Italy is a long, boot-shaped country in Southern Europe. North Italy borders on France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The biggest part of the country is surrounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea. Sicily, Sardinia and Elba and several smaller islands also belong to Italy. Its total area is 116,346 square miles. In Italy there are twenty regions. San Marino and Vatican City are enclaves and independent states within peninsular Italy, in Switzerland is an Italian enclave Campione d’Italia.
The monarchy was abolished on June 2, 1946 through a referendum, since Italy is a democratic republic. The President of the Republic is the head of state and represents the unity of the nation, he has many of the tasks previously belonged to the king of Italy.
Italy has several architectural monuments like the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and it has a great cultural influence around the world. Through the centuries, Italy had several important scientists such as Leonardo da Vinci, he made several contributions in various fields such as art, biology and technology. An important role in the Scientific Revolution played Galileo Galilei, a physicist, mathematician and astronomer. The telescope was improved by him and therefore there are far better astronomical observations possible. Italy is known as the birthplace of the opera. Enrico Caruso, Alessandro Bonci, Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli are some most famous Italian opera singers.
This is the country brought us a cuisine with fresh products and fine traditional, cooking. Some famous dishes and items include pasta, pizza, lasagna, focaccia, and gelato. In the cultural cuisine of Italy, coffee, and especially espresso, took a noteworthy place.
Italy is the only volcanically active country in mainland Europe. There are several active volcanoes in Italy: Etna, the second-largest active volcano in Europe, and Vesuvius, the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe.
Italy’s most popular tourist attractions are the Colosseum and the fascinating ruins at Pompeii. Italy’s most internationally visited cities are Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence and Naples. In Venice you exchange the convenience of cars and highways, for slow boats and singing gondoliers. A cup of coffee on a terrace or a lunch in the warm Mediterranean sun, a walk through villages, olive groves and vineyards that is enjoying. Holidays in Italy is living in a different lifestyle. Outside the beautiful art of Italy, there is also plenty to do in the countryside. You can walk in the Dolomites, skiing in the Alps or diving close to the golden coast of Sardinia.
Legal residents of one Schengen country do not require a visa . Some other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and the USA, also do not require visas for tourist visits of up to 90 days.
