Italy

An Introduction to Italy

Italy is situated on the Meditteranean Sea, in central southern continental Europe. It shares borders in the north of the country with Switzerland, France, Slovenia and Austria, while the southern parts of the country are surrounded by sea. It has a population of just under 60 million.

The legend goes that today's capital of Italy, Rome was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remus in 753BC. After that, history becomes more factual with the rise of the Roman Empire that saw great rulers emerge such as Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius. Rome as the centre of power in Europe had its ups and downs and finally lost complete control around the sixteenth century. Italy was then a divided nation until its unification in the nineteenth century. From Italy we now enjoy the fruits of some of histories greatest thinkers such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Galileo.

History, art, architecture, food - Italy is a sensory overload for the millions of visitors that make it their destination of choice. Home of some of the most famous fashion houses in the world, it's quite fitting that Italy is a country shaped like a boot, with its toe kicking the island of Sicily out to the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

If you want to know anything about the history of art, politics, music, literature - even road building - Italy is your place. But its not all ancient ruins and imposing cathedrals. Italy is a modern mecca for designers - think cars, furniture and other luxury products.

The south of Italy is perceived as the poorer cousin to the northern areas, but every region in Italy has its own merits from the jewels along the coast to the tapestry of rural Tuscany.