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The regions of ItalyItaly stretches between 47º 06' and 35º 30' N. Its climate is greatly influenced by the Mediterranean which surrounds three-quarters of its territory. The total area is 301 316 km2 and on 1 January 2001 the resident population was 57 844 000, giving a density of 192 inhabitants per km2. Mountains, which include the mighty ranges of the Alps and the Apennines, cover 35% of the country, with hills and plains accounting for 42 and 23% respectively. The history of Italy has been marked by a variety of events, which have often had an impact far beyond the borders of the country. Italy became a single nation in 1870 and it is now a republic with a parliament consisting of two chambers elected by universal suffrage. The two houses of the parliament (the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, both elected for five years) jointly elect the Head of State (President of the Republic) who holds office for seven years. Italy consists of 21 regions at the top level of administrative subdivision. Depending on the level of autonomy which they enjoy or their particular geographic or ethnic circumstances, these regions are classified as having either a special or ordinary constitution. At the second level of subdivision there are provinces. The third level comprises the municipalities, of which there were 8 102 in 2001. The territory of Italy includes two sovereign States: - the Vatican City (1 000 inhabitants in 5.7 km2) - the Republic of San Marino (28 000 inhabitants in 61 km2) |
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