Buongiorno ragazzi (Good morning guys). I’m sure most of you are itching to visit Italy (if you haven’t already). After all, Italy is known for its beautiful cities, rich culture, exquisite food, and wine…lots of it. But aside from the obvious, Italy is a very interesting place and today we’re going to show you some of the lesser known and more interesting aspects of life in the land of pizza and gondolas. These are 25 awesome and quirky facts about Italy.
25
The mafia accounts for 7% of Italy's GDP
Source: telegraph.co.uk, Image: wikipedia 24
In spite of that (or maybe because of it?), it has the 8th largest economy in the world
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 23
The Italian traffic police have been known to use Lamborghini Gallardos
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 22
In Venice, all the gondolas are legally required to be painted black
Source: wikipedia, Image: pixabay 21
On the topic of legal requirements, apparently in Milan you are obligated to constantly smile...by law. As for whether anyone actually cares, well that's another topic
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: wikipedia 20
In Italy, pepperoni refers to bell peppers. There is no Italian sausage that goes by that name
Source: nytimes.com, Image: wikipedia 19
Tomatoes actually came from America and weren't introduced to Italy until the 1500s
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 18
Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna is the oldest university in the world that is still in operation
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 17
There is a tower rising out of Lake Reschensee which is the only remaining vestige of a completely submerged village
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 16
The Grotta Palazzese is actually built right into a grotto
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: tumblr.com 15
In Italy, football (soccer) fans are called "tifosi" which means "carrier of typhus" because their fanaticism is like a fever
Source: swdld.com, Image: wikipedia 14
Italy has more UNESCO world heritage sites than any other country with 50
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 13
Italy is the largest producer of wine in the world
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 12
Founded in 301 AD, San Marino is the world's oldest republic and it is completely surrounded by Italy
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 11
San Marino also holds the world's oldest constitution written in 1600
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 10
WhatsApp has been cited in nearly 50% of Italian divorce proceedings
Source: globalpost.com, Image: wikipedia 9
The original Christ of the Abyss is located just off the coast of the Italian Riviera
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 8
Galileo's fingers are on display at a museum in Florence
Source: dailymail.co.uk, Image: wikipedia 7
"Ferrari" as a last name is basically the Italian equivalent of "Smith"
Source: genealogy.about.com, Image: wikipedia 6
It is illegal to die in Falciano del Massico because the town's cemetery is full
Source: huffingtonpost.com, Image: wikipedia 5
The Vatican City, another country contained entirely within Italy, is the only nation that can lock its gates at night
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 4
With 150,000 students, the University of Rome is Europe's largest university
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 3
Single children typically live at home even until their 30s
Source: randomhistory.com, Image: wikipedia 2
Italy has three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli
Source: lifeinitaly.com, Image: wikipedia 1
Italy introduced Europe to ice cream via the Chinese
Source: randomhistory.com, Image: wikipedia 
