A very substantial majority of Italians are at least nominally Roman Catholic, although only about 30 percent of the population regularly attend church. Protestants also make up about 10 percent of the population. There is a Jewish community, and the Muslim community currently numbers about 1 million and is growing rapidly through immigration. There is a small Buddhist community.
These statistics assume that everyone in Italy has a religion. In fact, a significant minority of atheists tend to be included in the Christian totals.
These statistics assume that everyone in Italy has a religion. In fact, a significant minority of atheists tend to be included in the Christian totals.
When it comes to popular sports in Italy, there is no denying that soccer is number one. And with good reason. The Italian national soccer team has won the World Cup in 1934, 1938, 1982 and most recently in 2006. The Italian national team is the second most successful team in national soccer history. However, people love several other sports in Italy as well.
10 – Rugby – Rugby is quite popular, especially in the Northern part of Italy. The introduction of rugby in Italy dates back more than 100 years, introduced by the British communities that introduced rugby between 1890 and 1895.
9 – Golf – Golf is quite popular in Italy, with over 9000 registered golf players. There are also some Italian players who are quite notable in the world of professional golf, names as Francesco Molinari and Costantino Rocca are well known to golf fans.
8 – Tennis – Both on television and the actual courts, tennis tournaments have significant followings in Italy. When one looks at the top 150 male and female players at any given time, there are usually quite a few Italian professional tennis players among them. Italy as a tennis nation won the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009 and the Davis Cup in 1976.
7 – Athletics– Track and field is quite popular in Italy and those who do well on the Olympic or national level are very celebrated people throughout the country. There are many international and national athletic events held in Italy every year.
6 – Wrestling – While it may not be considered an actual ‘sport’ by many, professional wrestling is extremely popular in Italy and the American pro wrestling promotions often make a trip overseas.
5 – Water polo- There is a substantial quantity of professional and amateur players for water polo in Italy. The Italian national team is often ranked in the top four in the world.
4 – Cycling – Cycling is a very popular sport in Italy, in fact, only the Belgians have won more World Cycling Championships than Italy has. Italy also is home to a long distance bicycle race called the Giro d’Italia that is famous throughout the world.
3 – Volleyball – Pallavolo (Volleyball) is actually very popular in Italy and the country has many amateur players who play recreationally. The Italian Volleyball League is a respected league among professional players and regarded as one of the the best volleyball leagues in the world. Both the male and female national teams are often ranked in the top four national teams in the world.
2 – Basketball –Italy is one of the best basketball nations in all of Europe along with Turkey, Greece, and Spain. Until around the year 2000, the Italian league was considered the best domestic league outside of the United States.
1 – Soccer – Italy does not just treat soccer like a sport; soccer is almost like a religion. Italy has provided some of the most dominant teams both in international competition as well as in European competition. Every Saturday and Sunday thousands upon thousands of people leave their home to watch the game live, and of course, millions take the time on Monday to discuss the results.
10 – Rugby – Rugby is quite popular, especially in the Northern part of Italy. The introduction of rugby in Italy dates back more than 100 years, introduced by the British communities that introduced rugby between 1890 and 1895.
9 – Golf – Golf is quite popular in Italy, with over 9000 registered golf players. There are also some Italian players who are quite notable in the world of professional golf, names as Francesco Molinari and Costantino Rocca are well known to golf fans.
8 – Tennis – Both on television and the actual courts, tennis tournaments have significant followings in Italy. When one looks at the top 150 male and female players at any given time, there are usually quite a few Italian professional tennis players among them. Italy as a tennis nation won the Fed Cup in 2006 and 2009 and the Davis Cup in 1976.
7 – Athletics– Track and field is quite popular in Italy and those who do well on the Olympic or national level are very celebrated people throughout the country. There are many international and national athletic events held in Italy every year.
6 – Wrestling – While it may not be considered an actual ‘sport’ by many, professional wrestling is extremely popular in Italy and the American pro wrestling promotions often make a trip overseas.
5 – Water polo- There is a substantial quantity of professional and amateur players for water polo in Italy. The Italian national team is often ranked in the top four in the world.
4 – Cycling – Cycling is a very popular sport in Italy, in fact, only the Belgians have won more World Cycling Championships than Italy has. Italy also is home to a long distance bicycle race called the Giro d’Italia that is famous throughout the world.
3 – Volleyball – Pallavolo (Volleyball) is actually very popular in Italy and the country has many amateur players who play recreationally. The Italian Volleyball League is a respected league among professional players and regarded as one of the the best volleyball leagues in the world. Both the male and female national teams are often ranked in the top four national teams in the world.
2 – Basketball –Italy is one of the best basketball nations in all of Europe along with Turkey, Greece, and Spain. Until around the year 2000, the Italian league was considered the best domestic league outside of the United States.
1 – Soccer – Italy does not just treat soccer like a sport; soccer is almost like a religion. Italy has provided some of the most dominant teams both in international competition as well as in European competition. Every Saturday and Sunday thousands upon thousands of people leave their home to watch the game live, and of course, millions take the time on Monday to discuss the results.
January
1: Capodanno (New Year's Day)
6: Epifania/La Befana (Epiphany)
7: Giornata Nazionale della Bandiera (Flag Day)—celebrated principally in Reggio nell'Emilia
February
3: San Biagio (patron saint of Doues)
9: San Rinaldo (patron saint of Nocera Umbra)
14: Festa degli Innamorati (San Valentino)
Movable: Martedì Grasso (Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday)—part of Carnevale
March
8: La Festa della Donna
16: San Ilario and San Taziano (patron saints of Gorizia)
19: Festa del Papà (San Giuseppe)
19: San Proietto (patron saint of Randazzo)
April
1: Pesce d'Aprile (April Fool's Day)
25: Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day)
25: San Marco (patron saint of Venezia)
May
1: Festa del Lavoro (May Day)
June
2: Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day)
24: San Giovanni Battista (patron saint of Firenze)
29: San Pietro and San Paolo (patron saints of Roma)
July
10: San Paterniano (patron saint of Grottammare)
15: Santa Rosalia (patron saint of Palermo)
August
2: San Alessio (patron saint of Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte)
15: Ferragosto / Assunzione (Day of the Assumption)
September
19: San Gennaro (patron saint of Napoli)
22: San Maurizio (patron saint of Calasetta)
October
4: San Petronio (patron saint of Bologna)
November
1: Ognissanti (All Saints Day)
2: Il Giorno dei Morti (Day of the Dead)
3: San Giusto (patron saint of Trieste)
11: San Martino (patron saint of Foiano della Chiana)
December
6: San Nicola (patron saint of Bari)
7: Sant'Ambrogio (patron saint of Milano)
8: Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception)
25: Natale (Christmas)
26: Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day)
31: San Silvestro (St. Silvester's Day)
1: Capodanno (New Year's Day)
6: Epifania/La Befana (Epiphany)
7: Giornata Nazionale della Bandiera (Flag Day)—celebrated principally in Reggio nell'Emilia
February
3: San Biagio (patron saint of Doues)
9: San Rinaldo (patron saint of Nocera Umbra)
14: Festa degli Innamorati (San Valentino)
Movable: Martedì Grasso (Mardi Gras / Fat Tuesday)—part of Carnevale
March
8: La Festa della Donna
16: San Ilario and San Taziano (patron saints of Gorizia)
19: Festa del Papà (San Giuseppe)
19: San Proietto (patron saint of Randazzo)
April
1: Pesce d'Aprile (April Fool's Day)
25: Festa della Liberazione (Liberation Day)
25: San Marco (patron saint of Venezia)
May
1: Festa del Lavoro (May Day)
June
2: Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day)
24: San Giovanni Battista (patron saint of Firenze)
29: San Pietro and San Paolo (patron saints of Roma)
July
10: San Paterniano (patron saint of Grottammare)
15: Santa Rosalia (patron saint of Palermo)
August
2: San Alessio (patron saint of Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte)
15: Ferragosto / Assunzione (Day of the Assumption)
September
19: San Gennaro (patron saint of Napoli)
22: San Maurizio (patron saint of Calasetta)
October
4: San Petronio (patron saint of Bologna)
November
1: Ognissanti (All Saints Day)
2: Il Giorno dei Morti (Day of the Dead)
3: San Giusto (patron saint of Trieste)
11: San Martino (patron saint of Foiano della Chiana)
December
6: San Nicola (patron saint of Bari)
7: Sant'Ambrogio (patron saint of Milano)
8: Immacolata Concezione (Immaculate Conception)
25: Natale (Christmas)
26: Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day)
31: San Silvestro (St. Silvester's Day)