Italian Wolf
The Italian wolf roams the Apennine Mountains and has slowly returned to the Alps after nearly disappearing in the 20th century, making it a symbol of wildlife recovery in Europe.
Flag of Italy
Field Report
Italy is a peninsula in southern Europe that juts down into the Mediterranean Sea, shaped a bit like a tall boot, with the Alps mountains across its northern edge and the ancient city of Rome near its center. It is one of the oldest civilizations in Western history, and for centuries its emperors, artists, and architects shaped much of what Europe and even America look like today. About 60 million people live there today, speaking Italian and living in a country packed with history, art, and lively culture from the snowy Alps all the way down to the warm, sunny coast of Sicily.
From the Field Notebook
Italian Wolf
The Italian wolf roams the Apennine Mountains and has slowly returned to the Alps after nearly disappearing in the 20th century, making it a symbol of wildlife recovery in Europe.
Spectacled Salamander
This small, boldly colored salamander lives only in Italy and a few neighboring areas, hiding under rocks near mountain streams where it hunts tiny insects.
Sardinian Deer
Found on the island of Sardinia, this compact deer is one of Europe's smallest deer species and has lived on the island long enough to develop its own distinct appearance from mainland deer.
Pizza Napoletana
Born in Naples, this pizza is made with a thin, chewy crust, crushed tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella, and is baked in a wood-fired oven so hot that it cooks in about 90 seconds.
Ribollita
A thick Tuscan soup made from leftover bread, cannellini beans, and dark leafy vegetables, ribollita was a peasant dish that farmers ate to make sure nothing went to waste.
Gelato
Denser and creamier than American ice cream because it is churned more slowly and contains less air, gelato is sold in small shops called gelaterias found on nearly every street in Italian towns.
Italy is home to more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country in the world, with over 50 recognized locations ranging from ancient Roman ruins to Renaissance city centers.
The entire country of Vatican City sits inside Rome, making Rome the only city on Earth that contains a whole other country within its borders.
Italy is shaped like a boot, and if you look at a map, it appears to be kicking the island of Sicily across the Mediterranean Sea.
Ancient Romans used a concrete recipe so durable that some of their harbors and buildings made with it have survived underwater for 2,000 years, and modern scientists are still studying how they did it.
Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world, and archaeologists have found evidence that people were making wine in the Italian peninsula as far back as 4,000 years ago.
Daily Life
84
Years life expectancy
99%
Can read and write
96%
Kids go to school
Missions Field Report
Italy is home to 102 distinct people groups — 22 of them haven’t yet heard about Jesus.
Most Italy's people follow Christianity (81.9%). Evangelical Christians make up about 1.5% of the population.
What People Believe
Unreached People Groups
These are communities of people who haven’t had the chance to hear about Jesus yet. They need missionaries — and they need kids like you to pray for them.
Arab, Moroccan
415,000 people
South Asian, general
415,000 people
South Asian, Bengali-speaking
161,000 people
Arab, Tunisian
102,000 people
Wolof
79,000 people
Prayer Journal
Tick each one as you pray. God hears every word.