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Italy has many landmarks and attractions that attract tourism. Some very unique and interesting landmarks in Italy that attract millions of tourists are the Colosseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Venice Canals. Below is a picture of the Colosseum. The Colosseum is an oval amphitheater in the center of Rome. The definition of an amphitheatre is a round or circular building, typically unroofed, with a central space for a presentation of events. It was built in 80 A.D by the Roman Empire. They used it for gladiatorial contests, public spectacles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Italy and can hold up to 80,000 excited tourists. Another famous landmark is The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Work on building it started in the 1100s. While they were building it, the ground started sinking which caused the tower to tilt. In the 1990s, there was restoration work done but it was predicted to crumble by 2000. But it is still standing slanted today and people can climb the stairs and have a great view. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a famous tourist attraction that is different than other towers. Similar to how Venice is not like other cities. Venice is a city in Italy that has canals instead of streets. Canals are tiny man made rivers. A boat ride through the Venice canals is also one of the most popular things to do in Italy. Buildings line up side by side, packed together that have been there hundreds of years to support the canals. Venice is a beautiful city that adds to the popularity in Italy. Tourism in Italy is possible because of all these amazing landmarks and attractions that people come from all over the world to see.

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One of the most important parts of culture is language. Language is how people communicate to each other. In Italy, people speak to each other in Italian. Italian is the official language of Italy, and is spoken in other countries. Before and throughout most of the middle ages, latin was the main language all across Europe. Italian slowly started to take over latin as the language spoken in many countries. Italian took over latin because so many people were illiterate, they created dialect from latin. Italian was created from the dialect spoken in the Italian peninsula and the Roman Empire. The earliest proof of Italian was a book written in Italian that was written as early as 960 A.D. Italian is not only spoken in Italy, it is spoken in other countries too. Those other countries are Switzerland, San Marino, and Croatia. Italian is also one of the official languages of the European Union. In Italy, Italian isn’t the only language spoken. There are other languages, such as French, or German, or even Slovene. The most common second language is english. Language is crucial to culture and civilizations.

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Music in Italy is interesting and unique. A very popular form of music invented by Italians is opera. Opera was invented in the 1600s and is highly regarded everywhere. Many famous opera pieces were created by people from other countries. There are opera houses all around the world where people can sing opera. Opera is a form of singing in Italian. Italy has not only produced forms of singing, but also instruments as well. One of the most famous instruments ever, created by the Italians, is the piano. Below is a picture of a piano. Pianos are instruments that were invented around the 1700s by Bartolomeo Cristofori. They are acoustic, stringed instruments that are used in some classical songs, and even pop songs you here today. The instrument has a wooden case with white and black keys that play different notes. Music is just one of the ways people interact with each other. Italy has contributed to music in a significant way.

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In Italy, they don’t mess around when it comes to school and learning. They are very serious about education for children and teenagers. Classes are taught from Monday through Saturday in most schools on a regular week. Classes are taught in Italian but students may take English, French, or German classes in middle school. Most kids spend a good amount of time doing homework after a long day of school. Things change in high school. Italian students may choose what high school they would like to attend based on their interests. There are five different types of high schools, or licei (high school in Italian). The types are classical and artistic schools if you want to focus more in the arts; Scientific and human sciences if you want to study science; And linguistic for those who choose to learn about literature and language. But those are not the only options. Students can go to a technical institute for five years instead of high school to prepare for university studies. Or if students would like to go straight into the working force, they can go to a professional institute for three to five years. Education in Italy is very important.

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There are different types of religions practiced in Italy. Out of all the religions practiced, Roman Catholicism is the most popular. Below is a picture of a symbol of Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholics take up 80% of the population in Italy. Though most of them don’t attend church on a regular basis.  There is a catholic church in Rome that is widely respected and has an influence on life in Italy. There is a freedom of religion in Italy therefore, there are other religious groups. In Italy there are about one million muslims. There are 45,000 Jews and 700,000 eastern orthodox christians. There are around 550,000 protestants and 235,000 Jehovah’s witnesses. Religions in Italy reflect cultures and how people act in Italy.

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The Italian government has two leaders of the government who are the head of state (the president) and the head of government (the prime minister). The president is elected for seven year terms by an electoral college, while the prime minister is appointed by the president. Italy has a checks and balances system similar to the U.S. in the way that parliament has to approve the recommended prime minister and any laws that  government is made up of a bicameral parliament, (as shown below). A bicameral parliament is when there are two different sides to a parliament. The two sides to the Italian parliament are an upper house called the Senate with 315 people, and a lower house called the Chamber of Deputies with 630 people. In order to pass a law, both houses must agree on it for it to pass. Part of the government, there is a Constitution that also, is similar to the U.S where it protects simple rights for people such as freedom of speech. Other rights included in the Constitution are freedom of assembly, and press. One of the most important rights given is freedom of religion. The government in Italy is unique yet very similar to other governments.

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Paintings, architecture and art has been a huge part of Italian culture. Below is a picture of a very famous painting called Mona Lisa. Italy was the start of many artistic movements such as the Renaissance. Italy started a very impactful movement that affected arts all over the world that was the Renaissance. Museums all over Italy hold many famous art collections. Some very famous paintings from Italy are Mona Lisa, The School of Athens, and the painting on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Italians are very famous for their paintings, but they are even more invested in architecture. The Romans were very significant in the development of western architecture. They invented techniques that we use today such as the arch, dome, and vault to build better and more structurally sound buildings. Some very famous artists and architects from Italy are Giotto and Donatello. The Mona LIsa was created by a famous, Michelangelo. Other famous architects and artists are Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, and Bernini. Italian architecture is influenced by ancient greek and roman civilizations. Italian arts are great and make society better in many ways.

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Employment in Italy is very important to Italy’s economy. There are different jobs offered in the northern part of Italy than in southern half of Italy. The north is mostly employed by industry, while medium and small sized businesses are huge to the economy. Industry makes up about a fourth of Italy’s gross domestic product (GDP). GDP is the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country for one year. The southern economy is concentrated on agriculture. Only 4% of the working class in Italy is working in agriculture, the products that come out are very important to Italy’s economy because it allows them to supply food for themselves. Some of the main things that Italy produces are wine and cheese. Wheat, corn, rice, and potatoes are other necessary goods produced. Fruits, and olive oil are more of the products. There was not always the best economy in Italy. In 2008, there was a recession that caused many people to lose their jobs. The unemployment rates went up, as Italy’s economy went down. This caused by the change of currency in 2002, from the Italian currency, lira, to the common european currency, euros. This caused the expenses to rise along with the decline of the economy. The Italian economy has been recovering ever since.

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The food in Italy is so delicious, many tourists come just for the food! Below is a picture of two common treats originally made in Italy, pizza (bottom left) and pasta (top right). They are so popular, that other countries have adopted the idea and make variations of the dishes. In Italy, pizza differs from region to region. Italian pizza is generally thin and less rich than U.S pizza. Pizza is a flatbread typically topped with tomato sauce and cheese. The most traditional Italian pizza, is a margherita pizza which has mozzarella cheese and tomatoes. Pizza can be and is often topped with meats and vegetables. Although pizza is a great dish, pasta is the most popular meal across Italy. Pasta is a noodle made from unleavened dough and formed into various sheets and shapes. Pasta is more dominant in southern Italy, but in the north, pasta or rice is served with every main meal. The main meat dish course is usually served after the pasta course at a fancy restaurant. After you have eaten the main courses, you get dessert! Gelato is one of the sweet desserts that are a favorite of many. Gelato is an Italian ice cream, made with milk, cream, and sugar. It is then flavored with fruit, nut purees, and other flavorings. Food in Italy is as interesting as it is tasty. People love eating it from all over the world.

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Religious figures and places have a huge role in leadership and influences life in Italy. A religious character in Italy is the pope. Below, is a picture of a pope. The pope, also known as the pontiff is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Catholic Church. Popes go back years and years, the first pope ever was Saint Peter. The current pope is Pope Francis. They make big decisions and lead the Roman Catholics. They are also head of Vatican City. Vatican is a city-state in Rome, Italy. It is the smallest state in the world, only 0.2 square miles and is home of the Pope. Its museums house famous sculptures and paintings. 1,000 people live in Vatican city. One of the oldest institutions in the world is the Roman Catholic Church, also called the Catholic Church. It is the largest christian church, that has over 1.29 billion members worldwide. The Catholic Church plays a big role in the development of the western civilization.

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Tourists in Italy are one of the reasons Italy’s economy is very good. There are so many tourists a year, that Italy makes a lot of money just from tourism. In fact, Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world, with 48.6 million tourists a year. Most of the visitors are from these countries, Germany, United States, France, China, and the United Kingdom. Italy has so many tourists because there are so many reasons to go to Italy. Students in college may go to Italy to study abroad. People travel to Italy for countless reasons, but the main reasons are to see its art, scenery, monuments, and landmarks. They go to witness its rich culture and fashion. They go to taste the unique cuisine and to relive the deep history. Tourism in Italy is possible because Italy is such an exciting country that is filled with fascinating landmarks and incredible cultures.

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The historical societies in Italy are very interesting and impact Italy in many ways today. Below is a picture of the remains of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire became a major power in 300 B.C when they expanded through the mediterranean region, but they crumbled due to many invasions in the 5th century A.D. It was influenced by the Greek civilization and the Italian Peninsula. The Italian is where a lot of civilizations in the west sprout from. One of the first civilizations to thrive in the Italian Peninsula were the Etruscans. They lived between the eighth century B.C and the second century B.C. They influence much of Italy today, especially central Italy. The Italian Peninsula was the cause of many cultural, architectural, and artistic revolutions for example the Renaissance in the 15th and 16th century. The historical societies in Italy deeply impact the roots of culture today.

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Imports and exports are vital to the Italian economy. The three biggest importers to Italy from around the world are Germany, France, and China who make up a third of all the imports of Italy. The main items imported are chemicals, motor vehicles, base metals, plastics, and textiles. The exports are also very necessary to Italy’s economy. The exports mostly from the north, precision machinery, metals, metal products, clothing, and footwear. Some exports that are mostly from the south are chemicals and food. Italy is also one of the world's’ biggest wine producers. Some other items that Italy exports are engineering products and electrical equipment; Vehicles, aircrafts and vessels; Base metals, steel, textiles are other exports from the industrial part of Italy. Italy is the eighth largest exporter in the world, in 2016, $514 billion was made by exports.

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In every language there are letters and words. In Italian, the language is a little bit different than other languages. Below is a picture of the alphabet. The Italian alphabet has 21 letters in it. They have mostly the same letters than in the English alphabet, except the letters J, K, W, X, and Y are not in the alphabet. The letters are also pronounced differently in the two languages. In Italian, there are accents that change the pronunciation of vowels, and different rules that change the pronunciation of consonants used in different words. These things make the Italian language a little bit more complicated. Simple words in Italian might be good to know if you are traveling to Italy or a place where Italian is spoken. If you meet someone in Italy you would greet them with “Hello” or “Ciao,” in Italian. You might want to know their name so you would say “Come si chiama?” (What is your name?). If you need help you could ask, “Mi può aiutare?” (Can you help me?). If they say “Sì,” they would be saying yes and would help. In that case, you should say “Grazie” (Thank you). If they say “Prego,” they are saying, “Your welcome.” Some other helpful terms to know are, “Come va?” (How are you?). “Good” is “Bene,” and “Bad,” is “Cattivo.” If you would like to ask if someone speaks english, you would say, “Parla Inglese?” Language is a great way to connect with other cultures and civilizations.

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Holidays show and celebrate history. Some holidays widely celebrated are Ferragosto, Carnevale, and Christmas. Below is a picture of a town celebrating Ferragosto. Ferragosto is the assumption of Virgin Mary. It is on August 15 and on that day, friends and families gather to spend time together and usually share a meal. Many Italians travel to mountains and seas. Villages and towns have celebrations, such as shooting fireworks. Another town has horse races. Carnevale is another holiday that Italians celebrate. They celebrate by having parades and other festivities. Parades have musicians, dancers, and people in costumes. Kids also like to dress up in costumes and gather candy during parades. The holiday is usually celebrated in February or March. The most famous Carnevale celebration is in Venice. Another holiday is Christmas is known in other countries too, but is celebrated differently. On Christmas Eve, children get presents. Families go to church and eat a dinner, fish is most commonly eaten. Christmas Day is enjoyed with a big meal. Families also play games, watch TV, and go on walks together. One of the most traditional foods eaten on Christmas is Panettone, a sweet bread. Markets open up all over towns that sell sweets and toys. Holidays are a great way to celebrate history.

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The leaders that fill the roles of president and prime minister can’t be anyone. The current leaders are displayed in the picture below. On the left, is the president of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. Adjacent to him, the prime minister, Paolo Gentiloni. They are both in the democratic party. Paolo was born on November 22, 1954, in Rome, Italy. He is currently 62 years old. The President Sergio Mattarella is 76 years old and was born on July 23, 1941, in Palermo, Italy. His wife is Marisa Chiazzese, and their kids are, Bernardo Giorgio Mattarella, Laura Mattarella, and Francesco Mattarella. Sergio lives in Quirinal Palace, in Rome, Italy. He lives there because that is where the presidents live in Italy. Alike the U.S. where the president lives in the White House. Sergio has been the president since 2015, he will be replaced in 2022. Paolo Gentiloni lives in Palazzo Chigi, in Rome, Italy, with his wife, Emanuela Mauro. His siblings are Chiara Gentiloni and Filippo Gentiloni. They are the leaders of the great government that Italy has.