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Italy in the early modern period was one of the wealthiest areas of Europe, it had a very advanced and sophisticated culture. Many Italians were appalled by the corruption of the Church and indeed there had been several movements that challenged the supremacy of the Papacy in Italy, since the early middle ages. However, despite these factors, the Reformation did not have any lasting impact on Italy. Indeed, there was only a very brief Italian Reformation and by 1600 Protestantism was effectively extinct in Italy and Catholicism was even strengthened. This article seeks to understand why did the Reformation fail in Italy. It will argue that Protestantism was unable to establish itself on the Peninsula for three reasons; the political power of the Catholic Church, the states’ support for the Counter-Reformation and the Inquisition and popular attachment to the traditional religion.