Italy, who lost three friendlies in a row before the finals and were forced to play with a makeshift defence, went ahead after an hour when Andrea Pirlo slid the ball into the path of Antonio Di Natale, who tucked it home three minutes after coming on to replace Mario Balotelli.
The lead lasted only four minutes as David Silva sent a clever ball behind the Italian defence which midfielder Cesc Fabregas, playing as his side's most advanced player, gathered to score.
Di Natale and substitute Spain striker Fernando Torres, twice, both missed good chances in the final quarter as the teams opened up following a relatively flat first half. Ireland play Croatia in the other Group C game in Poznan later on Sunday.
Stadium:
PGE Arena, Gdansk
Scorers:
Spain: Cesc Fabregas 64
Italy: Antonio Di Natale 60
Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 38,869
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Teams:
Spain: 1-Iker Casillas; 17-Alvaro Arbeloa, 15-Sergio Ramos,
3-Gerard Pique, 18-Jordi Alba; 16-Sergio Busquets, 14-Xabi Alonso; 8-Xavi, 6-Andres Iniesta, 21-David Silva (22-Jesus Navas 64), 10-Cesc Fabregas (9-Fernando Torres 74)
Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Leonardo Bonucci, 16-Daniele De Rossi, 3-Giorgio Chiellini; 2-Christian Maggio, 8-Claudio Marchisio, 21-Andrea Pirlo, 5-Thiago Motta (23-Antonio Nocerino 90), 13-Emanuele Giaccherini; 10-Antonio Cassano (20-Sebastian Giovinco 65), 9-Mario Balotelli (11-Antonio Di Natale 56)
