Discover Italy: 12 Fantastic Fun Facts for Kids to Explore and Learn

1. Venice's "Splish Splash" Acqua Alta

When the people of Venice start humming "Splish Splash, I Was Taking a Bath": Venice experiences acqua alta, or high water, multiple times a year, causing flooding in parts of the city but it's not due to the slow 1-2 millimeters per year sinkage.
Source => venezialines.com

2. Pasta: Italy's Food Beyoncé

In Italy, pasta is the Beyoncé of the food world - an independent dish who needs no sidekick to steal the show: Italians traditionally savor pasta solo, without any sides like salads, and it's usually the main focus of a meal, with other dishes served separately. Get in formation, pasta lovers!
Source => bottiglialv.com

Discover the Europub scene you never knew existed - European Robins are hosting nightly karaoke sessions louder than ever before! Learn why these birds prefer nocturnal performances and how it impacts their social lives. 🎤🐦

=> Fun Facts about Europe

3. The Pizza Association: Dough-minators

In Napoli where lawsuits fling, and dough is tossed high to sing, there's a pizza association carving laws for your consumption – a true dough-minator of tradition: The True Neapolitan Pizza Association, founded in 1984, strictly guards the art of creating authentic Neapolitan pizza, mandating hand-shaped dough for that famous thick and chewy crust!
Source => romecabs.com

4. Italy: Land of Cheese

Who cut the cheese? Italy sure did: With over 400 different types of cheese, including Parmigiano-Reggiano and Gorgonzola, it's a veritable cheese lover's paradise!
Source => tasteatlas.com

5. Gondolas: More Than Romance

Move over, Cupid! Venice's gondolas are more than just floating love-rafts for starry-eyed couples: These traditional flat-bottomed boats are actually a practical means of transportation for locals and tourists navigating the city's shallow lagoon waters.
Source => vivovenetia.com

6. Holy Eel-fresco!

Holy eel-fresco! In a land bursting with indulgent pasta dishes and divine pizzas, Italy gifts us another fascinating delicacy to marvel at: fried eel, or capitone fritto, dates back centuries as a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dish, particularly popular in Rome and Southern Italy, offering a meaty, fish-shy flavor perfect for the festive season.
Source => memoriediangelina.com

7. Straightening the Tower of Pisa

Whoever thought that adding inches would help straighten things out? The Tower of Pisa begs to differ: engineers constructed the upper floors taller on one side than the other, making it look curved, as an attempt to counterbalance the tower's infamous lean, turning it into an instantly recognizable Italian landmark!
Source => aroundlabnews.com

8. Gelato: Ice Cream's Cooler Cousin

You scream, I scream, we all scream for…gelato? That's right, Italy's famous frozen treat is putting regular ice cream in a dense corner: Made by hand using more milk and less cream, gelato contains less fat and fewer calories. Just beware, factory-made swindlers may sneak in artificial colors and flavors – but the true Italian varieties are deliciously, naturally dense.
Source => diffen.com

9. Carpe Diem Italian School Style

In Italy, students really know how to carpe diem, seizing the school day like a hot slice of pizza: The Italian education system is designed to provide equal opportunities for all, with children aged 6 to 11 attending primary school for at least 200 days per year, clocking in between 24-40 hours each week based on their preferences and available resources.
Source => eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu

10. Vulcan: Rome's Fiery Blacksmith

Did you know that ancient Rome had a divine blacksmith with a fiery temper and some serious DIY skills? That's right, Vulcan was the god of fire and artisanal crafts, and his statues still heat up Italy's history: The main sanctuary of Vulcan, called Volcanal, was located in the Roman Forum and was said to be dedicated by none other than Romulus, the founder of Rome. Today, Italy continues to embrace its fiery past with famous volcanoes like Mount Vesuvius, Stromboli, and Mount Etna, reminiscent of the mighty god they once honored.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Mont Blanc: Cloud High-Fiver

Ever heard of a mountain so tall it could high-five the clouds? Well, give a big hello to Mont Blanc: the highest mountain in Western Europe, towering at a whopping 4,810 meters (15,780 feet) tall!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. Ziti: Pasta Wedding Crashers

Forget wedding crashers – Italian weddings have pasta crashers: Ziti, a tube-shaped pasta, traditionally makes an appearance at Italian nuptials! Derived from the word "Zita" meaning "bride," this pasta struts down the aisle with light sauces like olive oil or sweet tomato sauce, often starring in baked casserole dishes. No RSVP required to enjoy this matrimonial delight!
Source => trattoriailpanino.com