Italy, officially known as the Republic of Italy, is situated in the southern part of Europe. It covers an area of approximately 301,225 sq km. Italy is situated at 42xba50xb4 North of the Equator, and longitudinally at 12xba 50xb4East of Greenwich. Rome is the capital and also the largest city in Italy. The other important cities in Italy are Venice and Milan.
Interestingly, the Italian peninsula is ‘boot-shaped’ and comprises of the Po River valley and two large islands in the Mediterranean Sea, namely Sicily and Sardinia. The northern boundary of Italy is shared with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The Italian peninsula creates distinct bodies of water, namely the Adriatic Sea, Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea and the Ligurian Sea. San Marino and the Vatican are two independent enclaves on the Italian mainland. The other small islands in the Meditterenean Sea that form a part of Italy are Elba, Capri, Ischia and the Lipari Islands. The Italian coastline stretches up to 7,600 km.
Italy, to its people is ‘Belpaese’, which means ‘beautiful country’. A visitor to Italy cannot deny the beauty of its versatile landscape with a blend of hills and hot beaches. Geographically, the Apennine Mountains are the backbone of this peninsula, where they join the Alps in the northwest. The Italian terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous with some plains and coastal lowlands. The ‘Po’ river is the biggest in Italy, with its tributaries flowing down from the Alps, the Apennines and the Dolomities. The Tiber, Adige and the Arno share their space with the Po River.
Northern Italy is flanked by hills with Mont Blanc being the highest point at 4,810 mts. Italy is associated with two famous volcanoes, the currently dormant Vesuvius near Naples and the very active Etna on Sicily. Italy is a favorite with tourists and one of Europe’s most beautiful countries.
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What You Need To Know About Italy
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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For tourists from all over the world, Italy is an attractive destination because of its good architecture, water canals with condoles, emerging fashion trends and popular cuisine such as spaghetti and pizza. The capital city of Italy is Rome and Italian is the official language...
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Italy Travel
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Italy, located in southern Europe, is one of the most favored destinations for tourists from all over the world. It is also popularly called “the boot” due to its geographical shape. There is no dearth of places tourists can travel to in this small country,...
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Italy Bicycle Tours
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Touring the Italian terrain at a leisurely pace through a bicycle tour is an experience of a lifetime. Whether one wishes to indulge in the intoxicating beauty of the Alps, gain a unique country experience, tour through Venice and relish its historical and architectural miracles,...
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Airline Flights To Italy
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Italy, recognizable in the world map as the boot-shaped Italian peninsula in southern Europe, has quite a few attractions that ensure a steady tourist traffic..The independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclosed within Italian territory. The description of its beauty and...
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Italy Travel Guide
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Italy can be ranked as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, so there is an abundance of information available for anyone who wants to travel to Italy. Italy travel guides can be broadly classified into two categories–the first category includes those...
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Study Abroad Programs In Italy
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Italy is popular for its rich culture, fabulous food, and diverse region. Universities in Italy are known for the quality of education they offer at an affordable price. Many students prefer to enroll themselves in different study programs with these universities. Each Italian university approaches...
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Italy Vacations
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Italy has been a favored holiday spot for tourists the world over and vacationing in Italy can be an unforgettable experience. There are many places in Italy that arouse interest and the prominent among them are the cities of Rome, Milan and Venice. These cities...
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Golf Travel Italy
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Italy, owing to its great landscapes, has several golf courses all over the country. While traveling within Italy, one can play golf in the mountains, by the sea, in and around historical cities and in many of the tourist resorts. Golfing near the lakes of...
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History of Italy
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The name Italy (Italia) is an ancient name for the country and people of Southern Italy. The word ‘Italy’, in Greek, stands for the “Land of Cattle Calves or Veal”. Etruscan was the first major civilization in Italy. Today, the Etruscan civilization is the name...
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Top 10 Bicycle Tours
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