FACTS

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Area (only Total) total: 301,230 sq km

Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Population: 58,145,321 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Italian

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Rome

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+1

Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

National holiday: Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day

January 6 Epiphany

March 21 Good Friday

March 23 Easter Day

March 24 Easter Monday

April 25 Liberation Day

May 1 Labour Day

June 2 Anniversary of the Republic

August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

November 1 All Saints Day

December 8 Immaculate Conception's Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 St Stephen's Day

* Sunday is a holiday anyway, but holiday pay rules apply.

Some Major Events

January Fair of Sant'Orso in Aosta

February Feast of the almond-blossom in Agrigento

February-March Carnival in Venice, Viareggio and Ivrea

March-April "Scoppio del carro" in Florence

May Candle race in Gubbio ;Cavalcata sarda" in Sassari ;Maggio musicale" in Florence

May-June "Festival of the Two Worlds" in Spoleto

June Flower festival in Genzano

July "Palio" horserace in Siena; ;Festa del Redentore" in Venice ;Umbria Jazz"

August Quintana tournament in Ascoli Piceno in Siena ana tournament in Arezzo

August-September "Settimane musicali" in Stesa al & Opera seasons in Milan and Verona

September Historical regatta in Venice Game in Marostica in Asti national Cinema Festival in Venice

October Grape feast in Merano

November Feast of the Madonna della Salute in Venice

December Franciscan crib in Greccio

Please Note:

In addition to the above, local feast days are celebrated in honour of town patron saints, generally without closure of shops and offices. These are:

Turin/Genoa/Florence: Jun 24 (St John the Baptist).

Milan: Dec 7 (St Ambrose).

Siena: Jul 2 and Aug 16, Palio horserace.

Venice: Apr 25 (St Mark).

Bologna: Oct 4 (St Petronius).

Naples: Sep 19 (St Gennaro).

Bari: Dec 6 (St Nicholas).

Palermo: Jul 11 (St Rosalia).

Rome: Jun 29 (St Peter).

Trieste: Nov 3.

Weekend - Saturday, Sunday