Italy is country with a rich cultural history. It is the fifth most populated country in Europe, following Germany, Turkey, France and the United Kingdom. Italy was once part of the Roman empire, with Rome being the capital of the Roman Empire. A person from Italy is referred to as an Italian, and the official language of Italy is Italian, although many Italians also speak French, English and
. German.The capital of Italy is Rome, which is also Italy's most populous city. Rome is known as "the eternal city." The history of Rome spans thousands of years. The story of the founding of Rome is told in Virgil's "The Aeneid." Rome has many different historical sites, including the ruins of the Colosseum, which was an ancient Roman arena that had many sporting events including gladiator battles. Rome is also the home of the famous St. Peter's Bascilica.Another famous city in Italy is Venice. Venice is known as the "City of Bridges" as well as the "City of Canals." The iconic mode of transportation around Venice is the gondola, a type of large, flat bottomed row boat. However, the gondola is now typically used to transport tourists and for weddings and funerals.Italy is also known for the leaning tower of Pisa, located in Pisa. The leaning tower of Pisa is the free standing bell tower of the Cathedral of Pisa. It is located in the Piazza del Duomo, also known as Pisa's Cathedral Square. The building is notable because it is not straight, but rather leaning to one side. The tower leans because its foundation is soft soil that is unstable. Eventually, the leaning tower will fall over unless the base is solidified.Italy is also well known for its different foods. Italian food has made its way to the United States in familiar forms including many different types of pasta and also pizza. More reference links: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/places/find/italy/ http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/italy-facts.html
