Italy was unified in 1861, which included Sardinia and Sicily, under Victor Emmanuel, and hence the state of Italy was formed. Parliament democracy developed considerably in the twentieth century in Italy. In 1922, with Mussolini, Fascism took over the state. Mussolini’s alliance with Hitler in World War II proved to be disastrous and led to some serious problems for Italy. In the fifties, Italy joined NATO and also became a member of the EEC, now EU. This helped Italy revive its economy.

Since antiquity, Italians have had an impact on world culture. Italians are appreciated everywhere for their contribution in the form of sculptures, architecture, paintings, literature and music (especially opera).

The country shares its land boundaries with Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland. Italy is shaped like a boot extending into the Mediterranean Sea and forms other water bodies such as the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Sea. The highest point of Italy is Mont Blanc. Italy is also very famous for its volcanoes.