Mention Italy facts for kids and images of pasta and the colosseum immediately come to mind. This European country has a such long history that it is full of fascinating facts and bits of information that kids will find interesting.
Here are 20+ Italy facts for kids that will educate and offer interesting insights into the country.
Fun & Interesting Italy Facts for Kids
1. Italy is located in Southern Europe, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the east.
2. Italy’s longest border is with Swtizerland.
3. The country covers a total area of 301,338 square kilometers and is the 72nd largest country in the world.
4. Italy is home to over 60 million people, making it the 23rd most populous country in the world.
5. Italy is shaped like a boot.
6. At the toe of Italy is the region of Calabria. The heel is where the region of Puglia is located, and the “ankle” where the mainland of the country meets the island of Sicily.
7. Italian is the official language of Italy. It is spoken by most of the population.
8. There are multiple regional dialects spoken around the country. These include Sardinian, Friulian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Ligurian, Piedmontese, Venetian, Calabrian and Milanese.
9. Pizza is an Italian dish that originated in Naples in the 18th century.
10. Hawaiian pizza is not an Italian flavor. It was created in Ontario, Canada.
11. The thermometer was invented in Italy.
12. The piano was created in Italy.
13. The word pasta comes from the Italian word for paste.
14. There are around 350 shapes of pasta.
15. The three most popular types of pasta are spaghetti, penne and macaroni.
16. Italians eat around 60 pounds of pasta each year.
More Interesting Facts about Italy for Kids
Did you know that within Italy’s borders, there are two enclaves or small countries. The most famous of the two is the Vatican City. The other enclave is San Marino. This is just one of the many Italy facts for kids that you may not have known about.
17. Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, is located in Italy.
18. Venice is a city in northeastern Italy that is famous for being built on water. It is located on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by bridges.
19. Italy was under the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini’s regime, the Fascist government, from 1922 to 1943.
20. Italy’s last king, Umberto II, ruled for 36 days in 1946 before the country became a republic through a popular referendum.
21. Italy flag is green, white, and red, representing hope, faith, and charity.
22. The Italian flag was inspired by the French flag.
23. Italy has the world’s highest number of World Heritage sites. As of 2021, Italy has 58 sites recognized by UNESCO
24. Italy is home to Europe’s only three continuously active volcanoes, namely Mount Etna in Sicily, Stromboli off the coast of Sicily, and Vulcano, which is also located off the Sicilian coast.
25. Mount Etna in Sicily is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.
26. Italy is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and consistently ranks amongst the top 10 most visited countries.
27. Italy is one of the European countries with an aging population. Almost 20% of Italy’s population is over 65 years old.
28. The first true battery was invented in 1800 by Alessandro Volta, an Italian physicist, and chemist.
29. The first recorded reference to eyeglasses was made in Italy in the early 13th century.
30. The first known eyeglasses were made in Italy in the late 13th or early 14th century.
31. The modern state of Italy was established in 1861, with the unification of various territories in the Italian peninsula
32. The capital city of Italy is Rome, and it has a population of approximately 2.8 million people within the city limits.
33. The majority of people living in Rome, as well as in Italy as a whole, identify as Roman Catholic. According to recent statistics, approximately 80% of the Italian population identifies as Catholic.
