You might very well be one of the 60 million tourists who visit Italy each year, and if so, then you probably know a lot about the Colosseum, the Vatican, Florence’s Duomo, and the canals of Venice. Here are some lesser known facts that may prove interesting, even to those experienced travelers. Did you know…?
*Venice restaurants pride themselves on offering fresh fish on their menu every evening. Since the fish merchants at the pescheria close on Sundays and Mondays, anyone ordering seafood on Monday evening is getting fish that is at least two days old.
*Italy has a population of almost 59 million people, as of the 2026 census. *Only four cities in Italy have a population greater than 1 million people in the urban area, according to Worldometer 2025 statistics. Those cities, in order, are: Naples 2.7 million Milan 2.6 million Rome 2.38 million Turin 1.15 million.
*The Pope’s bodyguards at the Vatican are the elite Swiss Guard, who are citizens of Switzerland and must meet certain criteria for the prestigious position. They must be male, Roman Catholic, between the ages of 18 and 30, and have previously served in the Swiss military. They must also be at least 5’7” tall and unmarried when they apply. A new rule allows for them to marry after serving for five years in the Guard.
*Education is mandatory in Italy to from ages 6 to 16. The University of Bologna, founded in the year 1088, is the oldest university in Europe, and initiated the idea of academic degrees.
*At one time Sicily was the largest Greek city in the world. Ancient ruins of Greek architecture can be found in Siracusa, Segesta, Selinunte, Taormina, and Valley of the Temples.
*While approximately 66% of Italians identify as Roman Catholic, only about 20% attend Mass regularly.
*Michelangelo’s famous Pieta, in St Peter’s Basilica, is his only work of art that he signed.
*Venice has an ordinance, dating back to the 17th century, requiring that all gondolas be painted black, except if they are owned by a high official. Previous to this, the gondolas were painted in bright colors. The gondolas in Venice are hand constructed, made from eight different woods including oak, cherry, fir, lime, walnut, mahogany, elm, and larch.
*Many different dialects are spoken in Italy, and the official language is Italian, which originated from the Tuscan dialect. The Vatican official newspaper is called L’Osservatore Romano. *Within Italy’s borders are two independent republics, the republic of San Marino, and Vatican City.
*Italy’s highest point is Mont Blanc, at an elevation of 4748 meters.
*Italy has the most volcanoes in all of Europe.They are Mount Etna, Stromboli, and Mount Vesuvius.
*The number 64 bus in Rome is the most common place in Italy for pickpockets to target. The route is popular with sightseers, as it runs from Stazione Termini, the main train station, to St Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
These are just a few interesting facts about Italy. I love feedback, so please consider leaving a comment or asking question. I’d love to hear from you. Grazie and Ciao.
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