Italy is a country in Southern Europe and a member of the European Union. Its official name is Repubblica Italiana. Italy is a democratic republic and is a founding member of the European Union.[7]

Italy is also a member of the G8, as it has the 8th largest Gross Domestic Product in the world. Its Acting President is Pietro Grasso and its Prime Minister is Matteo Renzi. Before 1861, it was made up of smaller kingdoms and city-states.
http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy