Western Europe.

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

301,338 sq km (116,346 sq miles).

58.9 million (UN estimate 2007).

195.4 per sq km.

Rome. Population: 2.6 million (2005).

Italy is situated in Europe and attached in the north to the European mainland. To the north, the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Northern Italy: The Alpine regions, the Po Plain and the Dolomites. Piedmont and Val d'Aosta contain some of the highest mountains in Europe and are good areas for winter sports. Rivers flow down from the mountains passing through the beautiful Italian Lake District (Maggiore, Como, Garda) to the fertile Po Basin, which extends as far south as the bare slopes of the Appennines, and has long been one of Italy's most prosperous regions. Central Italy: The northern part of the Italian peninsula. Tuscany (Toscana) has a diverse landscape with snow-capped mountains, lush countryside, hills and a long sandy coastline. To the east is Umbria, known as the ‘green heart of Italy'; hilly with broad plains, olive groves and pines, and Le Marche - a region of gentle mountains, rivers and small fertile plains. Further south lies Rome, Italy's capital city. Within its precincts is the Vatican City. Southern Italy: The south is wilder than the north, with mile upon mile of olive trees, cool forests and rolling hills. Campania consists of flat coastal plains and low mountains, stretching along a rocky coast to the Calabrian border. The islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida in the Tyrrhenian Sea are also part of Campania. Puglia, the ‘heel of the boot', is a landscape of volcanic hills and isolated marshes. Calabria, the ‘toe', is wild, heavily forested and thinly populated. The Islands: Sicily (Sicilia), visible across a 3km (2-mile) strait from mainland Italy, is famed for its active volcano Mount Etna and lava fields. Sardinia (Sardegna) has a mountainous landscape, fine sandy beaches and rocky offshore islands.

Member since 1958.

Kingdom of Italy declared in 1861. Republic since 1946.

President Giorgio Napolitano since 2006.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi (outgoing).

Romano Prodi and his government resigned in January 2008 after losing a confidence vote in the Senate. Elections in April 2008 were won by media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, securing a third term as premier after two years in opposition.

In the April 2006 general elections, Romano Prodi, former prime minister and leader of the centre-left coalition, won a narrow victory in both the lower house and the Senate. Berlusconi disputed the result and initially refused to concede, despite court rulings confirming Prodi's majority in both houses.

Italian is the official language. Dialects are spoken in different regions. German is spoken in the South Tyrol region (bordering Austria). French is spoken in all the border areas from the Riviera to the area north of Milan (border with France and Switzerland). English, French and German are also spoken in the biggest cities and in tourism and business circles.

87.8% Roman Catholic with Muslim and Protestant minorities.

230 volts AC, 50Hz.

The social structure is heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic church and, generally speaking, family ties are stronger than in most other countries in Western Europe. Normal social courtesies should be observed. Dress is casual but smart in most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, transport and cinemas.