Italy

Italy is a country in southern Europe, shaped like a boot that kicks out into the Mediterranean Sea. It is about the size of Arizona, with around 59 million people living there. Its capital is Rome. Italy also includes two large islands, Sicily and Sardinia, as well as many smaller ones.

The boot shape makes Italy easy to spot on any map. The top of the boot leans against the Alps, a range of tall snowy mountains that separate Italy from France, Switzerland, and Austria. A second mountain range, the Apennines, runs down the middle of the country like a spine. The rest of the land is hills, farms, and long coastlines along the sea.

Italy sits on top of active faults in Earth's crust, which means earthquakes and volcanoes are part of life there. Mount Vesuvius, near the city of Naples, buried the Roman town of Pompeii in ash in 79 CE. It is still active today. Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily, is the largest active volcano in Europe and erupts many times each year.

For much of history, there was no single country called Italy. The land was split into many small kingdoms, city-states, and territories. Some of these, like Florence and Venice, became very rich and powerful. Italy only became one united country in 1861, much more recently than places like France or Spain.

Long before that, though, Italy was the center of two huge moments in world history. Ancient Rome grew from a small town into an empire that ruled much of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. A thousand years later, starting in the 1300s, Italian cities led the Renaissance. This was a time of amazing art, science, and learning. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo lived and worked in Italy during these years.

Italy is famous for its food. Pasta, pizza, and gelato all started there. Most food is made from simple ingredients like tomatoes, olive oil, cheese, and fresh bread. Different regions have their own special dishes, and people often argue about which region cooks the best.

Inside Italy sits the smallest country in the world: Vatican City. It is only about 109 acres, smaller than many city parks. The Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, lives and works there. A country inside a country is one of Italy's many surprises.