Messina, Italy

Geography: Italy is in southern Europe and is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia.

Currency:  Euro

National Symbols: A white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia)

National Anthem: " "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)

Language: Italian

Area Comparison: Italy is slightly larger than Arizona.

Distance from Pittsburgh: 7784 km or 4837 miles

Terrain: The landscape of Italy is mostly rugged and mountainous with some plains and coastal lowlands.

Highest Point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

Weather You Should Expect: Italy’s climate is predominantly Mediterranean. But it is Alpine in far north and hot, dry in the south. 

Historical Fact: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor Emmanuel II.

Science Fact: Italy experiences significant volcanic activity. Mt. Etna, which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano and flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages. Mt. Etna, along with the famous Mt. Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed "Decade Volcanoes" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior.

Everything You Need to Know About the Flag:

Italy’s flag is three equal vertical bands of green, white, and red. The design was inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797. The colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard.