History of Italy in Timeline

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern and Western Europe, characterized by its peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea and its northern border along the Alps. It encompasses nearly 800 islands, including Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Vatican City, and San Marino. Covering 301,340 km2, it's the tenth-largest European country and the EU's third-most populous, with approximately 59 million residents. Rome serves as Italy's capital and largest city, alongside other significant urban centers like Milan, Naples, and Venice.

1900: Historical Context

The lowest point since 1900 for the per capita income in Italy was in 1944.

1906: Nobel laureate Giosuè Carducci

Nationalist poet Giosuè Carducci won the Nobel laureate in 1906.

1913: Adoption of male universal suffrage

In 1913, male universal suffrage was adopted in Italy, expanding voting rights.

1914: Peak Years of Italian Diaspora

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

1914: Release of Cabiria

Cabiria, the most famous Italian silent film, was released in 1914.

1915: Italy enters World War I

In 1915, Italy entered World War I, seeking to complete national unity.

October 1918: Italian Victory at Vittorio Veneto

In October 1918, the Italians secured a decisive victory at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto, leading to the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the end of the war on the Italian Front.

1918: End of World War I

In 1918, Italy participated in World War I with the Entente against the Central Powers.

1919: Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye

In 1919, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye allowed Italy to annex Trentino and South Tyrol, the Julian March, Istria, the Kvarner Gulf, and the Dalmatian city of Zara.

1920: Treaty of Rapallo

In 1920, the Treaty of Rapallo allowed Italy to annex Trentino and South Tyrol, the Julian March, Istria, the Kvarner Gulf, and the Dalmatian city of Zara.

1921: Giovanni Giolitti's last term as prime minister ends

In 1921, Giovanni Giolitti concluded his fifth term as prime minister, marking the end of an era.

1921: First Italian Grand Prix of Formula One

Since 1921, the Italian Grand Prix of Formula One has been held, primarily at Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

October 1922: March on Rome

In October 1922, the Blackshirts of the National Fascist Party organized the "March on Rome" coup, leading to Mussolini's appointment as prime minister.

1922: Establishment of the Italian fascist dictatorship

In 1922, the Italian fascist dictatorship was established.

1923: Founding of the Air Force

In 1923, the Italian Air Force was founded as an independent service arm by King Victor Emmanuel III as the Regia Aeronautica ('Royal Air Force').

1924: Treaty of Rome

In 1924, the Treaty of Rome led to the annexation of Fiume by Italy.

1926: Nobel laureate Grazia Deledda

Realist writer Grazia Deledda won the Nobel laureate in 1926.

1930: Founding of the Rome Masters

In 1930, the Rome Masters tennis tournament was founded and became one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments.

1932: Venice Film Festival Founded

In 1932, the Venice Film Festival, the oldest in the world, was founded.

1934: World Cup Victory

Italy's football team won the World Cup in 1934.

1935: Invasion of Ethiopia

In 1935, Mussolini invaded Ethiopia, leading to the founding of Italian East Africa and international isolation.

1936: Nobel laureate Luigi Pirandello

Modern theatre author Luigi Pirandello won the Nobel laureate in 1936.

1938: World Cup Victory

Italy's football team won the World Cup in 1938.

April 1939: Invasion of Albania

In April 1939, Italy invaded Albania as part of its expansionist foreign policy.

June 1940: Italy enters World War II

On June 10, 1940, Italy entered World War II, joining the conflict as France was on the verge of defeat in the Battle of France.

1940: Italy Joins the Axis Powers

In 1940, Italy was part of the Axis powers during World War II.

July 1943: Allied invasion of Sicily

In July 1943, the Allied invasion of Sicily commenced, leading to the collapse of the Fascist regime and the deposition and arrest of Mussolini.

1943: Armistice with the Allied powers

In 1943, Italy signed an armistice with the Allied powers and became a co-belligerent.

1944: Lowest per capita income since 1900

In 1944, Italy's per capita income reached its lowest point since 1900, reflecting the severe economic impact of the war.

April 1945: End of Hostilities

Hostilities ended on April 29, 1945, with the surrender of German forces in Italy.

April 1945: Execution of Mussolini

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

1945: Liberation of Italy

In 1945, Italy experienced liberation from German occupation and the collaborationist RSI.

1946: "Il Canto degli Italiani" becomes the national anthem

In 1946, "Il Canto degli Italiani" was officially adopted as the national anthem of Italy.

1946: Establishment of the Italian Republic

In 1946, Italy became a unitary parliamentary republic when the monarchy was abolished.

1946: Formation of the Army

In 1946, the Italian Army was formed from the remnants of the "Royal Italian Army" when Italy became a republic.

1946: Revival of Italian republicanism

In 1946, there was a revival of Italian republicanism, leading to the Italian institutional referendum.

1946: Italy becomes a republic

Italy became a republic after the 1946 referendum held on June 2, marking the first time women voted nationally. Umberto II was forced to abdicate.

1948: Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix Racing

In 1948, Italian Scuderia Ferrari began competing in Grand Prix racing, becoming the oldest surviving team.

1948: Christian Democrats win landslide victory

In 1948, the Christian Democrats, under Alcide De Gasperi, won a landslide victory, crucial due to fears of a Communist takeover.

1948: Constitution of Italy

In 1948, the Constitution of Italy was established as the highest source of law.

1948: Approval of the Republican Constitution

In 1948, the Republican Constitution was approved in Italy, solidifying the transition to a republic.

1949: Italy becomes a member of NATO

In 1949, Italy became a member of NATO, solidifying its alignment with Western powers.

1950: Italian Economic Miracle

The Italian economic miracle occurred between the 1950s and 1960s.

1955: United Nations Admission

In 1955, Italy was admitted to the United Nations.

1956: Italy Hosts Winter Olympics

In 1956, Italy hosted the Winter Olympics.

1959: poets Salvatore Quasimodo

Poets Salvatore Quasimodo was notable in 1959.

1960: Italy Hosts Summer Olympics

In 1960, Italy hosted the Summer Olympics.

1960: short story writer Italo Calvino

Short story writer Italo Calvino was notable in 1960.

1963: Nuclear Reactors Operation

In 1963, Italy started operating nuclear reactors.

1963: Vajont Dam Flood

In 1963, the Vajont Dam flood occurred due to deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies.

1964: Eurovision Winner

Gigliola Cinquetti won Eurovision in 1964.

1968: UEFA Euro Victory

Italy's football team won the UEFA Euro in 1968.

1973: Oil Crisis

Italy experienced economic difficulties and social conflicts, especially after the 1973 oil crisis.

1975: poets Eugenio Montale

Poets Eugenio Montale was notable in 1975.

1976: Italy Wins Davis Cup

In 1976, Italian players won the Davis Cup.

1978: Universal Public Healthcare System

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

1980: Economic Slowdown

From the 1980s, Italy experienced a progressive economic slowdown.

1980: Italian Grand Prix Held Elsewhere

In 1980, the Italian Grand Prix was exceptionally held at a different location than Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

1980: Umberto Eco

Umberto Eco was notable in 1980.

1982: World Cup Victory

Italy's football team won the World Cup in 1982.

1983: Italy Men's Basketball Team EuroBasket Gold

In 1983, the Italy men's basketball team achieved their best result by winning gold at the EuroBasket tournament.

1985: Catholicism Not State Religion

Since 1985, Catholicism is no longer the state religion in Italy.

1986: Chernobyl disaster

The Chernobyl disaster happened in 1986.

1987: Abandonment of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power in Italy was abandoned following referendums in 1987, in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster.

1990: Italy Men's Volleyball Team World Championship Win

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

1990: Nuclear Programme Termination

In 1990, after the Chernobyl disaster and referendums, Italy's nuclear program was terminated.

1990: Eurovision Winner

Toto Cutugno won Eurovision in 1990.

1991: Discovery of Ötzi

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

1992: Start of Mafia terror attacks

In 1992, Italy faced terror attacks perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia as a consequence of new anti-mafia measures by the government.

1993: Continuation of Mafia terror attacks

In 1993, Italy continued to face terror attacks perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia as a consequence of new anti-mafia measures by the government.

1994: Italy Men's Volleyball Team World Championship Win

In 1994, the Italy men's national volleyball team secured another World Championship victory.

1995: Lowest Fertility Rate

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

1997: Dario Fo

Satirist and theatre author Dario Fo was notable in 1997.

1998: Italy Men's Volleyball Team World Championship Win

In 1998, Italy's men's national volleyball team continued their dominance by winning their third consecutive World Championship.

1998: Sarno Ecological Disaster

In 1998, Sarno experienced an ecological disaster due to deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies.

1999: Italy Men's Basketball Team EuroBasket Gold

In 1999, the Italy men's basketball team won gold at the EuroBasket tournament.

2000: WHO Ranking of Healthcare System

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

2000: Proportion of Daily Smokers

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

2000: Agricultural Census Comparison

There were 32% less farms in Italy in 2010 compared to the year 2000.

2002: Euro Adoption

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

2002: Road Network Length

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

2003: Operation Enduring Freedom Support

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

2004: Italy Men's Basketball Team Olympic Silver

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

2004: Major Seaports

In 2004, there were 43 major seaports in Italy, including Genoa, the country's largest and second-largest in the Mediterranean.

2004: EU Enlargement

The EU enlarged in 2004.

2005: Vascular plant species recorded

As of 2005, 6,759 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 in Italy has been voluntary.

2005: Smoking Restriction

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 Billie Jean King Cup

In 2006, Italian players won the Billie Jean King Cup.

2006: Italy Hosts Winter Olympics

In 2006, Italy hosted the Winter Olympics.

2006: World Cup Victory

Italy's football team won the World Cup in 2006.

2007: EU Enlargement

In 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

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

2008: Great Recession

In 2008, the Great Recession began, significantly impacting Italy's economy and public finances, leading to austerity measures.

2008: Nuclear Programme Overturned

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

2008: Estimated Number of Illegal Immigrants

In 2008, the estimated number of illegal immigrants in Italy was 670,000.

2008: Slight increase in fertility rate

In 2008, the fertility rate climbed slightly to 1.4.

2009: Mafia Presence Report

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

2009: Italy Wins Billie Jean King Cup

In 2009, Italian players won the Billie Jean King Cup.

2009: Messina Mudslides

In 2009, Messina experienced mudslides due to deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies.

2010: Agricultural Census Results

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

2010: Italy's Catholic Population

Around 2010, Italy had the world's fifth-largest Catholic population and the largest in Europe.

2010: Italy Wins Billie Jean King Cup

In 2010, Italian players won the Billie Jean King Cup.

2010: Renewable Energy Production

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

2010: Military Personnel

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

2010: Foreign-Born Population by Region

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

2010: Completion of Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station

The Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station, the largest photovoltaic 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: Minority Christian Faiths

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

2012: Most Common Mother Tongue

According to the Italian National Institute of Statistics, in 2012 Romanian was the most common mother tongue among foreign residents in Italy.

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%.

2013: Financial Support to Palestinian Authority

In 2013 alone, Italy contributed €60 million to the Palestinian Authority, making it one of the largest financiers.

2013: EU Enlargement

In 2013, Croatia joined the EU.

2013: Italy Wins Billie Jean King Cup

In 2013, Italian players won the Billie Jean King Cup.

2013: UNESCO Recognition of Italian Festivals

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

2013: Mediterranean Diet added to UNESCO

In 2013, UNESCO, prompted by Italy, added the Mediterranean diet to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of Italy, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and Croatia.

2013: Top Global Fashion Capital Rankings

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

2014: EU Council Presidency

In 2014, Italy held the rotating presidency of the EU Council.

2014: Solar Energy Production

In 2014, solar energy alone accounted for 9% of Italy's electricity production, the highest contribution from solar energy in the world for that year.

2014: Navy Vessels in Operation

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

2014: Travel and Tourism Income

In 2014, the income from travel and tourism in Italy was EUR163 billion, accounting for 10% of the GDP, and 1,082,000 jobs were directly related to tourism.

2014: Population Decline Begins

The overall population of Italy has been falling steadily since 2014.

2015: 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 as President

In 2015, Sergio Mattarella became the president of Italy.

2015: Automotive Industry Contribution

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

2016: Italian Films at Golden Awards

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

2016: Referendum Rejects Institutional Reforms

In 2016, a referendum rejected institutional reforms intended to streamline the political system and strengthen the executive branch in Italy.

2016: People Became Italian Citizens

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

2017: G7 Presidency

In 2017, Italy held the rotating presidency of the G7.

2017: Rome Tourism

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

2018: OSCE Presidency

In 2018, Italy held the rotating presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

2018: Secondary Education Evaluation

In 2018, secondary education in Italy was evaluated as being below the average among OECD countries.

2018: Youth Unemployment Rate

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

2019: University Rankings

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

2019: Largest Export Partners

In 2019, Italy's largest export partners were Germany (12%), France (11%), and the US (10%).

2020: Healthcare Spending

Healthcare spending accounted for 10% of GDP in 2020 in Italy.

2020: Distribution of Foreign Citizens

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

2020: Renewable Energy Consumption

In 2020, renewable energy provided approximately 37% of Italy's energy consumption.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Italy, impacting both public health and economic performance, exacerbating existing structural weaknesses.

2020: UEFA Euro Victory

Italy's football team won the UEFA Euro in 2020.

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: Eurovision Winner

Måneskin won Eurovision in 2021.

2021: ITA Airways

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 Italy's first female prime minister

In 2022, Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in Italian politics.

2022: Civil Airports

In 2022, there were 45 civil airports in Italy.

2023: Italy Wins Davis Cup

In 2023, Italian players won the Davis Cup.

2023: Record Low Number of Births

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

2023: Exporter Ranking

In 2023, Italy was the world's 9th-largest exporter.

2024: Trade Statistics

As of 2024, Italy exported €612 billion in goods and had a trade surplus of €46 billion.

2024: Italy Wins Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup

In 2024, Italian players won the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.

2024: Tourism Arrivals in Italy

In 2024, Italy was the fifth-most visited country, with a total of 57 million arrivals.

2024: Fertility Rate Stood at 1.2

In 2024, Italy's fertility rate stood at 1.2.

2024: Estimated Population Drop

In 2024, Italy's population was estimated to have fallen just below 59 million.

2024: Railway Network Statistics

In 2024, the railway network in Italy totalled 16,879 km, of which 12,277 km is electrified.

August 2025: Final Approval for Strait of Messina Bridge

In August 2025, the Meloni government gave final approval for the Strait of Messina Bridge construction, with work scheduled to begin in the autumn of 2025.