Italy and the euro

Italy at a glance

Surface area: 301 340 km²
Population: 59 131 287 (Eurostat 2007)
Joined the European Union: Founding member (25 March 1957)
Currency: Euro since 1 January 1999 (formerly Italian lira, ITL)

Euro information

Status: Euro-area member since 1 January 1999.

Fixed conversion rate: €1 = 1 936.27 ITL

Adoption of the euro: The euro banknotes and coins were introduced in Italy on 1 January 2002, after a transitional period of three years when the euro was the official currency but only existed as ‘book money’. The dual circulation period – when both the Italian lira and the euro had legal tender status – ended on 28 February 2002.

Exchange of former national currency: The Banca d’Italia (National Central Bank of Italy) will continue to exchange Italian lira banknotes and coins until 29 February 2012.

Opinion polls and surveys

• Public opinion and the single currency (Eurobarometer website)

Downloads

• National sides of Italian euro coins
• Italian commemorative coins

Websites

Euro websites

• Banknotes and coins (Bank of Italy website)
• Archived websites on the euro

Institutions

• Banca d’Italia (Bank of Italy, also in English)
• Ministero dell’Economia e delle Finanze (Ministry of Economy and Finance)
• Istituto Poligrafico Zecca dello Stato (Italian Mint)

Business

• Euro Info Centres Italy
• Associazione Bancaria Italiana (Italian Bankers’ Association)

Consumers

• Centro Europeo Consumatori Italia (European Consumer Centre Italy)
• Altroconsumo