25 Things you didn’t know about Italy
Our today’s luxury topic covers one of the greatest countries in the World in terms of tourism and not only. For decades Italy has been one of the top destinations in Europe, where people traveled to find a great cultural experience. Here are the 25 things you didn’t know about Italy!
Although unifying Italy represented a great effort that lasted for decades, even today two Italys exist. The Northern region, which is very developed and industrialized, and the Southern region known as Mezzogiorno -land of the midday sun- which is less developed in terms of agriculture.
When we say that Italy is a great tourist destination, we really mean it. Here, you can have a great vacation no matter the season. In Winter you can ski in the fabulous Alps and in the Summer you can visit the numerous attractions that made Italy an undisputed cultural mecca.
There is nothing better than a brunch in Rome, a glass of red wine, the street music and of course the company of good friends. Get ready for an amazing adventure into the heart of a great country. These are the 25 things you didn’t know about Italy!
1. In 2007, a dog discovered in Tuscany a truffle that weighed 3.3 pounds. It was sold for $330,000 and it was a World record.
2. When McDonald’s was first opened in Rome in 1986, a group of people gave away free spaghetti outside the restaurant, as a reminder of their culinary heritage.
3. Italy has the eight largest economy in the World
4. Italy has the largest number of UNESCO sites in the World.
5. San Marino has the oldest functional constitution, and it is also the oldest republic in the World.
6. The only time the Olympic Games has been held in Italy, was in 1960 in Rome.
7. Vatican City, an independent state that is situated within Italy, is the only state that can lock its gates at night; it also has its own money, stamps, phone company and of course its own army, the Swiss Guard.
8. One-third of the Italian residents have never accessed the internet in their whole life.
9. Over a third of single men, with the age between 30-35, are still living with their parents.
10. Between 1861 and 1985, over 26 million of Italians left their country so seek for a better life.
11. The Italian fascist Benito Mussolini tried to eliminate all the foreign words, and replace them with some of their own. Mickey Mouse became “Topolino”, Donald Duck “Paperino” and Goofy became “Pippo”. This names are used even today, although the ban has been lifted.
12. More than a half of the Italian people can’t afford a real vacation.
13. Italians are very religious people; over half a million Italians visit an Exorcist every year.
14. In 1454 they replaced all the bloody duels with a game of chess; the winner would get the chance of marrying a beautiful girl. This event is commemorated in even-number years, in September. The town’s main piazza is turned into a life-size chess board.
15. Galileo left this World showing us his middle finger. Well, to be more precise, you can find it displayed in a museum in Florence, Italy.
16. In Italy there is an island called Poveglia that is deprived from the human access, because they think that is haunted.
17. Here’s a story similar to Prison Break: in 2013 a man that was arrested at home, asked to be transferred to prison, to help his wife escape. That is true love!
18. I don’t think that I can write this next fact without getting angry, but here it goes. Piero Manzoni, an Italian artist filled almost 100 cans with feces and called it “Artist’s Feces”. He managed to sell them for €124,000 a tin. Pretty artistic, right?
19. If you thought that the previous fact was outrageous, don’t rush up! After a multi-millionaire died, he left all his fortune to his cat. $13 million to a freaking CAT! What’s wrong with you people?
20. Hold on, there is more! Leonarda Cianciulli, an infamous Italian serial killer, used to turn all of shes victims into tea cakes, and then served them to guests. Yeah, I think I prefer some “Artist’s Feces” now.
21. Can you believe that there is a place in Italy where it’s illegal to die? Due to the fact that the cemetery is full, in Falciano Del Massico they thought that is a good idea to make a law that says that it is illegal to die. What if I wanna be turned into tea cake, and spare you the trouble? Is that illegal too?
22. In 2012 they made a law that says that is illegal to say to a man that he has “no balls”. What if he really doesn’t have them?
23. The World’s oldest University that still operates to this day, is the University of Bologna, and it was founded in 1088.
24. If it happens for you to be e Rastafarian in Italy, than you are a very lucky guy. It is legal to possess Marijuana due to their religion beliefs.
25. It is illegal for a man to wear a skirt on the streets of Italy.
Thank you for having the patience to read our today’s 25 things you didn’t know about Italy article, and we hope you enjoyed it!
So, what is your favorite fact, and which is the first one that you are gonna share with your friends? If you have some more opinions about our article, leave them in the comment section below!
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