Italy

Italy

In this Italy Investor Immigration Permit guide, learn about:

Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is a country located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Europe. It comprises the Italian Peninsula, the large island of Sicily, Sardinia, and numerous smaller islands.

Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino, making it a country rich in culture and history. Covering an area of about 301,340 square kilometers, Italy is the 72nd largest country in the world.

Italy operates as a parliamentary republic with a mixed legal system of civil law and judicial review of legislation. The country is divided into 20 regions, each with a degree of autonomy on legislative matters. Italy\'s capital, Rome, is one of the world\'s most historic and culturally rich cities, home to the Vatican City, an independent country within the city boundaries and the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church.

With a population of approximately 60 million people, Italy is the 23rd most populous country. Besides Rome, major Italian cities include Milan, known for its fashion and finance; Venice, famous for its canals; Florence, the heart of the Renaissance; and Naples, renowned for its culinary traditions. Italy\'s largest and busiest airport is Rome\'s Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, serving as a major hub for international and domestic flights.

Italy\'s economy is diversified across agricultural, industrial, and service sectors, making it the 8th largest economy in the world and the 3rd largest in the Eurozone. Italy is known for its influential and innovative business economic sector, an industrious and competitive agricultural sector (Italy is the world\'s largest wine producer), and for its creative and high-quality automobile, machinery, food, design, and fashion industries. The currency used in Italy is the Euro (EUR).

The cost of living in Italy varies significantly between the northern regions, which are more industrialized and wealthy, and the southern regions, where economic development is slower. Despite regional disparities, Italy offers a high standard of living, a renowned healthcare system, and a rich cultural life.

Italy\'s culture is deeply embedded in the arts, architecture, music, and food. It boasts the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites worldwide, with significant cultural and historical impact. The majority religion in Italy is Christianity, specifically Roman Catholicism, which plays a significant role in Italian culture and society.

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing and most profitable sectors of the national economy. Italy is famous for its monumental history, art, architecture, beautiful scenery, rich traditions, and Mediterranean lifestyle. Major attractions include the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the canals of Venice, and the ruins of Pompeii, as well as its beautiful coastlines, alpine lakes, and mountain ranges.

Italy spans one time zone, Central European Time (CET), and observes daylight saving time, switching to Central European Summer Time (CEST) in the summer. With its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, influential arts, fashion, and culinary traditions, Italy continues to captivate and enchant visitors and residents alike.