Italy Geography

ITALY: Located in southern Europe, Italy is a peninsula extending into the Central Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot kicking a "triangle"—the island of Sicily. Italy borders France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the east. The country also shares a border with 2 tiny independent states, San Marino and the Vatican, both of which are entirely surrounded by Italian territory.

coordinates è 42 50 N, 12 50

Italy:Italy is a democratic republic.

On June 2nd, 1946 the monarchy was abolished by popular referendum. The constitution was promulgated on January 1st, 1948. It established a bicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate), a separate judiciary, and an executive branch composed of a Council of Ministers (cabinet), headed by the president of the council (prime minister). Giorgio Napolitano is the current President and Matteo Renzi is the Prime Minister.