Italy - Tourism and Travel

Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is a country in southern Europe. It is made up of a peninsula that juts into the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the islands of Sardinia, Sicily and about seventy smaller islands.

Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world.

Before Italy was unified in 1861, it consisted of many independent states.

These states were very competitive during the Renaissance. This competitiveness led to the creation of great artistic and industrial masterpieces in cities such as Rome (the capital), Venice and Florence.

The city of Venice often floods in winter. Venice is in danger of sinking into the lagoon that surrounds it.

Italy is a member of the European Union. The Euro is the official currency.

The country has a parliamentary system of government.

Geography and Climate of Italy

Overall, Italy has an area of 116,311 square miles (301,245 square kilometers).

Italy is a very mountainous country. Its geographical structure is the result of a collision between the African and Eurasian continental plates.

The Alps are in the north. Mont Blanc, in the Alps on the border with France, is the highest mountain in Italy. It is 15,772 feet (4,807 meters) high.

Most of Italy's rivers originate in the Appenine Mountains, which extend for 823 miles (1,324 kilometers) from the northern to southern ends of the Italian peninsula.

The Dolomite Alps, in northeastern Italy, are known for their serrated peaks. These mountains are made up of thick limestone that overlays weaker marine strata. There are many landslides here.

There are three active volcanoes in Italy. These are Mount Etna, in Sicily, Mount Stromboli, on the island of Stromboli, and Mount Vesuvius, which is near Naples. Many other mountains in Italy are of volcanic origin.

Volcanic activity on the site of Mount Vesuvius first took place 10,000 years ago. Since then, there have been four volcanoes on that site. Mount Vesuvius' current crater is inside Monte Somma, an older crater.

Earthquakes often occur in the Gulf of Taranto, which has a square shape as the result of many block faults.

The Po River valley in the northeast is the largest lowland area. This is where most people live and where most industrial and agricultural activity takes place. The Po Valley was once part of the Adriatic Sea. Eventually, it became filled with sand, gravel and clay sediment that was washed down from the Alps. The land here is very fertile.

The southern part of the Italian peninsula, or the Mezzogiorno, has harsh terrain and is not as well developed as the north. Corruption and organized crime have inhibited investment and industrial growth in the south.

Low sand hills surrounding the Pontine Marshes in south-central Italy prevent drainage in that region.

The promontory of Gargano, which juts into the Adriatic Sea, is a plateau made of limestone with a jagged coastline that has been caused by wave erosion.

Sicily is the largest island in Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It has a total area of 9,926 square miles (25,708 square kilometers). Sicily is part of the same geographical region as northern Africa. The southwestern tip of the island is only 95 miles (125 kilometers) from Africa.

Sardinia, Italy's second largest island, consist of an uplifted area of ancient igneous rocks.

The island of Capri, in the gulf of Naples, is part of the Apennines.

Punta La Marmora is the highest point in Sardinia. It is 6,017 feet (1,834 meters) high.

Most of Italy has a Mediterranean climate. Winters are colder and wetter in the north, and the Alps have heavy snowfall.

People of Italy

59,870,000 people live in Italy.

94% of the people are ethnic Italian and 2% are Sardinian.

85% are Roman Catholic and 2% are Muslim.

The official language is Italian. French, German, Sardinian and Rhaeto-Romanic are also spoken.

Economy of Italy

Only about one fifth of the land in Italy is suited for cultivation.

Italy is the world's largest wine producer. It is also an important exporter of olives, tomatoes and citrus fruits.

There are vineyards all over the mainland as well as on Sicily and Sardinia. The Chianti region of central Italy is a famous wine-producing region.

Fishing is important in the Strait of Messina, which separates Sicily from the Italian peninsula.

Sheep and goats are raised in the Sardinian mountains. Some farming is done in Sardinia's valleys.

Italian industry is centered in the north, around Milan, Genoa and Turin. Important industrial products are leather goods, textiles, clothing, industrial equipment, office equipment, domestic appliances, cars, metal products and chemicals.

There are some reserves of coal, oil and natural gas in Italy, but industries have to import most fuels and minerals.

Tourism, services and banking/finance are important economic sectors. Five percent of Italy's national income comes from tourism.

There is a large private sector in Italy; the private sector is dominated by small enterprises.