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Rome, the Winter Olympic Games , Wine, Ferrari, gorgeous beaches – Italy has it all. If you are considering traveling to Italy, here are some things you need to know.

An helicopter view of Italy for Travelers

From a ECU viewpoint, there’s little doubt that Italy is the bedrock of modern society in the West. This is conclusion is essentially due to two facts, the reign of the Romans and the Roman Catholic Church.

In more modern times, Italy changed into a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, together with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor Emmanuel II. An era of parliamentary state came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito Mussolini established a Fascist dictatorship. His terrible coalition with Fascist Germany led to Italy’s defeat in World War II.

A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and commercial revival followed. Italy was a charter member of the EU Commercial Community. It’s been at the forefront of EU commercial and political unification. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared to the prosperous north.

If you’re going to Italy, these are some basic things you want to know.

1. Northern Italy is loaded whilst the south is not.

2. Italy is slightly larger of Arizona.

3. Italy’s climate is predominantly Mediterranean with Alpine in far north and hot, dry areas in the south.

4. Vatican City in Rome is considered an independent country.

5. You cannot get into any area of the Vatican wearing shorts.

6. Rome had the first paved streets in the world in 170 B.C. Vehicles needed to be banned because of traffic jams!

7. Roman gladiators were the first athletes to endorse products.

8. Considered one of the oddest Emperors, Caligula appointed his horse to a senate position among other more infamous actions.

9. Roman principles were awfully practical. The heads might be removed and replaced to reflect the changes in political climate.

10. When the Roman army lost a battle, they really took it hard. Commanders would kill every tenth soldier under their command. This act is the root of the word “decimate.”

11. Surprising to many is the fact there were serious time periods where traditional Rome had no Emperor. The senate would rule. In times of threat, the senate would elect somebody as Emperor. He had comprehensive power, giving rise to the term tyrant.

12. Massive percentages of Romans died from lead poisoning. They used is as a sweetener!

13. In the early 1900′s, Prince Piero Ginori Conti invented the geothermal pump. He is considered the daddy of modern geothermal power.

14. Twenty Italians have won the Nobel Prize.

15. Michelangelo’s real name is Michelangelo Buonarroti.

16. The population of Italy as of 2005 was 58,103,033 people.

17. The flag of Italy was provoked by the French flag brought in 1797 by Napoleon.

18. Lehman Brothers owns seven percent of Ferrari.

19. Italy trails only Brazil in World Cup wins.

Italy is a dazzling country with colorful, animated folk. From ancient culture to a bustling modern country, a trip to Italy is tough to beat.

If you enjoy traveling and would like to read more on some of the most famous places in the world, visit famouswonders.com and also check out pictures of Italy.