ITALY Population: 58 million Geographic size: 116,000 square miles Italy has played an important part in Europe since the early Roman empire. Population: 58 million Geographic size: 116,000 square miles Capital: Rome Major cities and population: Rome, Milan, Naples, Genoa, Venice  

ITALY is a peninsula ITALY is a peninsula in the Mediterranean Europe and it is like a link between three Continents:Europe, Asia and Africa. Its position has always facilitated trade and cultural exchanges. The shape of Italy is rather like a boot, 1200 Km long and 250 Km wide, coverig an area of 301.300 Kmq. Italy has land frontiers with France in the north-west, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the north-east. The peninsula is surrounded by the Mediterrranean Sea and includes two large islands: Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean, with active volcanoes and earthquakes.

There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, although it is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines. The Alps extend from east to west while the Apennines form the backbone of the peninsula, stretching from north to south. Italy has also a beautiful costline of 8.000 Km. Apart from the Pianura Padana, at the foot of the Alpine arc, there is very little flat land in Italy. The Pianura Padana is crossed by the river Po, the longest in Italy (652 Km). In Italy there are thousands of lakes of various origins and shapes, the largest one is lake of Garda.

CLIMATE The moderating influence of the sea and the protection given by the Alpine barrier from the cold north winds join to bless Italy with a temperate climate. Nevertheless, the weather varies considerably according to how far one is from the sea or the mountains. The summer is hot and dry, but the temperature is mitigated on the coast by sea breezes and in the Apennines and Alps it is pleasantly cool. In mountain areas, winter is ideal for skiing. Seaside and lake resorts, with their excellent hotel facilities, have an intense tourist season in the summer, while the cities that are rich in art treasures are ideal in spring and autumn.

Italy has also two independent countries within its borders. Italy has a population of 56.778.000 ; Italian is the language of the majority of the population but there are minorities speaking German, French and Slovene. Italy has also two independent countries within its borders. Vatican City is the center for the Roman Catholic Church, and is the world's smallest country. San Marino, on the north east coast of Italy, is an independent republic. Italy is a Roman Catholic country, in fact 96% of population are Roman Catholics.

Historical Highlights Over 70% of Italy's population live in cities and towns. The rest live in rural areas. Most people live in northern Italy, particularly on the west coast around Rome and Naples, and in the Po Valley. Southern Italy is more rural, even thought the hot, dry climate is not very productive for farming. In our country there are a lot of towns of Greek, Roman and medieval origins. Ruins from the ancient roman empire bring many tourists to Rome and other parts of Italy each year.

POINTS OF INTEREST other major cities are: Torino, Rome is the capital but the most industrialized city is Milan . The other major cities are: Torino, Bologna, Genova, Firenze. Pisa, Venezia. MILANO TORINO PISA FIRENZE VENEZIA

…and in the south and in the south: Napoli,Bari ( in our Puglia), Palermo and Catania (in Sicila). Palermo

Italy is a Democratic Republic Italy is a Democratic Republic divided into 20 regions which are divided into provinces and communes.