• Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country
• Rome is home to an independent state — the Vatican City
• Italians drink around 14 billion espressos a year
• The thermometer, piano and radio were all invented by Italians
• There are over 350 recognised pasta shapes
• Venice is built across 118 small islands
• Mount Etna in Sicily is Europe most active volcano
• The country has more than 1,500 lakes
• Italy was unified only in 1861 — younger than the USA
• The Italian flag colours stand for hope, faith and charity