140 Amazing Facts About Italy for Kids + Trivia Questions

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Around the world, Repubblica Italiana – known in English as the Italian Republic or just Italy – is known as one of the world’s most artistic cities. Whether you’re more interested in Ancient Roman tales about the huge empire or the beauty of the Italian Peninsula, this guide has it all!

The following facts about Italy for kids cover everything from Italy’s landscape to Rome interesting facts to the history of the Kingdom of Italy before it became the Italian Republic.

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italy, sea, houses

Italy Information for Kids

These Italy facts for kids will explore all about Italy in the modern-day, from the cities to the world-famous Italian culture. Take a look and learn all about Italy for kids as it dances along the Mediterranean Sea!

1. The current Prime Minister of Italy is Mario Draghi, who has been so since 2021. He is a banker, and some people in the media have nicknamed him Super Mario after the videogame character for his service to the country! The Prime Minister has the official title of President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. He is appointed by the head of state – the President – who is currently named Segio Mattarella.

2. The Italian flag is a tricolour with vertical stripes that go from left to right in green, white, and red. It has been the official flag since the instatement of the Republic in 1946, though it has existed since before then. Every 7th January in Italy is Tricolour Day, where Italians celebrate the flag.

italy flag, flag, italy

3. The official language of Italy is Italian, a Romance language that developed alongside other languages in European countries from the Vulgar Latin spoken by the emperor of Rome. It’s also the official language in parts of Switzerland and the city-states of San Marino and the Vatican City.

4. Italy is home to nearly 60 million people – as of the last census, 59.1 million people live in Italy! Of these, 4.3 million Italian people live in the capital city of Rome and 3.15 million in Milan.

5. According to official Schengen designations, Italy is in Southern Europe. It has land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the north. Politically, it is also considered part of western Europe.

map, atlas, country, italy map

6. The official name of Italy reflects its status as a republic, which it has only been since 1946. Before that, between 1861 and 1946, it was instead a monarchy, the Kingdom of Italy. The Italian flag was a popular symbol of Italian freedom.

7. The autonomous region of the Island of Sicily is one of five parts of Italy. On a map, the shape of the country resembles a high heeled boot, while Sicily looks a little like a ball being kicked into the Mediterranean Sea!

8. The Italian government can be a little shaky in its current state as there is often a lot of disagreement between parties and rough coalitions. On average, since the end of the second world war, there has been a new government every 1.14 years – 66 in total in just 77 years!

9. 35% or more of Italy is made up of mountain ranges! Many of these contain national parks and other nature reserves. The Alps and the Apennine mountain range outline the country. Some of the most famous mountains in Italy include Monte Rosa, Monte Cervino (the Matterhorn), and Gran Paradiso. Additionally, Monte Bianco or Mont Blanc sits on the border between France and Italy.

attachments, dolomites, civetta mount

10. Italy facts for kids wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Italy’s national animal – the mountain-living grey wolf! The wolf has played a role in Italian culture since Roman times, when Romulus and Remus, said to be raised by a she-wolf, supposedly founded Ancient Rome.

wolf, predator, grey



Italy Facts for Children

Among all these facts about Italy for kids exist some great Italy fun facts! Whether you want to know about the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the famous Italians known throughout Italy, Europe, and beyond, these fun facts will get the conversation going!

11. We’ve already talked about how Italy has many mountains. The highest mountain is, of course Monte Bianco. However, in Sicily, Mount Etna holds a record of its own – it’s one of the world’s most active volcanoes and one of the tallest in Europe!

12. Most of the fantastic world-renowned mountains are in Northern Italy. Alongside them come many stunning mountain lakes! Northern Italy has a long, dry, cold winter, making for excellent skiing conditions when combined with the surroundings. The whole of Northern Italy is its own subclimate in the basin of the River Po.

13. Italy for kids usually focuses on Central Italy, which is the area of the country where most of the familiar Italian city architecture and art exist! Rome is in Central Italy – and as they say, all roads lead to Rome.

14. Around the world, 85 million-plus people speak Italian! Italy only contains a small portion of global Italian speakers, relatively speaking. Due to previous Italian colonies, there are also many speakers in parts of North Africa.

15. The South of Italy, including Sicily, is considered an amazing place to visit for more well-off visitors from other countries who don’t want to spend their time in the central cities. While the north is known for its mountain ranges, the south heavily focuses on influences from other countries, including Greek culture.

sicily, mountain, language

16. The city of Naples was founded by Greeks and is one of the oldest inhabited urban areas in the world. Many famous locations are near Naples, including the ruins of Pompeii.

vesuvius, naples, italy

18. Until the mid-1800s, Italy remained fragmented. Only after that did it become unified and begin to form into the country we know today!


Interesting Facts About Italy for Kids

The following Italy facts for kids are some of my personal favourites for interesting facts about Italy, whether modern or from years ago.

19. Benito Mussolini was Italy’s Prime Minister between 1922 and 1943. He was the head of the fascist party and government and was a close political ally of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government during World War Two. At the end of the war, he was executed by a bullet, two days before Hitler killed himself. Before the end of the war, Mussolini and his fascist party were deposed by his people and the king.

20. Italian renaissance facts often mention that Leonardo Da Vinci is most famous worldwide as a painter. Still, he was actually an Italian polymath – a person who was good at so many things at once that it doesn’t seem possible! He was a scientist and studied astronomy, palaeontology, botany, anatomy, and astronomy, helping contribute to Italy’s scholarship throughout his life.

21. Italy was one of the first and founding countries of NATO and the European Union.

nato, flag, compass rose

22. In 1986, when the first Italian McDonald’s opened, people were angry about the fast food – so much so that they handed out spaghetti at the door in protest!

23. The oldest university in the world, the University of Bologna, Italy, was founded in 1088.

24. Peruvians brought tomatoes to Italy in the 16th century!

tomatoes, fresh, food

25. There’s a Matera area where people lived in ancient caves like their ancestors from 9,000 years ago, until about 1950 when the population was moved to safer, more modern homes.

italy, basilicata, matera

26. The fork became a common piece of cutlery because Italians made it fashionable!


History of Italy Facts for Kids

Italy has such a deep history as a country that it’s hard to know where to start! The city of Rome was once the centre of a huge empire, but Rome isn’t the only city in Italy – and the country is known for much more than that! In fact, these Italy facts for kids go through the ages with stories from Italy’s amazing famous past.

28. The Roman Empire lasted between 27 BCE– 395 CE as a united front, even longer when split into Eastern and Western Roman Empire. It was actually only part of the overall period known as “ancient Rome”!

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29. The Catholic Church was formed in Ancient Rome after a religious schism from Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Today, the home of the Pope is in the micro-state of the Vatican City which is in the city of Rome, and today 80% of the country is Catholic – more than anywhere except Brazil.

30. The famous dictator Gaius Julius Caesar, who was killed on the Ides of March, adopted his nephew Gaius Octavius, who promptly changed his name to Augustus Caesar (also Caesar Augustus or Octavian). Augustus was the first emperor of Rome.

31. In the 12th century, the German King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich (Henry) VI married Constance, the sole heir to the Kingdom of Sicily. For kids, some fun Italy facts are that Constance and Heinrich were then jointly Emperor and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, King and Queen of the Romans, and King and Queen of Sicily. When they both died, her son Frederick was raised by Pope Innocent III.

32. St. Peter’s Basilica, now located in the Roman Catholic state of the Vatican City, was originally built in the 4th century by Constantine the Great, Emperor of Rome, and then rebuilt banet ween 1506 and 1626. It’s said to be the burial place of Saint Peter and the “greatest church in Christendom”. Its architects included the famous Michelangelo, who also painted the Sistine Chapel.

33. Italy’s north contained many city-states in the 11th century and several maritime republics across its cities, which were eventually reunited under the Kingdom of Italy much later.

34. The last Italian King only ruled for thirty-six days. King Umberto II ruled from 9th May to 12th June 1946 and is known as the May King. He spent the rest of his life in exile in Portugal.

35. There’s no evidence that William Shakespeare ever visited Italy (though he might have!), but 13 of his plays – out of 38 total – are set in the country. These are: The Taming of the Shrew (Padua), The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Verona), The Merchant of Venice (Venice), Titus Andronicus (Rome), Romeo and Juliet (Verona), Julius Caesar (Rome and others), Othello (Venice), Coriolanus (Rome), and The Winter’s Tale (Sicily).

36. The first-ever modern batteries were invented in Italy in the year 1800. Volts are named after their inventor, Alessandro Volta.

37. The first thermometer was also invented in Italy! Santorio Santorio created the first scaled thermometer in 1612, borrowing Galileo Galilei’s thermoscope ideas some years earlier.

38. Although Spain funded his expeditions and he sailed under the Spanish flag, explorer and navigator Christopher Columbus was actually Italian, from Italy’s biggest medieval city, Genoa.


Facts About Italian Culture

Italians love their way of life whether they live in Italy or in the Italian diasporas abroad – you’ll find Italian restaurants and traditions in almost every Western country! Italians have an unusually fascinating culture, bringing together history and modernity with a Mediterranean twist. These Italy facts for kids cover some interesting tidbits about everyday life in Italy.

39. There’s a free wine fountain in Italy! Dora Sarchese vineyard in Caldari di Ortona has a fountain that pours out local red wine made from their grapes 24/7 and is free for the public to drink from whenever.

40. Coffee is an Italian staple. 14 billion espressos are purchased a year in Italy, and they’re the 13th country in the world by coffee consumption – more than Greece and France, other well-known coffee lovers!

coffee, coffee love, coffee beans

41. Italy has a very low birth rate and a very high population of seniors – over 20% of Italians are over 65 years old.

42. Italians love their leisure time. In Italy, a common phrase is “Ars longa, vita brevis” – “art is long, life is short.”

43. 80% of Italians are Christian (most of whom are Catholics), and Islam is the second-most popular religion though considerably smaller.

44. 96% of Italian residents are of native Italian descent. Romanians, Moroccans, and Albanians have a small but significant impact on the census.

45. Football is the national sport of Italy. There are well over one million registered football players in Italy! In 2006, Italy won the FIFA World Cup, and they’re the second most successful team in FIFA World Cup history (second only to Brazil).

soccer, goalkeeper, quarterfinals

46. Many citizens get around the streets of Italy on special two-wheel electric scooters called Vespas that have become an icon of the country.

isolated, vintage, vespa

47. Italy’s local nickname is Bel Paese, meaning “beautiful country”.

48. Thanks to its melodic sound, Italian is the most popular language for operas even in other countries like Germany.


Facts About Italian Food

Facts about Italian food could fill a whole book! For kids, these Italy facts include facts about Milan, Florence, Rome, Italy foods, and countryside favourites. After, Italians are famous for their food!

49. Pasta is the national dish of Italy. That’s why spaghetti, lasagna, gnocchi, and all the rest have Italian names! There are more than 200 types of pasta.

pasta, tomato, italy

50. Gelato (a dense, rich ice cream) was created by an Italian and is popular in Italy and abroad, and has been for a long time. Italian chef Francesco Procopio dei Coltelli created modern gelato in the 16th century in Paris, and it was so beloved he was given French citizenship and a licence from the king to be the only one to create and sell. The dessert in the country!

51. Italy facts for kids need to mention pizza! Italian pizza is usually very thin and baked in a wood-fired oven. It’s loaded with vegetables and thin meat, olives, and artichokes.

pizza, food, italy

52. Tiramisù means “cheer me up” and the coffee-flavoured dish was first mentioned in the 1960s.

53. The four courses of a full Italian meal in order are: antipasti (a platter of sharing meat, olives and cheese to start), primo (pasta dishes and vegetables), secondo (meat, fish, and poultry), and dolce (sweets, always served with coffee).

54. More cheese varieties are produced in Italy than in France; around 450 compared to France’s 350!

cheese, food

55. Mozzarella cheese is traditionally made with buffalo rather than cow milk, though cow milk is often used these days.

56. Milky coffee like lattes and cappuccinos are for the morning at breakfast time, while espressos and dark coffee are usually drunk at night with meals. Milk is considered bad for digestion.

coffee, cappuccino, latte

57. Many areas of Italy have regular food festivals. Alba in Piedmont is famous for its White Truffle festival that celebrates the rare mountain fungus.

58. Most Italian recipes were created in homes rather than by chefs in restaurants, which is why rustic homecooked Italian meals are so popular.

59. Italy is the biggest consumer of olive oil in the world!

60. Bread is very important to Italian cuisine, and they eat a lot of bread – but not as an appetiser. There are many different types of Italian bread. Bruschetta is a very popular bread dish.

Bruschetta, food, gourmet, snacks

61. About 35% of sausages in Europe are eaten in Italy!

62. Naples-style (Neapolitan) pizza is a registered Traditional Speciality Food. As well, its creation process is listed under UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The name can only be used for the specific traditional pizza.

63. Many foods have Arabian influences such as spices and flavours in Sicily, differentiating them from other Italian cuisines.


Rome Facts

Modern Rome and Ancient Rome are worlds apart, but they’re filled with fascinating facts that will keep everyone interested. These facts on Rome, Italy, cover a long period of time, from the historic to the modern. Some of our favourite facts about Rome, Italy, are below.

65. The proverb “All roads lead to Rome” is based on a medieval Latin saying that focused on the importance of Rome in the Empire. Augustus erected the Golden Milestone in the middle of Rome, and all main major roads in the empire led toward it.

66. Rome is known throughout history as the “cradle of Western Christian civilisation and culture.”

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67. Nicknames for Rome include The Eternal City and The City of the Seven Hills and, historically, Caput Mundi – the capital of the world.

68. Rome has existed as a populated city for more than 2,800 years!

69. Rome was the place where the Baroque artistic movement was born and Neoclassicism. This was partly due to the influence of popes, who wanted the city to be the artistic and cultural centre of the world throughout history.

70. The world’s smallest country, the Vatican City, is right in the middle of Rome.

st peter's basilica, vatican, rome

71. Nowadays, Rome is the third most visited city in the entire European Union for tourists!

72. Rome is the fourth most popular modern “fashion capital” globally, following Milan, New York, and Paris and beating London.

73. The city’s Cinecittà Studios is the largest film and television production facility in continental Europe and the only studio globally with pre-production, production, and full post-production facilities in one place.

74. Rome is exclusively twinned with Paris, France. Both in Italian and French, there is the same saying: Solo Parigi è degna di Roma; solo Roma è degna di Parigi and Seule Paris est digne de Rome; seule Rome est digne de Paris, both meaning “Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris.”

75. The European Olympic Committee has its main seat and headquarters in Rome.

76. Since the Roman Republic ended, Rome has had a large and significant Jewish population. The Jewish and Roman-Italian cultures have created several different individualised cuisines and traditions.

77. Christian pilgrims have been making visits to Rome since way back in the Middle Ages, even during a short time in the 14th century when the Papal seat was located elsewhere. The pilgrimage traditionally involves many sites, the most important of which are the Seven Holy Churches.

78. Fountains have been a staple of Roman architecture for more than 2,000 years, to the point that someone on the old Roman consulate was called the guardian of the city’s waters!

italy, rome, trevi fountain

79. There are hundreds of mysterious underground catacombs in Rome created from various burial grounds in the soft volcanic rock.

80. The city is a major player in international higher education and has several colleges and universities and academies. Rome has been a centre of learning for generations, primarily in Ancient Rome and then during the Renaissance, and much of this still echoes on their educational focus today.

81. Rome was mythologically said to be discovered by Romulus, the brother of Remus. These two were twins; sons of the god Mars and a vestal virgin named Rhea Silvia. The king of the land ordered the twins killed, so they were sent away. A she-wolf suckled and kept them alive, and they were later adopted and raised by a farmer. They set out to build a city of their own in the seven hills, but an argument resulted in Romulus killing Remus before founding Rome and becoming its first king.

82. Around 10% of the city’s population are not Italian. Half are from other European countries, especially Romania, Poland, Ukraine, and Albania, while the other half are from non-European countries, especially the Philippines, China, and Bangladesh.

83. Rome is the third most populated city in the European Union within its city limits, though lower when considering the wider metropolitan area.

84. The Tiber, the longest river in central Italy and the third-longest in the country, is the main watercourse of Rome. The city was founded on the river’s east banks, which was so important that Tiberius was a popular personal name in Ancient Rome.

tiber river, river

85. The Ancient Romans threw the bodies of criminals who had been executed into the River Tiber during Emperor Tiberius’s reign. The practice continued for many centuries. In the 9th century CE, one such corpse belonged to a Pope, Formosus, who took the role at 75 and lasted from 891 to 896 when he died. Seven months later, his body was exhumed and put on trial, after which he was declared a criminal and a traitor and thrown into the river.

86. According to legend, there were seven kings of Rome over 244 years after its founding until 509 BCE, at which point an uprising made Rome a republic. The seven kings were Romulus, Numa Pompilius, Tullus Hostilius, Ancus Marcius, Tarquinius Priscus, Servius Tullius, and Lucius Tarquinius Superbus.

87. There are more than 900 churches in modern Rome!

88. A unique museum in Rome is amazing for food lovers – it is dedicated to pasta!


Rome Colosseum Facts

The Roman Colosseum is one of the most famous landmarks in the world as well as one of the most visited in Rome. It’s extremely well-known as a gladiator arena and is amazingly intact since its completion in 80 CE! There were also many smaller colloseums that held the same kinds of activities – though not the same esteem in common thought.

89. Not only was the Colosseum the largest amphitheatre ever built in ancient times, but to this day, it remains the largest amphitheatre standing in the world.

rome, colosseum, italy

90. A popular gladiator show was the animal hunt, which featured gladiators and wild animals from Africa and the Middle East. Common animals included rhinoceros, hippopotamuses, elephants, giraffes, aurochs, wisents, Barbary lions, panthers, leopards, bears, Caspian tigers, crocodiles and ostriches.

91. “Gladiator” meant “swordsman”, and their name came from gladius, a common type of sword.

92. Though some gladiators were volunteers seeking glory and honour, most were slaves, criminals, and other social outcasts who were treated harshly and marked apart from the rest of Rome in life and death.

93. The gladiatorial games lasted for over a thousand years!

94. Nowadays, several Catholic ceremonies are held within the Colosseum.


Leonardo da Vinci Facts

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous names in the world – an Italian polymath who dabbled in everything and moved art and culture further along. These Italian Renaissance facts about this remarkable man cover a lot, but his life story could fill a library!

95. His full name was Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, meaning “Leonardo, son of Piero from Vinci”.

leonardo da vinci, portrait, line art

96. He was born out of wedlock to a legal notary and a lower-class woman who both married other people. His father went on to marry three other women after his first wife, and Leonardo had a total of 12 half-siblings, most of whom he didn’t know well.

97. The Mona Lisa and The Last Supper are probably da Vinci’s most famous paintings. The Last Supper depicts Jesus and his apostles the night before Jesus’s execution, while the Mona Lisa is of a mysterious noblewoman and has become the most visited masterpiece in the world.

Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci, art

98. He was a great scientific observer of anatomy and science. He realised that the sun did not move and made several hundred accurate drawings of bones and other human body parts.

99. He invented musical instruments, a mechanical knight, hydraulic pumps, reversible crank mechanisms, finned mortar shells, and a steam cannon. He also had several designs in his notebooks for flying machines.


Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts for Kids

The way the Tower of Pisa leans has been the subject of millions of tourist photographs! These facts explain a little more about this fun landmark.

100. The tower is actually a freestanding bell tower belonging to Pisa’s cathedral.

pisa, italy, leaning tower of pisa

101. It leans at about four degrees (reduced from over five by stabilisation projects), but has stayed standing through many projected falls and several major earthquakes.

102. It started sinking in the twelfth century during its construction when the soft ground underneath couldn’t properly support its weight.

103. The Tower holds the Guinness World Record for most slanted building that wasn’t built deliberately to slant.

104. The Tower’s construction initially took nearly 200 years!


Milan Facts

If you’re looking for fun facts about the modern cultural capital of Italy, these interesting facts about Milan are the ones for you!

105. Milan is the wealthiest country in Italy and is considered a top-level global city for its art, culture, education, healthcare, and more.

italy, duomo square, milan

106. The city is the top fashion capital of the world, and Milan Fashion Week is the goal of designers everywhere.

107. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held in Milan in 2026.

108. The Royal Palace of Milan, once a seat of government for centuries, is now a cultural centre that displays many pieces of Italian art.

109. Milan is Italy’s industrial and financial capital, beating out Rome in this particular regard!

Milan, italy, cathedral

110. Opera and other performing arts are a major focus in the city, both national and international.

111. Like many northern cities, Milanese cuisine uses more rice than pasta and doesn’t feature many fish or tomatoes!

112. Many major art schools, especially music and visual art, are based in Milan, including the European Institute of Design.

113. Milan has fifteen official sister cities. These are: São Paulo (Brazil), Chicago (United States), Lyon (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Birmingham (United Kingdom), Dakar (Senegal), Shanghai (China), Osaka (Japan), Tel Aviv (Israel) Bethlehem (Palestine), Toronto (Canada), Kraków (Poland), Melbourne (Australia), Guadalajara (Mexico), and Daegu (South Korea).

114. Several famous figures have or had honourary citizenship in Milan, including Charlie Chaplin, the Dalai Lama, and Al Gore.


Venice Facts

These fun facts about Venice show a different side of Italy – a place of art where Shakespearean images reign supreme. A city of gondolas and rivers, there’s so much to learn!

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115. Venice is made up of a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and is traversed by gondolas or the 400 city bridges. Discover more of the Italy Bridges here >>>

116. The 9th-century city-state of Venice was the first international financial centre in the world.

117. Some of Venice’s nicknames include La Dominante, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, City of Water, City of Masks, City of Bridges, The Floating City, and City of Canals.

118. Cala Violina in Tuscany means Violin cove in English. It gets its name from the sound produced by the quartz crystals that make up its sand.

119. In 2019, the city flooded to the point that more than 80% of it was covered in water, causing massive damage to landmarks and buildings. Flood prevention measures have since been a priority for the Italian national and Venitian city governments.

120. Venice belonged to Austria until it rejoined the Kingdom of Italy upon its formation.

121. Ornate and colourful Venitian glass sculptures and vases are some of the most collected art in the world.

122. Venice has always been a centre of music, and particularly in the Middle Ages, it was a hub of development for Italian music and lyrics.

old, man, accordion

123. Seafood, garden products, and polenta are major food groups in Venice.

124. The whole city lies within the shallow Venitian Lagoon.

Florence Facts

This capital of the Tuscany region might not be as immediately famous as Milan or Rome, but it’s still well known – and no wonder! Here are some fun facts.

125. Florence was one of the most wealthy European countries in the mediaeval era due to its focus on trade.

126. The Historical Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it attracts millions of tourists every year.

italy, tuscany, florence

127. The Florentine dialect became the most cultured in Italy in the 19th century due to masterpieces by Dante Alighieri, Petrarch, Giovanni Boccaccio, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Francesco Guicciardini.

128. It is still the 4th richest city in Italy.

129. Though originally a Roman city, Florence became a powerful city in its own right and was later the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance!

130. The River Arno that runs through the city is both a blessing and a curse – it has helped the city to thrive, but has also always been a flood risk.

flow, arno, tuscany

131. There are many palaces in Florence, and most are from different eras, reflecting much of Italy and Florence’s history.

132. Tourism and international study are the main income of Florence by far.

133. The city has the greatest concentration of art by city size in the world.

134. Many movies, plays, and songs, both modern and classical, have been set in Florence, from The Merchant of Venice to Hannibal.


Facts About Sardinia

Sicily might be more well-known, but Sardinia’s rich history and culture make it one of the most interesting islands in the world! These fun facts will help you learn a little more about the city.

136. Sardinian, the indigenous language of Sardinia, is a protected official language in Italy.

137. There are so many different landscapes across a relatively small area that Sardinia has been described as a micro-continent.

to travel, vacation, vacations

138. The Kingdom of Sardinia was considered a Spanish nation for 400 years until 1708, at which point it became an Austrian territory until the reformation of the Kingdom of Italy.

139. There are around four million sheep in Sardinia!

140. The island is not very dense; it is the fourth-least populated area in Italy and has the lowest fertility rate.

141. Sardinia and Okinawa in Japan share the record for the highest number of people aged 100 or more globally – 22 for every 10,000 people.

142. 3% of the Sardinian population is made up of foreign immigrants, by far the highest number from Romania.

143. Cagliari or Casteddu is the capital of the Sardinian region and the most populated city on the island with around 155,000 people. It’s followed closely by Sassari or Tatari, with around 128,000. Other cities in Sardina have significantly smaller populations.

cagliari, italy, sardinia

144. Sardinia is the only autonomous region in the county that has a special Statute calling its population popolo or distinct people.

145. 25% of the island’s area is protected by environmental laws and made into national and regional parks.

Read More: Best Places to Stay in Rome for Families


Trivia About Italy

  1. What is the full Italian name for Italy?
  2. What city is the industrial centre of Italy?
  3. Who was Gaius Julius Caeser?
  4. What was the most common reason to become a gladiator?
  5. What are antipasti?
  6. What side of the war was the Italian government on in World War II?
  7. What country shares ownership of Monte Bianco?
  8. What was Leonardo da Vinci known for?
  9. Who is the current Italian prime minister?
  10. What is special about Vatican City?
  11. When was the Kingdom of Italy started and ended?
  12. What shape is Italy on a map?
  13. What’s special about Neapolitan pizza?
  14. What mountain ranges are around Italy?
  15. What dialect did Dante write in?
  16. How long has Rome been a populated city?
  17. How many people speak Italian worldwide?
  18. What percentage of Italians are Christian?
  19. Where do most foreign immigrants to Italy come from?
  20. How many kinds of cheese are in Italy?

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Sylvie Simpson is the founder of European Cities with Kids. For the past 6 years, she has been travelling all over Europe whenever she has the chance, both solo, for work and with her daughter. Sylvie is on a mission to help people make the most of city breaks in Europe with kids and helps over 50,000 readers per month plan and make the most of their trips in Europe with kids.

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