Beautiful hilly landscapes, fine, sandy, dream beaches and unique natural landscapes characterise Italy in the same manner as the Italians’ vitality, humanity and their enjoyment of food.
Geography
When you look at the European country of Italy on a map, it reminds you of a boot. Italy covers a total area of approx. 322,000 km2. Italy borders on France in the west, on Switzerland and Austria in the north and on Slovenia in the east. The Alps, the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east all form natural borders. The Italian Riviera in Liguria on the west coast, the Etruscan Riviera in Tuscany and the Gulf of Naples in Campania are all touristically very attractive. The Italian Adriatic coast stretches from Trieste to northern Apulia (official Italian name: Puglia) along the east coast.
Fauna and flora
The Italian flora diversifies, depending on whether you are in a coastal area or in the mountains. In the mountains there is a mixture of deciduous and coniferous forests. In these regions cereal crops and vegetables are grown. A large part of Italy is made up of vineyards and olive groves. The oil is mainly used for cooking and for body care. Foxes, red deer, owls, seagulls and cardinals, as well as many other species of animal can be found in the different regions.
Culture and society
Life in Italy proceeds at a leisurely pace, and relaxation is a very important factor; you can make up for the hours of sunshine that you missed in the cool winter months on the numerous sandy beaches of the Adriatic coast, on the Tyrrhenian Sea or on the Ionian Sea, or just take the time to unwind with a delicious Cappuccino at a pavement café. However, Italy is much more than “Dolce Vita”. It has a lot to offer culture enthusiasts. Because of its history, which is full of diverse experiences, turns and events, there is an inexhaustible reservoir of monuments, cultural sites, castles and churches in every region. A trip to Italy is always a cultural trip as well. No country in the world can boast such a huge number of cultural and artistic treasures as Italy. More than half of the entire artistic and historic treasures of the world can be found in this country.
Cuisine
Italy’s people have one of the highest anticipated life-expectancies of the world. The Italian cuisine, i.e. the Mediterranean food, is frequently alleged to be the reason. The local cuisine is part of the country’s most important cultural heritage. Eating is a national passion, and this passion expresses just how much the Italians love and enjoy the good life. An abundance of a wide variety of fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices flourish and prosper in Italy. Together with the vast choice of meat and fish, they form the basis of the famous Italian cuisine.
