What’s the first thing that comes into your mind when you hear Italy?
Italy is on my bucket list. This place is surreal for me. I have seen lots of photos online taken in Italy and it’s just too good to be real. I want to go there because I want to learn about their culture and explore everything that can be found there. I’ve seen how historical it is and rich in natural goodness.
I’ve picked some amazing facts about Italy that would prove to you that it is an extraordinary place.
Italy has 55 UNESCO world heritage sites.
I hope I will be able to show you some of these heritage sites but if not, I will include it in the second part of our Italy tour! This is a fact – Italy has the most UNESCO heritage sites all over the world. Aren’t you excited to visit all those?
Italy has many inventions.
- The first thermometer was designed by an Italian in 1612. The inventor is Santorio Santorio; he created the first device that could show the exact temperature.
- The first battery was invented in Italy in 1800 by an Italian scientist named Alessandro Volta. From his surname is where the unit of electrical power is derived from – volt.
- Italians were the first ones to invent eyeglasses. In the ancient times, they used a long magnifying glass until in the late 13th century, Italians made a pair of eyeglasses with corrective lenses. What a wonderful invention that is ultimately useful up until now!
- Pizza was invented in Naples, Italy in the late 18th century. Do you want to taste the ultimately original pizza in the world? Go to Italy and because they hide all the secret ingredients and recipes.
Photo from Unsplash
They never really know where they get the name of the country Italy but some believe it came from a root word which means “land of young cattle” and the others believe that it was derived from the name of the early king of the region named Italus.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ITALY
1. Italy has the second-highest mountain in the whole continent of Europe.
It is a part of the The Alps mountain range which lies in Europe. It’s called Mont Blanc or White Mountain. It’s the most prominent mountain next to Mount Elbrus.
2. Fashion is a big sense in Italy. It’s first international fashion show occurred in Florence in 1951. Have you heard of Prada, Gucci, Versace, Armani, or Valentino? These luxury brands are all from Italy.
Photo from Unsplash
3. Italy is home for well-known artists. Their works are implanted all over the world. They have Giotto, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and a whole lot more. Don’t just expect art forms such as paintings and sculptures hiding in their museums but also in their churches, roads, local residences – in short, all over it!
4. Italian’s version of ice cream is gelato, although they are not really the same thing. Gelato is silkier, lower in fat, and served at a higher temperature. Don’t miss this one when you visit the country.
5. Pasta is stapled as the prime food in Italy. It plays an integral part in their food history. However, it was believed that it was first brought to Italy from China by Marco Polo in the 13th century.
Photo from Unsplash
6. Italy has three active volcanoes. First is Mount Etna found in the island of Sicily. It last erupted in 2018. Second is Mount Stromboli and third is Mount Vesuvius found near Naples which last erupted in 1944.
7. Italy has Vatican City which is the smallest city in the whole world with just 100 acres. It has a Pope who is the head of the state and even though it is small, it has lots of historical sites such as St. Peter’s Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel.
Photo from Unsplash
8. Italy has charming bodies of water in the form of lakes. This country has over 1500 lakes, the most popular is Lake Como.
9. Italy didn’t just give birth to luxury brands in the fashion industry but also with cars. Lamborghini, Fiat, Maserati, Ferrari, and Alfa Romeo are car brands that extinguish it from the others because of their beauty and performance.
10. Have you seen a bottle of wine? Did they all come from Italy? Italy has been considered as the perfect land to grow wine because of their climate that’s why they have lots of vineyards. Italians consume wine every day; it became a part of their lifestyle.
Photo from Unsplash
Italy has major contributions in architecture, fashion, literature, opera, art, film, and also food. It has a rich culture that we should all discover.
This article will now end here but surely I will write a second part! Italy couldn’t fit in just one. Do you dream of going to Italy too?
Let’s cheers to that dream and someday will toss a glass of wine in Lake Como while overlooking God’s work of art.
