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Central Italy facts for kids

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Central Italy

Italia centrale
Map of Italy, highlighting Central Italy
Country Italy
Regions
Area
 • Total 58,052 km2 (22,414 sq mi)
Population
 • Estimate 
(2016 est.)
12,067,524
Languages  
 – Official language Italian
 – Other common languages

Central Italy (which is Italia centrale or just Centro in Italian) is a special part of Italy. It's one of the five main areas that Italy's official statistics group, ISTAT, uses to organize the country. Think of it like a big region for counting things!

Exploring Central Italy's Geography

Central Italy is bordered by different parts of the country and seas. To the northwest, it meets Liguria. To the northeast, you'll find San Marino and Emilia-Romagna. To the south, it touches Abruzzo, Molise, and Campania.

On the east side of Central Italy is the Adriatic Sea. On the west side, you'll find the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Sea.

Mountains, Rivers, and Lakes

The Apennines are a long mountain range that runs through Central Italy. The highest point in this region is Monte Vettore, which stands tall at 2,476 meters (about 8,123 feet).

Two important rivers flow through Central Italy: the Arno and the Tiber. You can also find some large lakes here, like Trasimeno, Bolsena, and Bracciano.

Regions of Central Italy

Central Italy includes four of the 20 official regions of Italy. These four regions are divided into 41 provinces and 985 smaller areas called comuni.

Region Capital City Population
(2016)
Area
(km²)
People per km² Provinces Comuni
Lazio Roma 5,888,472 17,232.29 341.7 5 378
Marche Ancona 1,543,752 9,401.38 164.2 5 236
Tuscany Firenze 3,744,398 22,987.04 162.9 10 279
Umbria Perugia 891,181 8,464.33 0.1 21 92
Total 12,067,803 58,085.04 207.8 41 985

Understanding Regional Differences

Sometimes, the regions of Abruzzo and Molise are also thought of as part of Central Italy geographically. However, for official statistics, they are usually grouped with Southern Italy. This is because of their history, as they were once part of the southern Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

Major Cities in Central Italy

Here are some of the largest cities (comuni) in Central Italy, with more than 100,000 people living in them:

City (Comune) Population Province Region
Rome 2,864,731 Rome Lazio
Florence 382,808 Florence Tuscany
Prato 191,150 Prato Tuscany
Perugia 166,134 Perugia Umbria
Livorno 159,219 Livorno Tuscany
Latina 125,985 Latina Lazio
Terni 111,501 Terni Umbria
Ancona 100,861 Ancona Marche

Related Places in Italy

Central Italy is one of several large statistical regions in the country. You can learn more about these areas:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Italia central para niños

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Central Italy Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.