23 fun facts about Italy you probably didn’t know

It’s no wonder we hold Italy in such high esteem. Our team is deeply passionate about the country, with each member well-versed in its rich tapestry of food, history, culture, and way of life. Yet, our curiosity never wanes, and we’re always eager to delve deeper into Italy’s many layers. Recently, we embarked on a journey to uncover some of its most intriguing and unexpected facts, read on to discover and learn and see how many of our 23 fun facts about Italy are new to you.

And if you know any more delightful tidbits about this remarkable country, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

1. Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world

2. Much of Italy used to be part of Ancient Greece

The city of Syracuse in Sicily was once the largest city of Ancient Greece, and even equalled Athens in size, before its eventual decline.

In history, the Romans used to call Sicily, as well as the foot of the boot of Italy, ‘Greater Greece’ because so many Greeks resided there. Amazingly, pockets of Greek culture and language have remained in Sicily to this day. The tiny Girko community speaks a form of Greek that is believed to derive from the colonies of Magna Graecia.

3. The Romans were nearly wiped out

At its peak in the 1st century, Rome’s population is thought to have been approximately 1.5 million, but by the time Rome fell in 476 A.D, that figure had fallen to 17,000.

About 99% of the ancient Roman population was lost, meaning virtually no one in Rome today could claim to directly descend from the city’s ancient population.

4. Italy is home to Europe’s oldest University

One of Italy’s most renowned claims to fame is that the University of Bologna, established in 1088, holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating university in the world. Among the ten oldest universities globally, four proudly reside in Italy: alongside Bologna, there are the venerable institutions of Padua, Naples, and Siena.

5. Italian football fans are called ‘tifosi’

Almost every nation on earth has some sort of love affair with football, but such is the fanaticism of Italian football fans that people have taken to calling them “tifosi”, which translates to “carriers of Typhus”. It’s supposed to refer to Italians being so obsessed with football, they act like they’re in a fever!

6. Cats have rights

Romans are said to adore their feline friends so much that they are considered “a bio-cultural heritage”. Anyone convicted of killing a cat – owned or a stray – could face a €10,000 fine and up to 3 years in prison. It is estimated that Rome alone is home to around 300,000 cats – the only residents who are permitted to explore the ruins whenever they like.

In fact, in 2011 an Italian cat inherited over €10 million after its 94-year-old owner passed away. The owner, Maria Assunta, left her “entire estate” to the cat under the care of a trusted nurse (you may not be surprised that Italian laws do not allow animals to inherit directly).

7. The Italian Police Force uses Lamborghinis

Not every Italian police officer can be found driving a Lamborghini, but the famous supercar brand and the Italian police have indeed been working together for the last 20 years. Lamborghini provides cars to be used for special medical services that need extra fast support, such as the transportation of organs to patients.

8. Superstitions are abundant

It’s commonly suggested that Italians are the most superstitious country in Europe. Some examples of everyday superstitions include:

• Dropping olive oil into a bowl of water to check for Malocchio (The Evil Eye)
• Wearing the Corno amulet (The Devil’s Horn) to ward off curses on men’s manliness (and The Evil Eye)
• Always placing a loaf of bread face up, lest you affront Jesus Christ
• If you’re single, don’t let a broom touch your feet when someone is cleaning the floor. The saying goes: “You want to be swept off your feet and get married”, so if a broom touches your feet, it means you’ll never be swept off your feet!
• You’ll receive good fortune if you hear a cat sneeze

There are plenty of examples of strange Italian superstitions to be found, most of which are unique to the region.

9. An Italian’s generosity knows no bounds

If you’re lucky enough to have eaten in an Italian family home, you’ll be well aware of just how generous Italian people are to guests, particularly when it comes to food. But what you might not know is that, collectively, they are a very charitable nation too.

For instance, it is estimated that roughly €3,000 in change is tossed into Rome’s Trevi Fountain daily! Over the shoulder, of course, to avoid bad luck. Legend says if you toss a coin in the fountain, you are destined to come back to Rome. Even though tourists now join in the cause, it was started by Italians and all proceeds go to local charities.

10. 13 of Shakespeare’s plays are set in Italy

Shakespeare had a thing for Italy, with 13 of his 38 plays set in various Italian regions. Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona, for example, while Othello and The Merchant of Venice are both set in, you guessed it, Venice.

11. Mussolini was expelled from school

Italy’s political history bears a deep scar in the shape of Benito Mussolini. Yet, his tyrannical ascent might have been thwarted had those in power heeded the warnings of his former schoolteacher. It is said that at the tender age of 10, the future fascist dictator was expelled from a religious boarding school in Italy for stabbing a fellow student in the hand with a pencil.

This troubling act was not an isolated incident. Reportedly, Mussolini was involved in another stabbing at his next school and even confessed to knifing a girlfriend in the arm. A chilling precursor to the violence that would later define his regime.

12. Descendants of Italians outnumber actual Italians

With 59 million inhabitants, Italy is the fifth most populated country in Europe. However, the number of Italian descendants living abroad is far greater, with millions emigrating to The Americas during the Italian diaspora period between 1861 and the rise of fascism in the 1920s. Since then, millions more have emigrated.

It is estimated that up to 25 million Argentines and 31 million Brazilians have some degree of Italian descent – around 62.5% and 11% of the total population respectively – while up to 18 million US citizens claim Italian ancestry. And that’s not even counting Italians who emigrated to Australia, Africa, and elsewhere in Europe.

Percentage of Americans of Italian descent

13. Italy is the only country with over 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Italy has the most World Heritage sites in the world! There are 59 UNESCO Heritage sites in Italy – 53 cultural and 6 natural. These include the Amalfi Coast, the Historic Centre of Florence, and the Famous Lagoons in Venice.

14. There are 12 minority languages recognised in Italy

These include Albanian, Catalan, French, German, Greek, Slovene and Sardinian. A variety of other languages are recognised regionally, but not by the state, and many others that are spoken in very small communities are vulnerable or threatened by extinction.

Flags of Albania and Italy

15. The average Italian consumes 25kg of pasta per year

Pasta is practically a religion in Italy, so it’s no surprise that the average Italian consumes about 25kg of pasta. To put that into perspective, that’s even heavier than your carry-on luggage for an economy airline flight (and let’s face it, we’re always a couple of kgs over.)

But pasta – and we’re talking fresh egg pasta here – is just so good. If you haven’t tried it yet, learn how to make fresh pasta here

16. Pizza had to earn its place in the kitchen

Since tomatoes didn’t make their way to Europe until the 16th century, the pizza we adore today didn’t arise as a culinary masterpiece until a few centuries later. Were it not for the ingenuity of the impoverished, who could only afford to adorn their bread with the humble tomato, we might have been deprived of this beloved dish for even longer.

Until about 1830, pizzas were only sold by street vendors and special pizza bakeries. Then the first pizzeria opened up in Naples. Pizza quickly became a national favourite and for the rest of the world.

Yummy, are you feeling hungry?

17. Gelato is healthier than regular ice cream

This is one of our coolest facts! Gelaterias make gelato daily with fresh, all-natural ingredients, and it contains 70% less fat (and consequently fewer calories) than factory-made ice cream.

There is also much less air in gelato, which makes the flavour more intense. Interestingly, gelato is also the only Italian product whose market share of artisanal versus industrial is greater than 55%.

18. Tiramisú has a meaning 

Italy’s most famous dessert – the delectable tiramisú – was first created in 1971 in La Beccherie Restaurant in the Venetian town of Treviso. It was proposed as a dessert that would stimulate customers due to its energy-giving content of eggs, sugar, and strong espresso coffee. Thus, the name ‘tiramisu’ – meaning “pick-me-up” in English – was coined.

If you fancy learning how to make tiramisu from a real Italian cook, then have a look at our amazing cooking trips to Italy.

19. You shouldn’t drink cappuccinos in Italy after 11 am

It might not be an official law, but there’s an unspoken rule in Italy that you shouldn’t order a cappuccino after 11 am (they’re usually only consumed for breakfast!). If you fancy a pick-me-up later in the day, then do as the Italians do and order an espresso.

20. Italy is home to the world’s smallest country

The Vatican City in Rome is a country in its own right. Which means it’s a country within a country, and also a city. At 0.5 square kilometres in size, and with a population of just over 700 people, it really is tiny. The Vatican City became a sovereign state in 1929, and is considered an absolute monarchy, with the Pope as its ‘King’.

21. Italy is the largest wine producer in the world

In 2022, Italy produced a whopping 49.8 million hectoliters of wine. That’s enough wine to fill 1,994 Olympic swimming pools! The reason it’s so prolific at making wine is because of its moderate climate, which offers the perfect conditions for growing grapes. There are 20 different wine-making regions across Italy, including Veneto, Apulia, Emilia-Romagna and Sicily.

22. There are more than 1,500 lakes in Italy

Italy is well known for its beautiful landscape and natural scenery – and a large part of that is made up of water! There are more than 1,500 lakes scattered across Italy, although we’d argue that its most famous ones are Lake Como and Lake Garda in the north. So, if you love water sports, or just fancy soaking up some stunning views, then Italy is a fantastic holiday destination.

23. There are over 350 different varieties of pasta

Indeed, there exists a vast world of pasta that stretches far beyond the familiar bounds of penne and spaghetti. Many of these shapes hail from distinct regions across Italy, including lesser-known varieties like rotelle, reminiscent of a wagon wheel, and testaroli, shaped like a diamond. Despite their diversity, all pasta shapes share a common purpose: each is meticulously crafted to pair with a particular sauce, whether it be a hearty tomato ragu or a velvety cream sauce.

Italy is a fascinating country rich in stunning scenery, culture, and history. If you’re feeling inspired to explore Italy more after reading these fun facts, why not download our brochure?