By: Camille Bartley(:

Italy has been a democratic republic since June 2, 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. The constitution was promulgated on January 1, 1948.

As of January 2011 Italy is estimated to have around 60.6 million people.

The Capital of Italy is Rome!

1.77 trillion (2010) Percapita $29, (2010)

Industry: Types--tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics. Natural resources: coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land Religions: predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

January include Feast Days of San Antonio Abate and San Sebastiano. February: Carnevale, Italian carnival. March festivals are the Marriage of Venice to the Sea and the Palio dei Somari, a donkey race. April: festival of San Marco, and Saint George's Day. May: flower festivals, food and wine festivals, medieval reenactments, and events celebrating rituals of spring.

June: Festa della Repubblica on June 2 is a national Italian holiday. July: Festa de la Madonna Bruna. August: Ferragosto (Assumption Day) on August 15. September: festivals include Venice's historic regatta, the Feast of San Gennaro in Naples, and the Feast Day of San Michele. October: Halloween is not such a big celebration in Italy

November: Truffles are the star of November Festivals in Italy. December: December 8 weekend generally starts the Italian Christmas holiday season.