Italy’s Population has grown up to 58,751,711 people according to the latest census. It is the fourth largest populated country of Europe and ranks twenty-second in the world. The great majority of the population speaks Italian (including several dialects). There are small German, French, and Slavic speaking minorities. Italy’s Population growth has been mainly affected by the high birth rate of 8.72 births per 1,000 people and relatively high life expectancy and low death rate of 10.4 deaths/1,000 people. The most populous cities are Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo and Genoa.

Italy has been a democratic republic since 2 June, 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. The constitution was promulgated on 1 January, 1948. The 1948 Constitution of Italy established a bicameral parliament, consisting of a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate, with a separate judiciary, and an executive branch composed of a Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister. The President of the Italian Republic is elected for seven years by the parliament sitting jointly with a small number of regional delegates.

Greeks settled in the southern tip of the Italian Peninsula in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. Etruscans, Romans, and others inhabited the central and northern mainland. The peninsula subsequently was unified under the Roman Republic. The neighbouring islands came under Roman control by the third century B.C. By the first century A.D., the Roman Empire effectively dominated the Mediterranean world. After the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West in the fifth century A.D., the peninsula and islands were subjected to a series of invasions, and political unity was lost.

The Italian economy has changed dramatically since the end of World War II. From an agriculturally based economy, it has developed into an industrial state ranked as the world’s sixth-largest market economy. Italy belongs to the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialized nations. It is a member of the European Union and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Italy’s economic strength is in the processing and manufacturing of goods, primarily in small and medium-sized family-owned firms.

Area: 301,318 km2

Population: 59.13 m

Capital City: Rome (population: 2.7 m)

The highest peak: Monte Bianco 4,807 m

The longest river: Po 652 km

The largest lake: Lago di Garda 370 km2

People: Mostly Italian, with small populations of German, French and Slovene Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south.

To add up, one can say, it is very beautiful country with its marvellous and clear beaches (superb for diving esp. Gozo). Famous for its history, its majestic churches, nice and welcoming people, nice weather all year round.

Information about Maltese culture - www.malta.cc

Malta jazz festival - www.maltajazzfest.com

Entry and visa requirements, about Malta and its people, travel conditions - www.traveldocs.com

Your First Maltese Lesson

Yes - Iva

No - Le

Thank you - Grazzi

You are welcome - M’hemmx imniex

Please - Jekk joghgbok

Excuse me - Skuzi

Hello - Hello

Goodbye - Sahha

Good morning - Bongu

Good night - Il-lejl it-tajjeb

I do not understand - Ma nifhimx

Do you speak...English? - Titkellem bl-....Ingliz?

What is you name? - X’jismek?

Nice to meet you - Ghandi pjacir

How are you? - Kif inti?

Malta is a beautiful island - Malta hija gzira sabiha

he Republic of Malta is a small but heavily populated island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean. Consisting of 7 islands it is a popular tourist resort due to it’s tropical climate, exciting nightlife, and a history dating back thousands of years. Please take time to browse the site and learn more about this gem of the Mediterranean. There is something here for every type of holidaymaker.

ETIQUETTE

Maltese culture defines correct behaviour and comportment in a variety of ways depending on status, familiarity, age, and social connections. They range from reserved and courtly to warm and expressive.

Men play brilli, a form of bowling often called ninepins, on a narrow street in Gozo,Malta.

Malta’s diplomatic and consular representation includes accreditation to 152 foreign countries and international organizations. Malta is host to 20 resident diplomatic missions, and 112 countries have non-resident diplomatic representation.