Italy (Italia),
republic in southern Europe, bounded on the north by Switzerland
and Austria; on the east by Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea; on
the south by the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea; on the
west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and the
Mediterranean Sea; and on the northwest by France. It comprises,
in addition to the Italian mainland, the Mediterranean islands
of Elba, Sardinia, and Sicily, and many lesser islands. Enclaves
within mainland Italy are the independent countries of San
Marino and Vatican City; the latter is a papal state mostly
enclosed by Rome, the capital and largest city of Italy.
Official Name Repubblica
Italiana (Italian Republic) Capital: Rome Flag The Italian
tricolor was first adopted by French republics in northern Italy
during the Napoleonic Wars, who modeled it after the French
tricolor. In 1848 the design was adopted by the house of Savoy,
which went on to lead the Italian unification. The present flag
was adopted in 1946, when Italy became a republic and the royal
arms were removed. Anthem “Inno di Mameli”
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