What Is Italy's National Animal?

Every country has its national animal that’s considered a symbol of it. Read on to find out the national animal of Italy.
Though there is a debate about the official national animal of Italy, the wolf is considered the unofficial symbol of the country by the most. The grey wolf, also known as the Apennine Wolf, lives in the Apennine Italian Mountains, Switzerland and part of France. But in Italy, they are the dominant wild animals and also the only big predators (except for the bears, but there are only few of those).

The reason why the wolf is considered the symbol of Italy is because the legend says that the twins brothers who founded the city of Rome, Romulus and Remus, were raised by a she-wolf who cared for and protected them from wild animals as she raised them as her own children.

The wolf is part of the big family of canidae, together with other animals such as the dog, dingoes and jackals. The wolf is a majestic animal who lives in groups led by an old wolf. This animal can survive in a wide range of habitats such as deserts, tundra, woods and icelands.

In Italy, the total number of wolves is around three million, and they are considered under threat because humans kill them to save their cattle. The colour of a wolf is a mixture of grey, white and brown. When they are born, they are usually blind and deaf, but after eight months, they are grown enough to start hunting.

Being a fascinating and majestic animal, it’s not hard to understund why the wolf is Italy’s national animal!

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.