Pictures Italy

Located in Europe, Italy is a large peninsular bordering on France to the north-west, Austria and Switzerland to the north and Slovenia to the north-east. The remainder is surrounded by water: the Ligurian Sea, Sardinian Sea and Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the Sicilian Sea and Ionian Sea to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Italy’s coastline measures almost 8500 km. The country covers an area of over 301,000 km2 and has a population of almost 57 million. The capital city is Rome, with over 2.75 million inhabitants. The main language is Italian with small minorities speaking German, French, Slovene and Ladino. Italy’s landscape offers enormous variety, from the sunny south-facing slopes of the Alps to the lush orange groves of Sicilia. Customs and cuisine also vary greatly from region to region and this is reflected in the colourful folklore festivals which take place all over Italy throughout the year.




Italy is one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations, as all seasons are an attractive time to visit. Spring comes early, autumn lingers long and winter also has plenty to offer. Summer is very cosmopolitan, with visitors from all continents mingling with holidaying Italians at world-famous resorts. These include cities such as Florence, Milan, Naples, Siena, Venice and of course Rome, all of which boast a wealth of artistic and architectural treasures. And then there’s the Amalfi coast, Capri, the Lake Region, Sicily, Sardinia, the Alps. Favourite places to visit are the ruins of Pompeii, the Capitol, vineyards in Tuscany, Sicily with Mt. Etna, the Alps and the coastline of the Adriatic Sea, where water temperatures are perfect for bathing. 
In winter, the Italian Alps offer superb skiing in scenic surroundings. Northern Italy has some of the world's most renowned winter-sport resorts. Skiing is also possible in summer in the Torino Alps and the towering mountains surrounding the Valle d'Aosta. 
Known in ancient times as the ‘Land of Wine’, Italy has a strong tradition of wine culture. Italians have been raising glasses to welcome visitors from all over the world for a very long time. A tradition certain to continue!