About Italy

Italy is situated in Mediterranean Europe, and shares borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. To the west the peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian, the Sardinian and the Tyrrhenian Seas, in the south by the Sicilian and the Ionian Seas and to the east by the Adriatic Sea.

Italy is a gorgeous country of majestic mountains, exquisite lakes, idyllic islands, cosmopolitan cities and historical villages. It has an ideal climate combined with welcoming, gracious people making Italy a perfect holiday destination for any one from the art lover, to the active sports person.

In summer, Italy is famous for its beach and lake resorts, and in winter for its ski resorts and winter playgrounds. Any time of the year is ideal for visiting any one of the thousands of art galleries, museums, theatres or opera houses. The larger cities are a shop-a-holics delight. Italy offers travellers a wide variety in its beautiful scenery and historical backgrounds.

Customs and food vary widely from region to region due the historical independence of the regions. This rich history is preserved in the colourful folklore festivals that take place in all of Italy's regions throughout the year.

Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking Croatian, French, German and Serbian.

Offices and Shops are closed all Sundays in Italy except in major tourist areas especially during high season where many shops now open.

The country is divided into 103 provinces and 20 geographical regions. The 20 regions, roughly correspond to the historical regions of the country.

The regions are:

1. Piedmont
2. Aosta Valley
3. Lombardy
4. Trentino Alto Adige
5. Veneto
6. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
7. Liguria
8. Emilia-Romagna
9. Tuscany
10. Umbria
11. Marches
12. Latium
13. Abruzzo
14. Molise
15. Campania
16. Apulia
17. Basilicata
18. Calabria
19. Sicily
20. Sardinia

PIEDMONT - Is a region of rugged mountains, misty rivers, castles, museums, abbeys and cathedrals. Its position beside the French and Swiss Alps has helped create an identity quite different to the rest of Italy. The region's northernmost reaches could easily be Swiss, while Torino's grand squares, arcades and sophisticated cafè life reflect a French influence rather than anything "typically Italian".

AOSTA VALLEY - lies in the furthest North West corner of Italy, bordered by the southern slopes of Mont Blanc, The Gran Paradiso and the Mt. Rosa ranges. Its landscape includes mountain peaks, glaciers, streams, grazing lands and dense forests. The valley has always been an important passageway through the Alps and is lined with castles. It is a winter paradise for the snow enthusiast.

LOMBARDY - Italy's richest and most developed region extends from the alps to the lush Po River valley. It is known for its romantic lakes, art galleries, affluent towns and food. The capital of the region is Milan, one of the world's leading commercial centres, a fashion mecca and the home of La Scala Opera House.

TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE - The spectacular limestone Dolomite mountain range reigns this region, and to many people symbolizes the epitome of both winter and summer sports. Excellent roads and hotels and sports facilities make this the most popular region for mountain-lovers. Read more.

VENETO - Veneto means Venice, the most imaginative city in the world with its network of canals traversed by gondolas, exquisite cut glass, 400 bridges and 118 islands. Beyond Venice there is the spa resorts of Abano and Montegrotto, and the magnificent winter sports area of Cortina, the Cadore Valley, the beaches of Caorle and Jesolo and Giotto's extraordinary frescoes at Padova. Read more.

FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA - Art, landscapes and ancient traditions are the attractions of this region which lies between the Venetian plain, the alps and the sea. The region is relatively unexplored, and you can blend urban culture with nature by heading for the Adriatic beaches, northern ski slopes or forest walking tracks.

LIGURIA - is the mildest region in northern Italy. Its two rivieras have an exceptional climate all year round. Liguria is the largest producer of flowers although its main economic resources come from the sea. It is known for its handicrafts including ivory, filigree work, lace and damasks. The food of the region is influenced by the products of the Mediterranean climate including fresh herbs, extra virgin olive oil and seafood.

EMILIA-ROMAGNA - The regions capital, Bologna, was one of the most important medieval cities. It has the oldest university in Europe and educated the likes of Dante and Petrarch. The Adriatic town of Ravenna, boasts one of the world's best collection of Byzantine mosaics. Emilia, which stretches west of Bologna, and Romagna to the east were joined during Italian unification. Both were former papal states, and they each retain their own identity: the Emilians are an industrious people, and the Romagnoli are known for their entrepreneurial spirit.

TUSCANY - The Tuscan landscape evokes a feeling of magic and romance. Dotted with vines and cypresses it embodies the classic Italian image and for many it is the essence of Italy. Old towns, fortified Romanesque churches, and palaces are found around the hill tops. Florence is the trademark city of this region. Art from the 13th to the 16th centuries can be found in Florence, Siena, Pistoia, Lucca and Pisa, including works by Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Leonardo and Michelangelo.

UMBRIA - is one of the few land locked regions and is known as the land of the Saints. This is the native country of Saint Francis (Assisi), Saint Benedict (Norcia), Saint Rita (Cascia). Places to visit include, Orvieto, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Italy, the natural mineral waters at Sangemini and the sacred towns of Assisi, Norcia and Cascia. Perugia hosts the best known Jazz festival in Europe.

MARCHES - is characterized by undulating country side and medieval towns and villages that have hardly been explored. Marches is becoming increasingly popular with Italians and foreigners intent on buying an old farm houses for renovation, now that Tuscany has become so expensive and popular.

LATIUM - This region contains Rome. Art can be found everywhere, the treasures in Montecassino Abbey, the Villas of Tivoli, and especially in Rome. Rome is known world wide for its monuments including the Roman Forum, its Renaissance and Baroque palaces, its museums and piazzas, and its obelisks and fountains. A tour of Etruria, the ancient land of the Etruscans is highly recommended. Visits to the tombs and museums at Cerveteri and Tarquinia provide a fascinating insight into Etruscan civilisation.

ABRUZZO - was famed for its witches, wizards and snake-charmers. It is personified by it beautiful mountains and long coastlines which offer the ideal holiday. There are numerous resorts which are becoming increasingly popular including Montesilvano, Silvi, Roseto, Pineto, Giulianova, Alba, Tortoreto, Pescara, Francavilla, Ortona, Vasto. Wolves and bears still roam protected in the forests of the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo. The medieval towns of l'Aquila and Sulmona are also well worth a visit.

MOLISE - The most popular, well known parts of this region include the seaside resorts along the Adriatic, Termoli and Campomarino, and the mountainous area of Piano Campitello and Capracotta.

CAMPANIA - was settled by the Greeks, Romans, Normans, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese and the Bourbons, all of whom have left a distinguishing mark on this region. The capital is the famous Naples. Campania is also blessed with some of the country's most dramatic coastline, as well as magical islands and a rich heritage of ancient ruins. Pompeii and Herculaneum lie in the shadow of Mt Vesuvius. These Roman cities buried by the volcano have been perfectly preserved for posterity.

APULIA - overlooks the southernmost part of the Adriatic Sea, and the Ionian Sea (known as the Gulf of Taranto), the Salentina peninsula and the Ionian Sea. It flourished under the ancient Greeks, and was dominated by Normans, Swabians and Arabs. Coloured by its diverse history, the region includes the sanctuary dedicated to St Michael the Archangel at Monte Sant' Angelo, the conical-roofed stone houses of Alberobello and the extraordinary mosaic floor in Otranto's cathedral.

BASILICATA - is a small and much neglected region which stretches across southern Italy and incorporates the provinces of Potenza and Matera and brief strips of coastline on the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. It is a mountainous region with large tracts of barren land.

CALABRIA - is heavily influenced by Greece, Rome, and Byzantium. Calabria's history has had periods of great splendour especially as a part of Magna Graecia. The mediterranean climate make citrus fruit the region's leading crop. The beaches are among the cleanest in Italy and lovers of ancient history can explore the sparse reminders of the civilisation of Magna Graecia. Along the roads heading to the mountainous inland you'll encounter some magnificent landscapes and picturesque medieval villages.

SICILY - Beaches are usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Sicily. Sicily's north coast has a wild beauty matched only by the spectacular Mt Etna on the island's east coast. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. As well as Greek temples, there are Roman ruins, Norman churches and castles, Arab and Byzantine domes and splendid Baroque churches and places.

SARDINIA - is Italy's second largest island, and has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The people of Sardinia and its culture maintain a separate identity from the mainland, which they call "ilk continente" (the continent). The island is dotted with some 7000 nuyraghi, the conical-shaped megalithic stone fortresses that are the only remnants of the island's first inhabitants - the Nuraghic people.

Food and Wine

Italy is famous world wide for its love of food and wine. Many regions have their on distinctive styles. Cooking styles vary notably, from the rich and creamy dishes of the north to the hot and spicy specialties of the south.

Northern Emilia-Romagna has produced some of the best-known dishes including spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and tortellini and is also home to the best prosciutto and mortadella. Liguria is the home of pesto. Spectacular vegetable and pasta dishes feature just as predominantly as seafood and exotic meats. The desserts cassata, cannoli, zabaglione, granita and marzipan originate in Sicily, while Sardinia is famous for its spit-roasted piglet.

Italy's perfect climate, soil and old traditions of viticulture make Italy a natural wine growing nation. For centuries wine growing was one of the most labor producing industries. A large part of the population is still engaged today in the vine and wine industry.

Other Italian drinks include aperitifs, blended principally over a base of the world-famous Piedmont Vermouth, dessert wines, such as Moscato and Marsala from Sicily and sparkling wines from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and the Islands. Italy also has excellent beers and a great variety of mineral waters.

Art and Culture

Italy is pure heaven for lovers of art and history. Ancient monuments and archeological sites are beautifully preserved, art galleries and museums over flow with works of art by the likes of Raffaello and Michelangelo. Italian cities are veritable living museums. All main centres, and most of the provincial cities and many small towns have museums.

The works of art in Italy vary from the famous tromped l'oeil ceilings in the Sistine Chapel, baroque fountains, Byzantine mozaics to Roman architectural ruins.

Environment

Italy is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines.

The Alps extends over 600 miles from east to west. It consists of great massifs in the western sector, with peaks rising to over 14,000 feet. The the chain is lower in the eastern sector and includes the Dolomites which exhibit extraordinary beauty and are well known for their winter sports facilities.

The Apennines form the backbone of the peninsula, stretching in a wide arc. The Corno Grande (Gran Sasso d'Italia) is the highest mountain peak in Italy.

The southern section of the mountain Apennines forms the Gargano promontory, then continues further south to the Salentine peninsula. They then continue to the west with the Calabrian and Peloritano massif stretching across the Strait of Messina into Sicilia.

The river Po, the longest river in Italy, has its source in the Pian de Re (Monviso) and flows into the Adriatic through a magnificent delta. The Alpine foothills are characterized by large lakes including Lake Maggiore, Como, Iseo and Garda.

In central Italy a large portion is characterized by rolling green hills. The rivers Arno and Tevere (Tiber) run through this area.

The main islands of Italy include Sicily, rising up to the volcano of Mount Etna (10,860 feet), the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic Sea, the Tuscan Archipelago, the Pontine Islands, the Aeolian Islands and the Egadi Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Sicilia.

The country's flora is predominantly Mediterranean. Three broad classifications of evergreen tree dominate including the evergreen oak, cork and pine. Ancient imports that are evident across the landscape include the olive and cyprus.

Native fauna still exists in some regions but has been hunted extensively. Brown bears and lynxs may be seen if you are lucky. The Alpine regions are still home to wolves, marmots, chamois and deer. Mouflon sheep and wild boars and cats can be found on Sardinia, while falcons, hawks and golden eagles are still seen on occasions soaring on the wind currents.

Natural Wonders

Thermal Spas
Italy is renown for it therapeutic thermal spas. The richness in thermal and mineral waters, combined with the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the scenery, have made it a favourite venue for "health care tourism". Since the last century hotels with extensive facilities have sprung up around spas, which have established international reputations. Abano, Salsomaggiore, Chianciano, Montecatini, Fiuggi and Ischia are just a few names among the many which are known throughout the world and which attract millions of visitors every year.

Volcanos
Italy has three active volcanoes - Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands, Vesuvius near Naples and Etna on Sicily.

Climate

Italy has a temperate climate moderated by the surrounding seas, and by the mountains in the north which help to protect it from the cold northerly winds. However, the weather varies considerably across the country depending on how far one is from the sea or the mountains.

Winter is extremely cold in the northern Alps, cold and foggy in the Po Plain and the central Apennines whilst being quite mild and often warm on the Ligurian coast, the Neapolitan coast and in Sicilia. In the mountain areas, winter is ideal for skiing, snow boarding, ice skating and snow shoe adventures.

Summer on the other hand can be hot and dry. The temperatures are reduced on the coast by sea breezes and in the Apennines and Alps it is usually pleasantly cool. The summer is perfect for hiking, swimming, sailing or just relaxing on the beach.

Getting there

Italy can be accessed by air sea or road.

For travel between Italy and other parts of Europe, including the UK, buses are the cheapest option, although discount rail tickets and budget flights can be good value.

Visitors travelling to Italy will find that flights are numerous and most fares are competitive.

Unless you're pushed for time, train travel is a great way to enter Italy from within Europe. Buses to Italy are numerous but can't really compete with the convenience of the train.

Ferries service Sicily from Naples, while Sardinia can be reached from Genoa, Livorno and Naples. Ferries also connect the country with Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Albania, Croatia and Spain.

The main border crossings with France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia are open 24 hours a day year-round. Some mountain passes are closed due to snow during the winter.

Internal travel
Italy has a vast network of relatively cheap bus and train services to get around within the country. Your own car gives you the most freedom and flexibility, although both fuel and autostrada (motorway) tolls are rather expensive. Domestic air travel can be costly but provides fast access around the country.

More information

For more information about Italy visit the Italian Tourism web site

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