Overview
Off the coast of Sorrento
[tab:Geography]
Italy is located in Southern Europe and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the land between the peninsula and the Alps, and a number of islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Its total area is 301 230 km², of which 294 020 km² is land and 7 210 km² is water. Including islands, Italy has a coastline of 7 600 km on the Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian (740 km), France (488 km), Austria (430 km), Slovenia (232 km) and Switzerland. San Marino (39 km) and the Vatican City (3.2 km), both entirely surrounded by Italy, account for the remainder. The Apennine Mountains form the peninsula’s backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its northern lakes is Garda (143 sq mi; 370 km²); in the centre is Campotosto Lake. The Po, Italy’s principal river, flows from the Alps on the western border and crosses the great Padan plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are Sicily (9,926 sq mi; 25,708 km²) and Sardinia (9,301 sq mi; 24,090 km²). There are several active volcanoes in Italy: Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe; Vulcano; Stromboli; and Vesuvius, the only active volcano on the mainland of Europe.
Related Topics: Geography of Italy
[tab:Major Cities]
There are hundreds of Italian cities, here are nine of its most famous:
- Rome (Roma) – the capital, both of Italy and,one time, of the Roman Empire until 285 AD; home of the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican).
- Milan (Milano) – Known as one of the main fashion cities of the world, it’s also the most important centre of trade and business in all the country.
- Naples (Napoli) – Beside Venice, Taranto and Genoa,one of the most important port city in Italy. Naples is filled with life, and sun. Here you will find the best pizza in Italy, because it was born here. Naples is also near to the famous volcano Vesuvius and the ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompei and Ercolano.
- Florence (Firenze): City of “rebirth”. This city is known for its architecture and art and for the impact it has had throughout the world. Florence is also home to Michelangelo’s famous statue of David. Home to many other well-known museums of art.
- Turin (Torino) – First capital of Italy, after being the capital of Kingdom of Sardinia (actually Piedmont-centred), what had promoted national reunification. Home of the FIAT, the most important industry in Italy,. Turin is a well known industrial city, based on the aerospace industry and, of course, automobile industry. Home of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
- Bologna – Home of the first university in the western world. This city is filled with history, culture, and technology. Bologna is well known for its food. One of the world’s great university cities.
- Genoa (Genova) – It was one of the most important medieval maritime republic. Very wealthy and diverse city. Its port brings in tourism and trade, along with art and architecture. Genoa is birthplace of Columbus and jeans.
- Pisa – Pisa, one the medieval maritime republic, is home to the unmistakable image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Very touristy city. Streets are filled with vendors who will try to sell you anything. Famous too for the University “La Normale”.
- Venice (Venezia) – Venice is known for its history (the most important, beside Genoa and Pisa, of the medieval maritime republics) , art, and world famous canals. One of the most beautiful cities in Italy; it is home to Island of Murano, which is famous for its hand-blown glass. St. Mark’s Square is where most of the tourists are and can get very crowded in the summertime.
Related Topics: Cities of Italy
[tab:Climate]
Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: in some winter days it can be –2 °C (29 °F) and snowing in Milan, while it is 12 °C (54 °F) in Rome and 22 °C (72 °F) in Cagliari. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer.
The climate in Italy is highly diverse and can be far from the stereotypical Mediterranean climate depending on the location. Most of the inland northern areas of Italy, for example Turin, Milan and Bologna, have a continental climate often classified as humid subtropical. The coastal areas of Liguria and most of the peninsula south of Florence generally fit the Mediterranean stereotype . The coastal areas of the peninsula can be very different from the interior higher altitudes and valleys, particularly during the winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters and warm and generally dry summers, although lowland valleys can be quite hot in summer.
Related Topics: Climate of Italy
[tab:Population]
Crowded Street in Rome
In October 2007, the Italian population surpassed 59.8 million. Italy currently has the fourth-largest population in the European Union and the 23rd-largest population worldwide. Italy’s population density, at 196.1 persons per square kilometre, is the fifth highest in the European Union. The highest density is in northern Italy, as that one-third of the country contains almost half of the Italian population. After World War II, Italy saw an economic boom which lured the rural population to the cities, and at the same time it turned from a nation characterized by massive emigration to a net immigrant-receiving country. High fertility persisted until the 70s when it plunged below replacement, so that as of 2007, one in five Italians was a pensioner. Despite this, thanks mainly to the immigration of the 80s and 90s, in the 2000s Italy saw natural population growth for the first time in years.
[tab:Economy]
According to GDP calculations, Italy was ranked as the seventh-largest economy in the world in 2006, behind the United States, Japan, Germany, China, the United Kingdom, and France, and the fourth-largest in Europe. According to the OECD, in 2004 Italy was the world’s sixth-largest exporter of manufactured goods. This economy remains divided into a developed industrial north dominated by private companies and a less-developed agricultural south. In the Index of Economic Freedom 2008 it ranked 64th of 162 countries, or 29th of 41 European countries, the lowest rating in the EU-15 and behind many ex-communist European countries. Italy has often been called a sick man of Europe, with governments having problems in pursuing reform programs.
Related Topics: Economy in Italy
[tab:END]
