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Italy: A Country Overview
Italy is truly one of
the cradles of Western civilization, with one of the longest
histories and richest cultures in Europe. Rome was the capital
of the ancient Roman Empire, and is home to the Vatican See,
the center of the Roman Catholic Church. Florence, home to
Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, was one of the greatest
centers of the Renaissance, and is filled with beautiful art
and wondrous architecture. Venice, whose wealth was built
on trade with the East, rose on a series of islands; canals
became its streets, linking piazzas, palaces, and fabulous
churches. In addition to the above mentioned places, the many
other regions, towns, and cities of Italy also have an extraordinary
amount of charm, history, and culture. You could spend months
exploring Italy and still find that you have only scratched
the surface of this beautiful country.
Boot-shaped
Italy possesses perhaps the most instantly identifiable physical
shape of any country in the world, the result of its particular
geography. In the north, the Alps join Italy to the southern
underside of Europe. Near its border with Switzerland is the
glacier-carved Lake Country. Flanking the Ligurian Sea, near
the French border, is the Italian Riveria, with its famed
beaches and beauty spots, including Portofino and the Cinque
Terre. To the northeast, near Austria, rises a spectacular
and extremely rugged section of the Alps known as the Dolomites.
The
wide and fertile Po River valley separates the Alps from the
rest of Italy's more mountainous boot. This valley contains
most of Italy's major industry, its large-scale agriculture,
and the country's densest population. The cities of Turin,
Milan, Padua, and Bologna lie in this wide valley. North of
the river's mouth on the Adriatic Sea is Venice, the "city
of canals" built on a series of islands and lagoons.
Central
Italy is characterized by its many hill towns, terraced farms
and vineyards, and steep valleys. Florence is located in the
Tuscan hills, while Rome is backed up against the peaks of
the southern Apennines. To the south of Rome, the hills become
more arid, and the underlying limestone more apparent in white
cliffs and rocky outcrops. Small-scale farming and herding
are the base of the dominantly agricultural economy. Naples,
Italy's greatest port, sits at the base of Mount Vesuvius,
the still smoldering volcano whose many
eruption in 79 BC smothered Pompeii and Herculaneum. Off the
toe of Italy is Sicily, whose eastern slopes are dominated
by Mount Etna, another active volcano.
The more remote Sardinia rises in the Tyrrhenian Sea west
of the mainland . People travel to Italy to "discover the
past." Historically speaking, there are few countries that
offer more. Scattered throughout the country are examples
of past civilizations such as the Etruscans, the Romans, and
the Greeks. Rome and Sicily tend to hold some of the most
impressive ancient monuments including the Colosseum in Rome
(built by the Emperor Vespasian) or the Valley of Temples
in Sicily (considered one of the most impressive complexes
of ancient Greek buildings outside of Greece). Interested
in the Renaissance? Then stops in places such as Sienna, Vienna,
or Florence are in order. Walk through the great halls built
by the Medici in Florence, or cross over the Bridge of Sighs,
built by the Doges in Venice. Throughout the country are exquisite
Renaissance churches, government buildings, and grand old
palaces, designed and built by great masters such as Michelangelo.
Stroll through world class art museums including the once
private collection of the popes at the Vatican Museum. No
matter where you travel to, Italy has something spectacular
to offer.
In
spite of its imposing history and its natural beauty, perhaps
Italy's most enduring attractions are its people and contemporary
culture. While the stereotype of the typical Italian is no
more accurate than any other, Italians in general live life
with passion and a vibrant sense of style. Quality food, wine,
and design reach heights in Italy rarely approached elsewhere
in the world. Plan on spending at least a few days in an Italian
city-full of cafés, open-air piazzas, and the hustle and bustle
of people going about their lives amidst ancient landmarks,
and take in the flavor of modern Italian culture.
A2Z Languages
is confident that you will find Italy to be a wonderful place
to learn Italian!
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