13 Lesser-Known Historical Facts about Italy:
1. The Roman Empire, at its height, covered nearly 2.3 million square miles.
2. Rome was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus and Remus, according to legend.
3. The Colosseum, an iconic symbol of Ancient Rome, could hold up to 80,000 spectators.
4. Venice was an independent republic for over a millennium, from 697 to 1797.
5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa took nearly 200 years to build and began leaning
during construction.
6. The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, both by area and population.
7. Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is housed in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
8. Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, fostering artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
9. Italy is home to the oldest university in the world, the University of
Bologna, founded in 1088.
10. The Italian city of Genoa is believed to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
11. Pompeii was buried under volcanic ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.
12. The Italian flag was inspired by the French flag, after Napoleon’s Italian campaign.
13. The city of Matera is known for its ancient cave dwellings, inhabited since the Paleolithic
period.
