World Facts

What Continent Is Italy In?

Italy is located in the southern portion of the continent of Europe, jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea.

Italy is located in the continent of Europe. Italy was officially recognized as a state after acquiring its independence in 1720. In 2012, Italy had a population of approximately 61 million people with a population density of 208 persons per square kilometer. Italy hosts over 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it a significant tourist destination in the world.

Geography of Italy

Italy is located on the Southern Peninsula. It is bordered by Switzerland, France, Croatia, San Marino, Vatican, and Slovenia. It is also bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the East, Ionian Sea to the Southeast, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest. Italy covers an area of 301,300 sq. km, making it the 10th largest country in Europe and the 72nd largest country in the world. It is located between 42° 50' N latitudes and 12° 50' E longitudes. The country’s terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous. There are 14 volcanoes in Italy, 4 of which are active. The largest and the capital city of Italy is Rome. Rome has been known to be a home for Christianity in the past. Italy has quite a large number of islands. The islands include Sicily and Sardinia.

Climate of Italy

Due to its close proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, Italy is dominated by the Mediterranean climate. The summers are usually relatively hot, with clear clouds. The winters in the country tend to be extremely cold, with snowfalls in the mountainous regions. The temperatures of spring and autumn are usually moderate, with occasional thunderstorms during the two seasons.

Italy's Location In Europe

Italy strategically lies at the meeting point of the African and the Eurasian Plate. For this reason, there have been some controversies on exactly which continent Italy is located in. Besides from its location, its territory, the Sicily Island, is situated on the northeast of Tunisia, a country in Africa. Its location at the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate has seen the country experiences numerous volcanic eruptions. So, one would ask, why is Italy, despite its location, considered to be in Europe and not in Africa or Asia?

Italy is located in the southernmost region of the continent of Europe. The country lays in Europe, but it shares the boundary with the Eurasian plate, while some of its Islands have a close proximity to the countries in North Africa. To add to the already existing evidence, Italy is a member of European associations such as the European Union, and not of Asia or Africa. Italy also takes part in European Games events.

Government of Italy

Italy is a parliamentary representative state. The state is a multi-party democracy. The country has been a democratic state since 1946 after the abolition of the Monarch through a referendum. The head of state is the president, who appoints the prime minister who becomes the head of Government. The bi-cameral parliament elects the president to serve a seven-year term. Elections are also held to elect Italy’s representatives to the European Parliament. In fact, Italy has produced leaders such as Romano Prodi, who served as President of the European Commission until 2004

What Continent is Italy In?


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