History of Italy in Timeline

Italy is a country in Southern and Western Europe, comprised of a peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps to its north, and nearly 800 islands including Sicily and Sardinia. It borders France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, as well as the enclaves of Vatican City and San Marino. It is the tenth-largest European country by area and the third-most populous EU member. Rome is the capital and largest city, with other major urban centers including Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Bologna, Florence, Genoa, and Venice.

1900: Lowest per capita income since 1900

In 1944, per capita income in Italy was at its lowest point since 1900.

1904: Italy does not participate in the Olympics

Italy did not participate in the 1904 Olympic Games.

1906: Giosuè Carducci Nobel laureate

Nationalist poet Giosuè Carducci became a Nobel laureate in 1906.

1913: Adoption of male universal suffrage

In 1913, male universal suffrage was adopted in Italy.

1914: Peak years of Italian diaspora

Between 1898 and 1914, the peak years of Italian diaspora, approximately 750,000 Italians emigrated annually.

1914: Cabiria silent film

Cabiria, from 1914, is the most famous Italian silent film.

1915: Italy enters World War I

In 1915, Italy entered into the First World War with the aim of completing national unity, joining the Allies.

October 1918: Italian victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto

In October 1918, the Italians launched a massive offensive, culminating in victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, marking the end of war on the Italian Front.

1918: Italy in World War I

From 1915 to 1918, Italy took part in World War I with the Entente against the Central Powers.

1919: Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye

The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in 1919 allowed for annexation of Trentino Alto-Adige, the Julian March, and Istria.

1920: Treaty of Rapallo

The Treaty of Rapallo in 1920 allowed for annexation of the Kvarner Gulf, and the Dalmatian city of Zara.

1921: Giovanni Giolitti's last term as prime minister

Giovanni Giolitti, who was prime minister five times between 1892 and 1921, served his last term in 1921.

1921: Italian Grand Prix first held

The Italian Grand Prix of Formula One has been held since 1921, always at Autodromo Nazionale Monza (except 1980).

October 1922: March on Rome

In October 1922, the Blackshirts of the National Fascist Party organised the "March on Rome" coup, and King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as prime minister.

1922: Establishment of Italian fascist dictatorship

In 1922, the Italian fascist dictatorship was established.

1923: Founding of the Air Force

The Italian Air Force was founded in 1923 by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica ('Royal Air Force').

1924: Treaty of Rome leads to annexation of Fiume

The Treaty of Rome in 1924 led to annexation of Fiume by Italy.

1926: Grazia Deledda Nobel laureate

Realist writer Grazia Deledda became a Nobel laureate in 1926.

1930: Rome Masters founded

The Rome Masters, a prestigious tennis tournament, was founded in 1930.

1932: Venice Film Festival

Since 1932, the Venice Film Festival, awarding the Golden Lion, has been held, making it the oldest in the world and one of the "Big Three" European film festivals.

1934: Italy wins World Cup

Italy won the FIFA World Cup in 1934.

1935: Invasion of Ethiopia

In 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and founded Italian East Africa, resulting in international isolation.

1936: Luigi Pirandello Nobel laureate

Modern theatre author Luigi Pirandello became a Nobel laureate in 1936.

1938: Italy wins World Cup

Italy won the FIFA World Cup in 1938.

1939: Annexation of Albania

In 1939, Italy annexed Albania.

June 1940: Italy enters World War II

Italy entered World War II on June 10, 1940.

1940: Italy in World War II

From 1940, Italy was part of the Axis powers during World War II until 1943.

July 1943: Allied invasion of Sicily and fall of Fascist regime

In July 1943, an Allied invasion of Sicily began, leading to the collapse of the Fascist regime on July 25.

1943: Italy surrenders to Allied powers

In 1943, Italy surrendered to the Allied powers during World War II, then became a co-belligerent of the Allies during the Italian resistance from 1943 to 1945.

1944: Lowest per capita income

In 1944, per capita income in Italy was at its lowest point since 1900.

April 1945: End of hostilities in Italy

Hostilities ended on April 29, 1945, when the German forces in Italy surrendered.

April 1945: Execution of Mussolini

In April 1945, with defeat looming, Mussolini attempted to escape north, but was captured and summarily executed by partisans.

1945: Liberation of Italy

From 1943 to 1945, Italy was a co-belligerent of the Allies during the Italian resistance and the liberation of Italy.

1946: Il Canto degli Italiani becomes the national anthem

In 1946, "Il Canto degli Italiani" became the national anthem of Italy.

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1946: Birth of the Italian Republic

In 1946, the Italian Republic was established, commemorated annually on June 2nd with the Festa della Repubblica.

1946: Italian institutional referendum

Italy became a republic after the 1946 Italian institutional referendum held on June 2.

1946: Establishment of the Unitary Parliamentary Republic

Italy became a unitary parliamentary republic in 1946, which is when the monarchy was abolished.

1946: Formation of the Army

The Italian Army was formed in 1946, when Italy became a republic, from what remained of the "Royal Italian Army".

1948: Republican Constitution approved

In 1948, The Republican Constitution was approved.

1948: Christian Democrats victory

In 1948, the Christian Democrats, under Alcide De Gasperi, won a landslide victory.

1948: Scuderia Ferrari competes

Italian Scuderia Ferrari, the oldest surviving team in Grand Prix racing, has been competing since 1948.

1948: Constitution of Italy

The Constitution of Italy was established in 1948 and serves as the highest source of law.

1949: Italy becomes a member of NATO

In 1949, Italy became a member of NATO.

1950: Italian economic miracle

The 1950s saw the start of the Italian economic miracle, which caused internal migration from the rural south to the industrial north.

1955: Admission to the United Nations

Italy was admitted to the United Nations in 1955.

1956: Italy hosts Winter Olympics

Italy hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956.

1959: Salvatore Quasimodo Nobel laureate

Poet Salvatore Quasimodo became a Nobel laureate in 1959.

1960: Italy hosts Summer Olympics

Italy hosted the Summer Olympics in 1960.

1963: Vajont Dam flood

In 1963, the Vajont Dam flood occurred as one of the ecological disasters caused by deforestation, illegal building, and poor land management.

1963: Nuclear reactors operation

Italy operated nuclear reactors starting in 1963 until 1990.

1964: Gigliola Cinquetti wins Eurovision

Gigliola Cinquetti won Eurovision in 1964.

1968: Italy wins UEFA Euro

Italy won the UEFA Euro in 1968.

1973: Oil crisis

From the late 1960s until the early 1980s, the country experienced the Years of Lead, characterised by economic difficulties, especially after the 1973 oil crisis.

1975: Eugenio Montale Nobel laureate

Poet Eugenio Montale became a Nobel laureate in 1975.

1976: Italy wins Davis Cup

Italian tennis players won the Davis Cup in 1976.

1978: Establishment of universal public healthcare system

Since 1978, the state has run a universal public healthcare system in Italy.

1980: Italian Grand Prix held somewhere else

In 1980 the Italian Grand Prix of Formula One was not held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

1980: Economic slowdown

The country experienced a progressive slowdown in the 1980's

1982: Italy wins World Cup

Italy won the FIFA World Cup in 1982.

1983: Italy wins EuroBasket

Italy men's basketball team won gold at EuroBasket 1983.

1985: Catholicism ceases to be the official religion

Since 1985, Catholicism is no longer the official religion of Italy.

1986: Chernobyl Disaster

The Chernobyl disaster took place in 1986.

1987: Abandonment of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power in Italy was abandoned after referendums in 1987.

1990: Men's volleyball World Championship

Italy men's national volleyball team won the World Championship in 1990.

1990: Nuclear programme termination

Italy's nuclear reactors program was terminated in 1990 after the Chernobyl disaster and referendums.

1990: Toto Cutugno wins Eurovision

Toto Cutugno won Eurovision in 1990.

1991: Discovery of Ötzi

In 1991, a natural mummy, Ötzi, dated 3400–3100 BC, was discovered in the Similaun glacier.

1992: Terror attacks by the Sicilian Mafia

Between 1992 and 1993, Italy faced terror attacks perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia.

1993: Terror attacks by the Sicilian Mafia

Between 1992 and 1993, Italy faced terror attacks perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia.

1994: Men's volleyball World Championship

Italy men's national volleyball team won the World Championship in 1994.

1995: Lowest total fertility rate

In 1995, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Italy reached an all-time low of 1.2 children per woman.

1997: Dario Fo Nobel laureate

Satirist and theatre author Dario Fo became a Nobel laureate in 1997.

1998: Sarno mudslides

In 1998, Sarno experienced mudslides, an ecological disaster resulting from deforestation, illegal building, and poor land management.

1998: Men's volleyball World Championship

Italy men's national volleyball team won the World Championship in 1998.

1999: Italy wins EuroBasket

Italy men's basketball team won gold at EuroBasket 1999.

2000: WHO ranks Italy's healthcare system

According to a 2000 World Health Organization (WHO) research, Italy had the second-best healthcare system in the world in terms of spending efficiency and access to public care for citizens, after France.

2000: Farm Decline

From 2000 to 2010, there was a 32% decrease in the number of farms in Italy.

2000: Proportion of daily smokers

In 2000, the proportion of daily smokers in Italy was 24%.

2002: Road Network

In 2002, there were 668,721 km of serviceable roads in Italy, including 6,487 km of motorways.

2002: Adoption of the Euro

Italy joined the common European currency, the euro, in 2002.

2003: Troop deployment to Afghanistan

From 2003, Italy deployed over 2,000 troops to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

2004: Major Seaports

In 2004, there were 43 major seaports in Italy, including Genoa.

2004: Italy wins silver at the Olympics

Italy men's basketball team won silver at the 2004 Olympics.

2005: Vascular plant species recorded

As of 2005, 6,759 vascular plant species are recorded in the Data bank of Italian vascular flora.

2005: Civilian Air and Merchant Fleets

In 2005, Italy maintained a civilian air fleet of about 389,000 units and a merchant fleet of 581 ships.

2005: Vehicle Circulation

In 2005, about 34,667,000 cars and 4,015,000 goods vehicles circulated on the Italian road network.

2005: Voluntary Military Service

Since 2005, military service has been voluntary in Italy.

2005: Restriction of smoking in public places

Since 2005, smoking in public places in Italy has been restricted to "specially ventilated rooms".

August 2006: Troop Deployment to Lebanon

In August 2006, Italy deployed about 2,450 troops for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

2006: Italy wins Fed Cup

Italian tennis players won the Fed Cup in 2006.

2006: Italy hosts Winter Olympics

Italy hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006.

2008: Estimate of illegal immigrants

In 2008, it was estimated that there were 670,000 illegal immigrants in Italy.

2008: Government overturns nuclear programme termination

In 2008, the Italian government overturned the decision to terminate the nuclear program and planned to build up to four nuclear power plants.

2008: Railway Network

In 2008, the Italian railway network totalled 16,529 km, of which 11,727 km was electrified.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

Italy was hit by the 2008 financial crisis, which exacerbated structural problems.

2009: Mafia presence identified

A 2009 report identified 610 comuni with a strong Mafia presence, where 13 million Italians live and 15% of GDP is produced.

2009: Messina mudslides

In 2009, Messina was hit by mudslides, an ecological disaster caused by deforestation, illegal building, and poor land management policies.

2009: Italy wins Fed Cup

Italian tennis players won the Fed Cup in 2009.

2010: Agricultural Census

According to the last agricultural census, in 2010, there were 1.6 million farms in Italy.

2010: Leading producer of renewable energy

In 2010 Italy ranking as the fourth largest provider of installed solar energy capacity and sixth largest of wind power capacity.

2010: Active Military Personnel

In 2010, the Italian military had 293,202 personnel on active duty, of which 114,778 are Carabinieri.

2010: Foreign-born population origin

In 2010, the foreign-born population in Italy originated from Europe (54%), Africa (22%), Asia (16%), the Americas (8%), and Oceania (0.06%).

2010: Italy wins Fed Cup

Italian tennis players won the Fed Cup in 2010.

2010: Completion of Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station

The Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station, the largest photovoltaic (PV) power station in Italy, was completed in 2010.

2011: Air Transport Passengers

In 2011, Italy was fifth in Europe by number of passengers using air transport, with about 148 million passengers.

2011: Berlusconi resigns

In 2011, amidst the Great Recession, Berlusconi resigned and was replaced by the technocratic cabinet of Mario Monti.

2011: Minority Christian faiths

In 2011, minority Christian faiths in Italy included an estimated 1.5 million Orthodox Christians, and Protestantism was growing.

2012: Inland Waterways Network

In 2012, the national inland waterways network in Italy had a length of 2,400 km for commercial traffic.

2012: Proportion of daily smokers

In 2012, the proportion of daily smokers in Italy was 22%, down from 24% in 2000 but above the OECD average.

2013: Italy as entry point for asylum seekers

Between 2013 and 2018, Italy was the entry point and leading destination for most asylum seekers entering the EU.

2013: Financing of the Palestinian Authority

In 2013, Italy contributed €60 million to the Palestinian Authority.

2013: Troop Deployment

In 2013, Italy had 5,296 troops deployed abroad, engaged in 33 UN and NATO missions in 25 countries.

2013: Top Global Fashion Capital Rankings

In 2013, Rome was ranked sixth and Milan twelfth in the Top Global Fashion Capital Rankings by Global Language Monitor.

2013: UNESCO Inclusion of Italian Festivals and Pasos

In 2013, UNESCO recognized Italian festivals and pasos like the Varia di Palmi, Macchina di Santa Rosa in Viterbo, and faradda di li candareri in Sassari as intangible cultural heritage.

2013: Mediterranean diet added to the UNESCO list

In 2013, UNESCO, prompted by Italy, added the Mediterranean diet to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

2013: Italy wins Fed Cup

Italian tennis players won the Fed Cup in 2013.

2014: Matteo Renzi became prime minister

In 2014, Matteo Renzi became prime minister and the government started constitutional reform.

2014: Solar Energy Production

In 2014, solar energy production alone accounted for 9% of electricity in Italy.

2014: Navy Operations

In 2014, the Italian Navy operated 154 vessels in service, including minor auxiliary vessels.

2014: Income from travel and tourism in Italy

In 2014, the income from travel and tourism in Italy was EUR163 billion, accounting for 10% of the GDP and supporting 1,082,000 jobs (5% of employment).

2014: EU Council Presidency

Italy held the EU Council presidency in 2014.

2015: Italy's life expectancy

In 2015, Italy's life expectancy was 80.5 years for men and 84.8 years for women, ranking 5th in the world.

2015: Sergio Mattarella becomes President

In 2015, Sergio Mattarella became the president of Italy.

2015: Automotive Industry Contribution

In 2015, the Italian automotive industry, with over 144,000 firms and almost 485,000 employees, contributed 9% to GDP.

2016: Italian films wins at international festivals

As of 2016, Italian films have won 12 Palmes d'Or, 11 Golden Lions, and 7 Golden Bears.

2016: Italians citizenships acquired

In 2016, about 201,000 people became Italian citizens.

2016: Constitutional reform rejected

In 2016, constitutional reform was rejected in a referendum and Paolo Gentiloni became prime minister.

2017: Public Debt

In 2017, Italy's public debt stood at over 132% of GDP, the second highest in the EU, after Greece.

2017: Rome's tourist arrivals

In 2017, Rome was the third most visited city in Europe and 12th in the world, with 9.4 million arrivals.

2018: Giuseppe Conte becomes prime minister

After the 2018 general election, Giuseppe Conte became prime minister of a populist coalition.

2018: Secondary Education Evaluation

In 2018, secondary education in Italy was evaluated as being below the average among OECD countries, with a wide performance gap between northern and southern schools.

2018: Youth Unemployment Rate

In 2018, the youth unemployment rate in Italy was 32%.

2018: Presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

Italy held the rotating presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2018.

2019: Italian universities ranked among the world's top 500

In 2019, 33 Italian universities were ranked among the world's top 500.

2019: Exporter Rank

Italy was the world's 10th-largest exporter in 2019.

2020: Geographical Distribution of Foreign Population

In 2020, 61% of foreign citizens lived in the north of Italy, 24% in the centre, 11% in the south, and 4% on the islands.

2020: Italy's population

In 2020, Italy's population was 60,317,116, with a population density of 202 inhabitants per square kilometre.

2020: Healthcare spending

In 2020, healthcare spending in Italy accounted for 10% of GDP.

2020: Italy wins UEFA Euro

Italy won the UEFA Euro in 2020.

2020: Renewable energy consumption

Renewable energy provided approximately 37% Italy's energy consumption in 2020.

February 2021: Conte resigns

In February 2021, after a government crisis, Conte resigned.

2021: Foreign residents in Italy

In 2021, Italy had about 5.2 million foreign residents, making up 9% of the population.

2021: Air Force Operations

In 2021, the Italian Air Force operated 219 combat jets.

2021: Måneskin wins Eurovision

Måneskin won Eurovision in 2021.

2021: Flag Carrier

Since 2021, Italy's flag carrier has been ITA Airways, which took over from Alitalia.

2022: General election

During the 2022 general election, the Brothers of Italy, Democratic Party, and Five Star Movement and their coalitions won 357 of the 400 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, and 187 of 200 in the Senate.

2022: Giorgia Meloni becomes prime minister

In 2022, Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister.

2022: Civil Airports

In 2022, there were 45 civil airports in Italy.

2023: 57 million tourist arrivals in Italy

In 2023, Italy had a total of 57 million tourist arrivals, making it the fourth most visited country.

2023: Record low number of births

In 2023, Italy recorded a record low of 379,000 births, the fewest since 1861.

2023: Italy wins Davis Cup

Italian tennis players won the Davis Cup in 2023.

2024: Italy ranked 26th in the Global Innovation Index

In 2024, Italy was ranked 26th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Population below 59 million

In 2024, Italy's population is estimated to have fallen just below 59 million, representing a cumulative loss of more than 1.36 million people over the span of a decade.