ITALY

HISTORY• Derived from term Italia, from Latin meaning "land of

young cattle”• The bull was a symbol of the southern Italian tribes during

the Samnite Wars• Italy was named after Italus, mentioned also by Aristotle

and Thucydides• Italic tribes : Umbrians, Latins , Volsci, Samnites, Celts

and Ligures inhabited northern Italy• Non-Indo-European heritage include the Etruscans, the

Elymians and Sicani in Sicily and the prehistoric Sardinians.

ANCIENT ITALY• 6th century- Byzantine Emperor Justinian I

reconquered Italy from Ostrogoths• The invasion of Germanic tribes, the

Lombards late in the same century, reduced the Byzantine presence to the Exarchate of Ravenna and other lands in southern Italy.

• The Lombard reign of northern and central Italy absorbed into the Frankish Empire by Charlemagne in the late 8th century

MIDDLE AGE• 8th and 7th centuries BC Greek colonies

established all along the coast of Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula became known as Magna Graecia

• The Phoenicians established colonies on the coasts of Sardinia and Sicily.

• 17th to the 11th century BC Mycenaean Greeks established contacts with Italy

• founded on 8th century BC, grew into a colossal empire encompassing the whole Mediterranean Sea

• 395 AD: the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire

• The western part, under Franks, the Vandals, the Huns, the Goths and other populations

• The eastern part became Roman legacy.

• 9th century- In the south, Sicily became an Islamic emirate , thrived until the Normans conquered it in the late 11th century, together with most of the Lombard and Byzantine states of southern Italy.

• In Sardinia, the former Byzantines provinces became independent states known as giudicati, island was under Genoese or Pisan control, until the Aragonese conquered it in the 15th century.

Foreign domination and Napoleonic Wars

• 17th–19th centuries: foreign rule• 17th century-Plague in italy• Napoleonic Wars in 18th century

Formation• Unification 17 March 1861 • Republic 2 June 1946• Prime minister

GEOGRAPHY

• Location: Southern Europe • The boot-shaped Italian Peninsula• lies between latitudes 35° and 48° N, and

longitudes 6° and 19° E• area 301,230 km², 294,020 km² is land and

7,210 km² is water • coastline and border of 7,600 km on the

Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian seas

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

•

CLIMATE• Highly diverse and , depending on location. • Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna,

have humid continental or temperate climate.• climate of the Po valley region is continental

with harsh winters and hot summers. • The coastal regions have mild winters and

warm and dry summers.

MAJOR CITIES • ROME: Capital city of Italy , largest and most

populous city, 2.8 million inhabitants. The historic capital of the Roman Empire

• VENICE: famous for its canals & palaces built on water. Venice is the Capital of the Veneto region

• population: 271,251.

• MILAN: One of the world capitals of design and fashion and capital of the Lombardy region.

• TURIN: Important industrial city • a business and cultural centre in northern

Italy • headquarter of the Fiat company.• Population: 908,000 inhabitants.

• BOLOGNA: Capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region.

• One of the top cities in Italy in terms of quality of life

• FLORENCE: one of the most important Renaissance architectural and art centers.

• Duomo and Baptistery are magnificent

MAJOR CITIES

RANK CITY POPUL. RANK CITY POPUL.

1 ROME 2761477 8 FLORENCE 371282

2 MILAN 1324110 9 BARI 320475

3 NAPLES 959574 10 CATANIA 293458

4 TURIN 907563 11 VENICE 270884

5 PALERMO 655875 12 VERONA 263964

6 GENOA 607906 13 MESSINA 242503

7 BOLOGNA 380181 14 PADUA 214198

INTERESTING FACTS• The Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral • ranks 84th in the world for ecological

sustainability.• one of the world's largest producers of

renewable energy

• Italian Scuderia Ferrari is the oldest surviving team in Grand Prix racing

• Italy won the 2006 FIFA World Cup• currently the second most successful football

team in the world, after Brazil, having won four FIFA World Cups.

• Genoa: Hometown of explorer Christopher Columbus, composer Niccolò Paganini, actor Vittorio Gassman.

• Milan's Bocconi University, ranked among the top 20 best business schools in the world

• Forbes has ranked Bocconi no. 1 worldwide in the specific category Value for Money

• It ranks no. 5 in Europe and no. 15 in the world.

• La Sapienza University in Rome is Europe's largest, with 140,000 students

• Mont Blanc - the highest point in Italy and the European Union

• 14 volcanoes in Italy, three of which are active: Etna , Stromboli and Vesuvius

• Most famous Indian politician i.e Mrs. Sonia Gandhi is a native of Italy

• Birth place of pizza & pasta• Red flower: secrecy• Purple flower: bad luck• Yellow flower : jealousy

POPULATION• Italy has the fourth-largest population in the

European Union and the 23rd-largest population worldwide with estimation of 60.6 million.

• The population density- 200 persons per sq km, is the fifth highest in the European Union.

• About 68% of Italian population is classified as urban contributed mainly by:

• Milan 7.4 million Rome 3.7million• Naples 3.1million Turin 2.2 million

CULTURE

• Despite the political and social distinction of regions, Italy's contributions to the cultural and historical heritage of Europe and the world is immense.

• Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has rich collections of world art, culture and literature from many different periods due to emigrations during Italian diaspora.

• 100,000 monuments of any sort.

LANGUAGES• official language: Italian• numerous dialects spoken all over the country

and some Italians cannot speak Italian at all. • FRIULIAN: one of the dialects• a number of minority languages have co-

official status. French is co-official in the Valle d’Aosta.

• German has the same status as that of French.

RELIGION• Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and

Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

• 74% Italians believe in God, or a form of a spiritual life force.

• 16% believe there is some sort of spirit or life force.

• 6% do not believe that there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force.

FAMILY VALUES • The family: centre of the social structure and

provides a stabilizing influence for its members.

• In the north nuclear family lives together • In the south the extended family resides

together in one house.

ITALIAN STYLES• Appearances matter in Italy • Dress indicate social status, family's background

and education level• First impressions are lasting impressions• The concept of 'bella figura' • Clothes are important to Italians. •

ETIQUETTES & CUSTOMS

• MEETING ETIQUETTE

• GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE

• DINING ETIQUETTE

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

• Relationships & Communication• Business Meeting Etiquette• Dressing etiquette• Business cards

ARCHITECTURE• Broad and diverse architectural style.• considerable architectural achievements • Colosseum, the Milan Cathedral and Florence

cathedral, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the building designs of Venice.

FESTIVALS• Nevada county Italian festival: 17& 18 sep• Festa Italiana: 1st weekend of August• The sicilian festival: 18th May

VISUAL ART• Painting: a warmth of colour and light, as

shown in the works of Caravaggio and Titian• Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello

Botticelli, Fra Angelico,Caravaggio,Bernini, Titian and Raphael

• The Last Supper& Mona Lisa

LITERATURE • The Divine Comedy by poet Dante Alighieri• Giovanni Boccaccio, Giacomo Leopardi,

Alessandro Manzoni, Torquato Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto and Petrarch

THEATRE• Italian theatre reveal Roman tradition• Dramatists translate from the Greek.• Seneca's Phaedra was based on Euripides• The comedies of Plautus were direct

translations of Menander• Travelling troupes amuse people in the form

of juggling, acrobatics and humorous plays

MUSIC• classical music has played an important role in

Italian culture.• Instruments like piano and violin, were invented

in Italy, and many of the prevailing classical music forms such as the symphony, concerto, and sonata were innovations of 16th and 17th century.

• the birthplace of oper, founded in the early 17th century, in cities such as Mantua and Venice.

• jazz has a strong foothold in Italy. Most notable centers of jazz music in Italy include Milan, Rome, and Sicily.

• Italian pop music is represented annually with the Sanremo Music Festival which served as inspiration for the Eurovision song contest, and the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto.

CINEMA• 1903 and 1908 :The Italian film industry born

three companies: the Società Italiana Cines, the Ambrosio Film and the Itala Film

• The first Italian film was a few seconds long, showing Pope Leo XIII giving a blessing to the camera.

• After the war, Italian film widely recognised

SCIENCE

• Through the centuries, Italy has given birth to some notable scientific minds

• Some are Leonardo da vinci , Galileo Galilei, Enrico Fermi

• Nobel laureate Camillo Golgi discovered Golgi complex received the Nobel Prize for his work

SPORTS• long sporting tradition• most popular sport: football• Basketball and volleyball: next most popular

games• It has also got strong traditions in cycling,

tennis, athletics, fencing, cycling, motorbiking and rugby.

FASHION & DESIGN

History of Italian fashion• Italian fashion has a long

tradition, is regarded as one of the most important in the world.•Most fashionable in Europe• recognized as the cradle and

birthplace of the Renaissance

CLASSIC ITALIANFor womenFor men

Bridal Gowns And Wedding Dresses

• According to the 2009 Global Language Monitor, Milan was nominated the true fashion capital of the world.

• Major Italian fashion labels are Gucci, Prada, Versace, Valentino, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Fendi, Moschino, Max Mara and Ferragamo

• Vogue Italia- the fashion magazine.

• Prominent in the field of design basically interior design, architectural design, industrial design and urban design.

• Italy has produced some well-known furniture designers, such as Gio Ponti and Ettore Sottsass.

• The latest trends in footwears emerge from italy only and then spread to whole of the world.

CUISINE

ITALIAN FOODS• history of Italian cooking• Italian food has become famous all over the

world• Its pasta based dishes and the use of cheese• The food is mostly combined with sauces

List of Dishes and recipes

• Braciole• Bruschetta • Bresaola• Crostini con condimenti misti• Capicollo• Culatello• Curried Braised Rabbit stew• Insalata caprese• Insalata russa• Mozzarelline fritte (fried small mozzarellas)

Soup and sauce recipes

• Acquacotta• Bagna càuda• Garmugia• Ginestrata• Minestrone• Pasta e fagioli• Sugo al Pomodoro• Fonduta• Grine Sauce

RICE DISHES

• Arancine di riso• Basic Risotto• Insalata di riso• Pomodori col riso• Risotto alla milanese or Risotto with saffron• Risi e bisi• Risotto con la lüganega• Riso with schrimps• Riso con piselli (risi e bisi)• Riso alla toscana• Riso al nero di seppia

Italian Desserts

Pastiera Napoletana

Peach jam tart with Amaretti

Strawberry jam tart Zelten

Cake with Orange Juice

Traditional Italian Biscuits

Biscuits with Hazelnuts

November Biscuits

Cenci

Chocolate Carnival Balls

Almond Biscuits

SHOPPING CENTRES

• CAMPANIA: situated in Marcianise & started in April 2003 by a company called Corio

• I GIGLI: Company’s largest shopping centre and one of the most important in Italy , situated in Tuscany

• A bike sharing scheme is in operation• electric car charge points in the car park

• PORTA DI ROMA: innovative & Europe’s biggest shopping centre opened in July 2007 situated in Rome

• ROMA EST: one of the biggest shopping center in Italy, placed outside the city of Rome but it is quite easy to reach

• VULCANO BUONO: a shopping mall and leisure center located in Nola. Inaugurated on December 7, 2007 & designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano

EDUCATION

• public education is free and compulsory from 6 to 15 years of age and has a five-year primary stage and an eight-year secondary stage.

• an above-average output of scientific papers as compared to 90 countries in world.

• 15 Italian universities ranked in the 2010 QS World University Rankings

• two are ranked in the Top 200 of the world

• University of Bologna: oldest college

• Sapienza University of Rome

• The University of Padua

• Milan universities

• Other universities

TOURISM• Italy is the fourth highest tourist earner, and

fifth most visited country in the world• more than 43.2 million tourists a year visit the

country• rich art, cuisine, history, fashion and culture, its

beautiful coastline and beaches, its mountains, ancient monuments especially those from the Greek civilization and Roman civilization.

• Tourism is one of the fastest growing and most profitable industrial sectors, with an estimated revenue of $42.7 billion

• the first actual tourists to come to Italy were aristocrats during the Grand Tour, in late 17th century, and flourishing in the 18th century.

• Rome attracted thousands tourists from all over the world which included most of the Mediterranean, Northern Africa,England and the parts of the Middle East

• Traders and merchants came to Italy from several different parts of the world.

• Top attractions : Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples and Sicily• By the 1850s, less-cultural visits began to be made, and

several tourists also came to Italy for its nature and weather• Ligurian coast around Venice, coastal Tuscany and the Amalfi

coast are popular.• Capri, Ischia, Procida and Elba, and the Northern Lakes, such

as Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Lake Garda

• Tourism remained very popular until the late-1920s and early-1930s

• Economic depression & political instability reduced the tourism rate

• Italian economic miracle and raised living standards: increased tourism

• Cheap hotels• Ski resorts & chalets were built

• Northwest Italy: Turin, the manufacturing capital & Milan, the

business and fashion capital of the country• NortheastItaly:Venice,Verona,Vicenza, Padua, Trento, Bolzano, Bolog

na, Ferrara, Piacenza• Central Italy: the world's best known landmarks such as

the Colosseum. Florence, Tuscany's most visited city, nearby cities like Siena, Pisa, and Lucca also have rich cultural heritages.

• SOUTHERN ITALY-Apulia,Basilicata,Calabria,Campania & Molise.

• Naples• Sicily- largest island in the country &famous for

its archaeology, seascape and unique Sicilian cuisine

• Sardinia- Large island, 250 kilometers west of the Italian coastline, includes beaches and archaeological ruins

ECONOMY

• Economy changed from agriculture to industrial state

• Seventh largest economy in the world• Unemployment is around 8.4% in 2011 and is

forecast to remain around that level for years• The major economy is constituted by-• Corporation• Transports• Tourism

• Itlay has capitalist economy.• Italy is member of the Group of Eight (G8)

industrialized nations.• The country is also well-known for its

influential and innovative business economic sector

CORPORATIONS

• Smaller number of global multinational corporations.

• Large number of small and medium-sized enterprises

• "industrial triangle" (Milan-Turin-Genoa) • “Tuscan industrial triangle” (Florence-Prato-

Pistoia)

• country was the world's 7th largest exporter in 2009.

• Italy's major exports and companies by sector are motor vehicles ,chemicals and petrochemicals, electrical engineering, home appliances, aerospace and defense technologies, firearms , fashion; food processing, sport and luxury vehicles ,yachts.

Trade partners

• Italy's closest trade ties are with the other countries of the European Union, with whom it conducts about 59% of its total trade. Its largest EU trade partners, in order of market share, are Germany (12.9%), France (11.4%), and Spain (7.4%).

Trade relations with India

• Trade relations since 1929• 1966- Indo Italy chamber of commerce & industry

established• Italy is the fourth largest trading partner with India• India exports such items as textiles,chemicals ,

dyes , minerals such as iron ore , food products• Italy exports machinery , oils , textile including

weaving , spinning machines• An agreement signed regarding this

Tourism

• Fastest growing and profitable sector of the national economy

• 43.7 million international tourist arrivals and total receipts estimated at $42.7 billion.

• Fourth highest tourism earner and the fifth most visited country in the world.

• Italy's most popular tourist attractions are the Colosseum , the ruins at Pompeii , Florence & Venice

Transport

• 2011: turnover of about 119.4 billion euros.• Employment: 935,700 persons in 153,700 enterprises.• National road network : 34,667,000 passenger cars and

4,015,000 goods vehicles circulated • National railway network : 16,287 km of which 69% is

electrified, 4,937 locomotives and railcars circulated• National inland waterways network : 1,477 km of

navigable rivers and channels . 30 main airports and 43 seaports

• In 2005 Italy maintained a civilian air fleet of about 389,000 units and a merchant fleet of 581 ships

FOREIGN RELATIONS

TOP ITALIAN COMPANIES

ENEL UTILITIES one of the largest European utility providers,

with a home base in Italy and subsidiaries in Spain, Russia, Latin America and Eastern Europe

produces, distributes and sells electricity and gas all over Europe, North America and Latin America

ENI OIL an Italian multinational oil and gas company,

present in 70 countries, and currently Italy's largest industrial company with a market capitalization of 87.7 billion euros

• partner with ONGC and GAIL India

GENERALI GROUP INSURANCE• founded in 1831 in Trieste, is one of the most

significant participants in the global insurance and financial products market

• Now present in 40 Countries• market shares in Germany, France, Austria,

Spain, Switzerland and Israel

INTESA SANPAOLO BANKING• the top banking groups in the euro zone• leader in Italy in all business areas (retail,

corporate and wealth management)• 5,700 branches • Subsidiaries in Central-Eastern Europe, Middle

East and North Africa with a network of more than 1,700 branches

UNI CREDIT GROUP BANKING• an Italy-based, pan-European banking

organization• Subsidiaries in 22 countries• Registered office in Rome • Divisionsin London, Milan, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and Warsaw

Italian companies operating in India

• Fiat India• Benetton India• ST microelectronics• Wellspun zucchi textiles• Perfetti van melle india

HEALTH &CARE

• public healthcare system since 1978.Healthcare account for more than 9.0% of GDP

• world's 2nd best healthcare system, and the world's 3rd best healthcare performance

• 12th highest worldwide life expectancy • Smoking in public places including bars,

restaurants, night clubs and offices has been restricted to specially ventilated rooms since 2005.

MAJOR HEALTH CARE SECTORS

• Aurelia Hospital• Aventino Medical Group• Bambino Gesu• Grimaldi Medical Group • Mundi International Hospital

SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGTHS:5th largest industrial economy of world:important member of G8: fashion hub:processing & manufacturing of goodsLeading exporter in apparel trade

WEAKNESS:Limited natural resources:Imports are high: high public debts:expensive labour:high crime zone

OPPORTUNITIES:World’s 4th largest gold reserve:Better relations with India, U.S , China:Import of energy for processing & manufacturing:Oracle & Microsoft has started it’s operation in the country

THREATS:uncertainity in retail sector:economic division between northern & southern Italy:low production rate of apparels:security & potential threats from terrorists & other gangs

ITALY AT A GLANCE

• Capital city: Rome• Republic day: 2nd June• National flag: Tri coloured flag • National animal: Italian Wolf• National flower: white lily or poppy• National anthem: Carto de italiana• National bird: bluebird• National game: football • Currency: Euro(56.69 indian rupees)