IT - Italy

Italy is a nation of Europe that borders Austria and Switzerland to the north, Slovenia to the north-east and France to the north-west.

To know:
In 5th place in the world by number of tourist presences in 2014. Many cities and natural beauties have been included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites, which, together with China, place it in the first place in the world , with 55 UNESCO properties.

When to go:
From a climatic point of view, Italy is favored by the large body of water of the Mediterranean seas that surround it almost on all sides. These seas constitute above all for the Italian peninsula (less for the Hellenic, Iberian and Anatolian ones) a beneficial reservoir of heat and humidity. In fact, within the temperate zone, they determine a particular climate called temperate Mediterranean.

Italy is conventionally divided into four types of climate:
     Alpine climate, dominant in the Alps and in the northern and central Apennines, characterized by low night and winter temperatures and mainly summer rainfall;
     Mediterranean climate, enjoyed by the islands and the peninsula south of the Gulf of Salerno, with mild temperatures and heavy winter rainfall;
     Peninsular climate, characteristic of the peninsula north of the Gulf of Salerno – Gulf of Manfredonia, with milder temperatures along the coast and in the immediate hinterland than inland (where the climate is alpine at higher altitudes) and with mainly spring and autumn rainfall.
     Climate of the Po Valley, with wide annual excursion (low winter temperatures, high summer temperatures) and spring and autumn rainfall.

Territories and tourist destinations.
Mainland Italy:
      Northwest Italy – Includes Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta. Territory of the Ligurian Riviera, including Portofino and Cinque Terre. The Alps, world-class cities such as the industrial capital of Italy (Turin), its large port (Genoa), the country’s main business center (Milan), share the visitors of the region with areas with beautiful landscapes such as those of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, and little known Renaissance treasures such as Mantua.
      North-eastern Italy – Includes Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. From the canals of Venice to the gastronomic capital Bologna, from imposing mountains such as the Dolomites and first-rate ski resorts such as Cortina d’Ampezzo to the delightful cities of Parma and Verona, these regions offer a lot to see and do. The bilingual area of ​​South Tyrol and the cosmopolitan city of Trieste offer a singular touch of central Europe.
      Central Italy – Includes Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria. Impregnated with art and history. Rome boasts the remaining wonders of the glorious Roman empire and some of the best known monuments in the world, combined with a lively atmosphere of the big cities. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is the main attraction of Tuscany, while the magnificent countryside and nearby cities such as Siena, Pisa and Lucca have a lot to offer to those looking for other places rich in history awarded with the title of World Heritage Site. Umbria is dotted with many picturesque cities such as Perugia, Orvieto, Gubbio and Assisi.
      Southern Italy – Includes Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise and Puglia. The teeming Naples, the theatrical ruins of Pompeii, the romantic Amalfi Coast, Ischia and Capri, the peaceful Puglia and the enchanting beaches of Calabria, the Sassi of Matera one of the oldest cities in the world and designated as European Capital of Culture for 2019 ; and everywhere, the majestic 2,500-year-old ruins from the center of the world make the area culturally interesting. The farmhouses that make the less visited areas of the boot the ideal places to explore (e.g. Irpinia, Sannio) are widespread.
Insular Italy
      Sicily – The beautiful island famous for archeology, (the Valley of the Greek temples), marine panoramas, clear beaches, hinterland for the most part hilly rich in breathtaking landscapes and some of the best dishes that Italian cuisine has to offer.
      Sardinia – Large island about 250 km west of the Italian coast. Beautiful panoramas, crystal clear waters and splendid beaches: one of the most popular seaside destinations among Italians and not.