Italy: 301,338 sq.km for about 59 million inhabitants. Capital: Rome. Italy is in Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea. Climate predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south. Terrain mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands. Time zone: GMT +1. Religions: Christian, Jewish, Islam etc. Electricity current 230 Volts. The biggest towns include: Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, etc. Driving on the right hand side. Currency Euro: 1 US$ = 0.69 euro approx. Official language: Italian. Italy has a diversified industrial economy. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south. Major industries are tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics. Football (calcio) is the most popular spectator and participation sport. The Italian national team has won the World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006). Other popular sports are rugby, cycling, auto racing, basketball, winter sports.