are home to many museums but art can be viewed in churches and public buildings. Most notable is Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Apostolic Palace, painted by Michelangelo sometime between 1508 and 1512.
· Opera has its roots in Italy. Many famous operas including "Aida" and "La Traviata”, both by Giuseppe Verdi, and "Pagliacci" by Ruggero Leoncavallo were written in Italian and are still performed in the native language.
· Italy is home to a number of world-renowned fashion houses including Armani, Gucci, Benetton, Versace and Prada
· Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is viewed as a form of art by many. Wine, cheese and pasta are an important part of Italian meals. Pasta comes in a wide range of shapes, widths and lengths including penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna. For Italians, food isn't just nourishment, it is life.
· Italy is home to some of the most famous vineyards
· Giovanni Agnelli, founded Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (F.I.A.T.) in 1899. By 1910 Fiat was the largest automotive company in Italy – a position it has since retained. This multi industry family owned dynasty are also known for other activities in the automobile industry as the owners of Ferrari (1969), Lancia (1969), Alfa Romeo (1986), and Chrysler (2009) through their own multinational Corporation.
· In 1963 Luciano Benetton a 30-year-old salesman in Treviso revealed his initial small collection of sweaters which received a positive response in local stores in the Veneto region. In 1965, the entity known as the "Benetton Group" was formed. In 1965, the Benettons opened their first store in Belluno and three years after in Paris with Luciano as chairman, his brother Gilberto in charge of administration, their younger brother Carlo running production and Giuliana as a chief designer. The company's core business remains their clothing lines: United Colors of Benetton, and Sisley. The Group has a network of about 5,000 stores around the world.
· Italian Holidays: January 6th, Epiphany is much like Christmas. According to legend, Belfana an old lady who flies on her broomstick delivers presents and goodies to good children. Pasquetta celebrated on the Monday after Easter involves family picnics to mark beginning of Springtime. April 25th is Liberation Day marking 1945 ending of World War II. September 19th is feast of San Gennaro, the patron Saint of Naples. November 1st commemorates Saints Day, a religious holiday during which Italians typically decorate graves of deceased relatives with flowers.
· Italian Etiquette - Family is an important value within Italian culture. Italians have frequent family gatherings and enjoy spending time with family. There is a great deal of public embracing and kissing upon greeting people. It is also polite to sit close to people and interact by lightly touching people on the arm. Italian gazes are intense. It is felt that someone who cannot look you in the eyes is trying to hide something. Elders expect and receive respect. Men stand for women and youngsters for adults. There is great care given to preserving one's bella figura, dignity. Violating another’s sense of self–importance is a dangerous activity.
Italian women are passionate and beautiful. They charm the world with their beauty. Some famous Italian women are Sophia Loren, Monica Belluci, and Isabella Rossellini.