Host an Exchange Student from Italy

learn about

Italy

Italian history is one of the longest, most documented national histories in the world. From the days of the Caesars and the Roman Empire, to the disappearance of Pompeii beneath Mt. Vesuvius' lava and ash, to Napoleon's reign and Mussolini's dictatorship, to finally conceding to the allies in WWII, and becoming a republic, there is almost nothing Italy hasn't seen. Italy is home to over 61 million inhabitants, is one of the top 5 most visited countries on Earth, and has an enclave reserved in the middle of capital city, Rome, for the world's smallest country, The Vatican City, which spans .25 sq mi.

Capital

Rome

Government

Parliamentary Constitutional Republic

Language

Italian

Currency

Euro (€)

in their own words

student application videos

Alessandro, from Italy, made this video so that his host family could learn more about him and his life back home.

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Cacio e Pepe

Ingredients

Kosher salt

6 oz. pasta (such as egg tagliolini, bucatini, or spaghetti)

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cubed, divided

1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

3/4 cup finely grated Grana Padano or Parmesan

1/3 cup finely grated Pecorino

Directions

Boil a pot of salted water; add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until about 2 minutes before tender. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup pasta cooking water.

Meanwhile, melt 2 Tbsp. butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add pepper and cook, swirling pan, until toasted, about 1 minute.Add 1/2 cup reserved pasta water to skillet and bring to a simmer. Add pasta and remaining butter.

Reduce heat to low and add Grana Padano, stirring and tossing with tongs until melted.

Remove pan from heat; add Pecorino, stirring and tossing until cheese melts, sauce coats the pasta, and pasta is al dente. (Add more pasta water if sauce seems dry.)

Transfer pasta to warm bowls and serve.

Fun Facts

Italy contains 59.7 million people, about the as many as New York and California combined.

Italy is 116,347 sq. miles, about the same size as Arizona.

Italy has three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli.

Italy can be easy to identify on a map because it looks like a high-heeled boot.

Famous Italians include Leonardo daVinci and Galileo Galilei.

Italy surrounds two of the world's smallest countries: San Marino and The Vatican.

Every day, approximately 3,000 Euro ($2,362) is thrown into the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

The famous children's story, Pinocchio, was written by an Italian.

Hello

Ciao

How are you?

Come stai?

I AM SO EXCITED TO MEET MY ITALIAN EXCHANGE STUDENT!

Sono entusiasta di incontrare il mio studente italiano!

MAY I HAVE SOME MORE SPAGHETTI?

Posso avere più di spaghetti?