Italy is a large country in Southern Europe. Together with Greece, it is acknowledged as the birthplace of Western culture. Not surprisingly, it is also home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. High art and monuments are to be found everywhere around the country. It is also famous worldwide for its delicious cuisine, its trendy fashions, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, diverse regional cultures and dialects, as well as for its many beautiful coasts, alpine lakes and mountains (the Alps and Apennines). No wonder it is often nicknamed the Bel paese (beautiful country).

Two independent mini-states are surrounded entirely by Italy: San Marino and Vatican City. While technically not part of the European Union, both of these states are also part of the Schengen Region and the European Monetary Union, (EMU). Italian is also the lingua-franca in both city-states.

Flag
Quick Facts
Capital	Rome
Government	republic
Currency	euro € (EUR)
Area	301,230 km2
Population	59,619,290 (Jan 2008 est.)
Language	Italian (official); minor German,French and Slovene-speaking communities
Religion	predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community
Electricity	230V/50Hz (European or Italian plug)
Calling Code	+39
Internet TLD	.it
Time Zone	UTC+1

Northwest Italy (Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy and Aosta Valley) Home of the Italian Riviera, including Portofino, and of Cinque Terre. World class cities like Turin, the manufacturing capital of Italy, Milan, the business capital, and the important port of Genoa share the region's visitors with beautiful landscapes like the Lake Como area.

Northeast Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto) From the famous canals of Venice to impressive mountains such as the Dolomites in the Italian Alps and first-class ski resorts like Cortina d'Ampezzo these four regions offer much to see and do. The food and wine are great, too. Alto-Adige (South Tyrol) offers a uniquely Austrian-flair.

Central Italy (Lazio, Abruzzo, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria) Breathes history and art. Rome boasts the remaining wonders of the Roman Empire and some of the world's best known landmarks such as the Colosseum. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is Tuscany's top attraction, whereas nearby cities like Siena, Pisa and Lucca have much to offer to those looking for the country's rich history and cultural heritage. Umbria's population is small but it has many important cities such as Perugia and Assisi

Southern Italy (Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and Molise) Bustling Naples, the dramatic ruins of Pompeii, the romantic Amalfi Coast, the most expensive place in the country, laidback Apulia and stunning beaches of Calabria, as well as up-and-coming agritourism help making Italy's less visited region a great place to explore.

Sicily  The beautiful island famous for archaeology, seascape and some of the best cuisine the Italian kitchen has to offer.

Sardinia  Large island some 250 kilometers west of the Italian coastline. Beautiful scenery, lovely seas and beaches: a major holiday destination for mainland Italians including Prime Minister Berlusconi, who has a large villa there.