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Italy is located in Southern Europe on a long boot-shaped peninsula
which extends down to the central part of the Mediterranean Sea
. Tunisia is located off to the south of the Italian island of
Sardinia and lies west of Sicily.
Travel Insurance for Italy:
Area: Europe *
Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Italy
To the east is the Adriatic
Sea and to the west the Tyrrhenian Sea; the Ionian Sea lies
to the southeast and Mediterranean Sea to the southwest. Surrounding
countries to the north are France , Slovenia , Austria and Switzerland
. Although it may not be thought of as separate Vatican City is
the world’s smallest independent nation and located within
the city of Rome.
The northern part of Italy has the Alps and correspondingly
cooler climate. The mountainous areas, including the Alps , Dolomites,
and the Apennine Mountain chain which runs down the country provide
popular destinations for skiers, winter sports enthusiasts, backpackers
and hikers. Italy is also a country with many lakes, most importantly
in the area close to Milan , with Lake Como , Lake Maggiori and
the largest being Lake Garda . Italy ’s major river
is the Po which runs from the Alps on the west side across to
the Adriatic on the east side of Italy . Many of the surrounding
islands and archipelagos are also part of Italy , including Sardinia
and Sicily.
The population is generally comprised of Greek and Albanian
Italians in the south part of the country, and French, German
and Slovene Italians in the northern part of the country. The
dominant religion is Roman Catholic, with some Protestant, Jewish
and Islam. Italian is the official language, with German, French
and Slovene also spoken.
Italy is the birthplace of the Roman Empire and home of the
Catholic Church. The country holds so much history and so many
beautiful places that they cannot all be listed here, but as
an overview, just a few of the favourites are:
Rome - the Eternal City - the largest city and capital
of Italy . Rome is always a favorite destination for all the
famous historical sights, its palaces, churches, squares – and
fountains which are still fed by aqueducts with ancient water
sources. There are so many sights that are a must-see in Rome
, such as the Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon , Vatican Musem
and Sistine Chapel, Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish
Steps, Piazza del Popolo, Circus Maximus and the Roman Forum,
to name just a few.
Venice is a place of incredible
and unique beauty, built atop more than 100 interlinked islands
and supported on wooden posts as a foundation. With its canals,
hundreds of bridges, museums, churches and breathtaking views
at every turn, Venice will provide memories to last a lifetime.
A gondola trip on the Grand Canal is a magical experience. Among
the many popular sights are the Doge’s Palace with its
Bridge of Sighs , Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square),
the Rialto Bridge and the Accademia Gallery with its many masterpieces.
A boat trip to Lido Island or the nearby islands of Murano, Burano
and Torcello can make a welcome break from the often very crowded
Venice . Murano is famous for its glass factories and Burano
for its lace.
Tuscany is a favourite for visitors, and is a particular
draw for artists. It has much to offer, from rolling hillsides
and beautiful countryside to the coastal areas and islands, delicious
cuisine and wine. The main cities are Siena , Pisa with
its leaning tower and Florence . Siena is known for its
twice yearly horse races in the Piazza del Campo which has been
a tradition dating back to Medieval times. There are many attractions
for art buffs, but the Uffizi Gallery is probably one of the
most noted art museums, with its collection including works by
da Vinci and Botticelli.
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Puglia is situated in the heel of the boot of Italy. Towns in Puglia include Bari, which has some interesting history.
Throughout the provinces of Bari and Taranto, and especially
in the town of Alberobello can be found the fascinating whitewashed
round houses called Trulli, with their stone cone shaped roofs
which draw visitors to the area to marvel at the strange structures
that are thought to date back to the Middle Ages, though no one
knows for sure their age or their original purpose although there
is much speculation.
Sorrento lies across the Bay of Naples from the city
of Naples on the northern part of the Sorrento Peninsula
and the Amalfi Coast to the south side of the Peninsula . From
Sorrento and Naples many attractions are within reach, such as
the ancient Roman town of Pompei and Mt. Vesuvius .
The Amalfi Coast is a very beautiful stretch
of scenic and dramatic coastline on the southwestern side of
Italy which links Positano with Salerno.
The island of Capri is located on the southern side
of the Gulf of Naples , off the Sorrento Peninsula . Mere mention
of the island conjures up scenes of incredible beauty and romance,
jet-setters and celebrities. The island can be reached via ferry
and hydrofoil from Sorrento and Naples.
Elba island is part of a small archipelago off the Tuscan
coast. It is most famously known as Napoleon Bonaparte’s
place of exile. Activities to be enjoyed on the island include
mountain biking, hiking, bird watching, diving and other water
sports.
The island of Sicily is quite mountainous with areas
of olive groves, coastal resorts and an interesting history.
Throughout the ages the island has been ruled by Romans, Arabs,
Greeks and Phoenicians and - most notoriously known to our generations – the
Mafia. Tours are available to explore the Mafia history and graves
of infamous godfathers and their victims. The island offers plenty
of water sports and good beaches. Palermo , the ancient capital
and largest city, is located in the middle of the north coast.
Sicily is also home to Mt. Etna , located on the eastern side
of the island, which is still an active volcano.
Sardinia is a beautiful island located in the
Mediterranean Sea which is very popular as a seaside destination
and water activities. Like Sicily , Sardinia has also been under
the control of many other peoples over the centuries. It has
become known as a playground for the wealthy and often the prices
reflect this with some of the expensive resort areas. However,
the island has much to offer with great fishing, sailing, diving
and outdoor activities such as mountain climbing. The Costa Smeralda
( Emerald Coast ) is located on the northern coast. This is an
area of beautiful beaches, sparkling clean waters and luxurious
resorts. Every September a famous sailing regatta is held off
the coast which attracts famous boats from all over the world.
Italy has so much to offer that cannot possibly be covered
here. There are many more beautiful cities, towns, provinces
and areas, historical sites, galleries, museums, festivals and
events, as well as natural thermal spa resorts and hundreds of
National and Regional Parks , Reserves and protected nature areas.
Climate
Italy’s climate is mostly Mediterranean but temperate with
variations according to the different regions. The climate is
Alpine in the far north with snowfall in winter. Winter in the
northern areas such as Venice , Turin and Milan tends to be cool
and damp, and parts of Tuscany can get much colder, even freezing.
Winter in the southern parts of the country are much warmer,
with temperatures ranging from approx. 50-60F.
Driving
in Italy
Driving in Italy (especially in southern cities) is not for the
faint-hearted. Italy Heaven's preference is usually for public
transport - see below for information on Italy's good train services.
But there is no denying that hiring a car gives you access to
a different Italy. Away from the main centres of population,
bus services can be few and far between, and neither buses nor
trains will take you to the smaller or more remote attractions.
If you drive, you are free to explore countryside areas, to make
a detour to an interesting garden or castle, to pause for a picnic
on a scenic hillside or make a pit stop at a local village restaurant.
If you are renting a villa or hoping to see more of an area like
Tuscany, a car is pretty well essential.
Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information
is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.
* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.
You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.
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