Central European Time (Rome)

Italy uses Central European Time (CET/CEST), with Rome as its capital and one of the world's most historically significant cities. Italy adopted standard time in 1866, shortly after unification. The country is home to Vatican City, which also uses CET, and San Marino. Italy has the third-largest economy in the eurozone, with Milan serving as the financial and fashion capital. The Borsa Italiana (Italian Stock Exchange), part of the Euronext group, operates on CET. Italy's north-south economic divide is one of the most studied in European economics, but both regions share the same timezone. Italian culture has profoundly shaped global timekeeping — the concept of dividing the day into 24 hours traces back to ancient Roman practices. Italy's fashion industry (Milan Fashion Week), automotive sector (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat), and food and wine exports all operate on CET schedules. The country's extensive tourism industry benefits from timezone alignment with most of continental Europe. Italy has approximately 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than any other country, all operating on Roman time.