Borders & co.

Italy is bordered on the northwest by France, on the north by Switzerland and Austria, and on the east by Slovenia and on the other sides is surrounded by the sea.

Two areas within Italy´s boundaries aren´t under the control of the Italian government:

the State of Vatican City and the Republic of San Marino. Vatican City were established in 1929 by a concordat between Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini, acting as head of the Italian government; the agreement also gave Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. The pope is the sovereign of the State of Vatican City, which has its own legal system and post office.

The Republic of San Marino, has a capital of the same name and it´s small and completely surrounded by Italy.