Italy By: Maddie & Sachia

Are We There Yet??  Italy is in Southern Europe.  It is south of Switzerland and east of France.

How To Dress And What To Look For  Most of Italy has a mild climate of sunny summers and rainy winters. In spring and summer, hot dry winds called siroccos blow across Italy from North Africa.  A peninsula that sticks out of Europe into the center of the Mediterranean Sea. “Looks like a boot about to kick a to kick a triangular football”(“Football”- Sicily, an island that belongs to Italy.) Alps tower over Northern Italy. Volcanic mountains through the southern part of the peninsula and Sicily, eruptions and earthquakes happen.

Money, Money, Money, Money, Money  In the past 50 years, Italy has changed from a mainly agricultural country into one of the world’s leading industrial economies.  Most products are made in Northern Italy.  Italian businesses are known for creating new designs and methods for making products.  Italy is a member of the European Union.  Most of the country’s manufacturing takes place in Northern Italy.  What do people like about the Alps? Skiing.  Do you see any cars in Venice? No, because it’s crisscrossed by canals and relies on boats for transportation.  What’s common in Southern Italy is unemployment and poverty.

When In Rome  Italy’s capital and largest city is Rome.  After World War II, Italy became a democratic republic.  Coalition government, is when two or more political parties work together to run a country.  Let’s see… about 57.2 million people live in Italy.  70% live in towns and cities.  Work in manufacturing and service jobs is 90%  The Italian language comes from Latin.

Sunday  The percent of Italians that are Roman Catholic is 95%  Vatican City, surrounded by Rome, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.  And on to your right is the world’s largest church is in Vatican City, it’s called St.Peter’s Basilica.

Italian Food  Pasta, made from flour and water, is the basic dish in Italy.  Some pasta dishes are lasagna,(top) spaghetti,(middle) and ravioli (bottom).

Pope Benedict XVI  Pope Benedict XVI (German) born Joseph Alois Ratzinger on 16 April 1927 is the 265th and reigning Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church, and as such, Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May Pope Benedict XVI has both German and Vatican citizenship. He succeeded Pope John Paul II.German16 April thPopeBishop of RomeRoman Catholic ChurchSovereignVatican City State19 April2005papal conclavePapal InaugurationMass24 April2005Basilica of St. John Lateran7 May2005citizenshipPope John Paul II  Benedict XVI is a well-known Roman Catholic theologian and a prolific author, a defender of traditional Catholic doctrine and values. He served as a professor at various German universities and was a theological consultant at the Second Vatican Council before becoming Archbishop of Munich and Freising and Cardinal. At the time of his election as Pope, Benedict had been Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (curial heads lose their positions upon the death of a pope) and was Dean of the College of Cardinals.Roman Catholic theologianauthordoctrineprofessorvarious German universitiesSecond Vatican CouncilArchbishop of Munich and FreisingCardinalPrefect Congregation for the Doctrine of the FaithcurialDean of the College of Cardinals  During his papacy, Benedict XVI has emphasized what he sees as a need for Europe to return to fundamental Christian values in response to increasing de-Christianisation and secularisation in many developed countries. He teaches the importance for the Catholic Church and for humanity of contemplating God's salvific love and has reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism and the growing secularism of many Christians engaged in charitable work."Christian valuesChristianisationsecularisationdeveloped countriesGod

The Legend of the Tarantella  No Italian wedding or celebration would be complete without the rhythmic song and dance of the tarantella. It is the most popular of all the Italian songs and it is even considered by many as the song of Italy. The song is both lively and graceful and the dance is one of light and quick steps mixed with passionate gestures. Its origin dates back to the Middles Ages and traces of a similar song can even be found in Magna Graecia  Legend states that between the 15th and 17th centuries an epidemic of tarantism swept through the town of Taranto in southern Italy. This was as a result of being bit by the poisonous tarantula spider. The victim, which is referred to as the tarantata, was almost always a woman but never a high ranking lady or one of an aristocratic upbringing. Once bitten the tarantata would fall into a trance that could only be cured by frenzied dancing. People would surround the victim while musicians would play mandolins, guitars and tambourines in search of the correct rhythm. Each beat would have a different effect on the tarantata causing various movements and gestures. Once the correct rhythm was found it was almost certain that the tarantata was cured.  As legends have it there always seems to be more than one version. Another version states that a woman who was depressed and frustrated from the subordinate lifestyle would fall into a trance that could only be cured by music and dance. This normally lasted three days and during that time the tarantata would be the center of attention, which in turn would cure them of their frustrations and depressions.  Of these two variations that most popular is the one in which the victim is bitten by the poisonous tarantula. This is why the tarantella is sometimes referred to as the dance of the spider.