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).

Italy is largely a peninsula situated on the Mediterranean Sea, bordering France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia in the north. The country, which is boot-shaped, is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea, and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian and Ionian Sea in the South, and Adriatic Sea in the East.

Italy has a very diverse landscape, but can be primarily described as mountainous including the Alps and the Apennines mountain ranges that run through the vast majority of it. Italy has two major islands as part of its country: Sardinia, which is an island off the west coast, and Sicily, which is at the southern tip (the "toe") of the boot.

The climate of Italy is that of typical Mediterranean countries. The country has hot, dry summers, with July being the hottest month of the year. In the north, they experience cold winters often with snow, as compared to mild ones in the south. Some regions in the south of Italy can experience no rainfall for the whole summer season. The long mountain ranges in Italy impact the weather significantly, as you can experience very different weather going from town to town.

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 the North-East 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 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.

North-West Italy is the 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.

Visitors to Southern-Italy can find 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.

The beautiful island of Sicily is famous for its archaeology, seascape and some of the best cuisine the Italian kitchen has to offer whilst the large island of Sardinia, some 250 kilometers west of the Italian coastline, has some beautiful scenery, lovely seas and beaches and is a major holiday destination for mainland Italians.

There are hundreds of tourist destinations in Italy which should be on any itinary. These include Rome (the capital, both of Italy and, in the past, of the Roman Empire), Florence (the city of Renaissance and home to Michelangelo's famous statue of David), Milan (known as one of the main fashion cities of the world), Naples (near the famous volcano Vesuvius and the ruins of the ancient Roman towns of Pompeii and Ercolano), Pisa (location of the Leaning Tower of Pisa), Turin (home of FIAT, the most important industry in Italy) and Venice (known for its history, art, and world famous canals).

Other desinations which are worth visiting are Vatican City, Lake Garda and the Italian Alps, including The Dolomites and South Tyrol - some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe include Mount Blanc / Monte Bianco and Mount Rosa.

One of the other great things about Italy is that its long thin shape means that when you get fed up with sightseeing you are but a relatively short distance from a beach.

Italian food inside of Italy is different than Italian in America or western Europe. It is truly one of the most diverse in the world, and in any region, or even city and village you go, there are different specialities. For instance, Northern Italian cuisine is based on hearty, potato and rice-rich meals, Central Italian cuisine is mainly on pastas, roasts and meat, and Southern Italian cuisine on vegetables, pizza, pasta and seafood.

Italy is famous for its wine and its vineyards tend to be in the middle of some beautiful scenery. Italian wine is exported all over the world, and names like Barolo, Brunello and Chianti are known everywhere. In Italy wine is a substantial topic which can ensure either respect or lack of attention from an entire restaurant staff. Doing your homework ensures that you will get better service, better wine and in the end may even pay less.

Farmstays are an increasingly popular way to experience Italy, particularly in rural areas of Tuscany, Piedmont, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sardinia and Apulia. They provide a great combination of good and healthy food, wonderful sights and not-so-expensive prices. If you prefer self-catering accommodations, it's quite simple to find them on the wonderful Amalfi Coast or the less commercial and more genuine Calabria coast.