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Discover Italy: A Vacation of a Lifetime 
Italy Basics
Location:
Italy is considered a Mediterranean county in southern Europe. It shares a northern
border with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Italy is a peninsula and also includes Sicily and Sardinia. The Mediterranean Sea is on Italy's west coast, and the Adriatic Sea is on Italy's east coast.
Capital:
Rome
Land Area:
113,521 sq mi
Language:
The official language is Italian. English is typically understood in Italy's larger cities and tourist areas.
Population:
60.6 million people as reported in 2010. The growth rate is -0.07%. The life expectancy is 80.3. The top three cities in terms of population are Rome (3,550,900), Milan (1,180,700), and Naples (991,700).
Climate:
Italy has a primarily Mediterranean (mild) climate, but also has a colder climate in the northern mountains of Italy and a hotter, drier climate in the south.
Currency:
The Euro
Time Zone:
1 hour ahead of Greenwhich Mean Time (GMT+1)
Religion:
90% Roman Catholic, 10% Other (consists of Protestant, Judaism, and Muslim)
Government:
Republic; The current President is Giorgio Napolitano and the Prime Minister is Mario Monti.
Electricity:
Electrical current in Italy is 230 volts, 50Hz. The European-style two-pin plug is commonly used. If traveling from a place outside of Europe, an adapter is a necessary tool to pack. If your device does not accept 230 volts, 50Hz, a power converter may be required. Many devices accept a range of electrical current (such as many laptop chargers), but verify with the manufacturer before charging items with an adapter as charging improperly may damage the device.
Tipping:
Italians generally do not leave large tips, if they tip at all. However, a 5 - 10% tip is sufficient.
Information and Image Sources Provided by:
http://goitaly.about.com/od/planningandinformation/p/italyprofile.htm
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107658.html
http://www.wordtravels.com/Travelguide/Countries/Italy/Basics
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/italy/population
http://www.tours-italy.com/rome/tourist_information.htm
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_rel-religion-religions
http://www.tours-italy.com/italy-about-tipping_italy.htm