About Italy
Italy is well-known for food and fashion. This Southern European country is a hotspot for delicious dishes and couture clothing.
Nicknamed Bel Paese (the beautiful country), it is also known for its great natural beauty. The coastal areas, alpine lakes and snow-capped mountain ranges draw tourists from all over the world. And there is plenty to do in Italy. Popular activities include sightseeing, skiing, and sunbathing.
Nicknamed Bel Paese (the beautiful country), it is also known for its great natural beauty. The coastal areas, alpine lakes and snow-capped mountain ranges draw tourists from all over the world. And there is plenty to do in Italy. Popular activities include sightseeing, skiing, and sunbathing.
Italy shares external borders with France, Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland. Two micro-states, San Marino and Vatican City, are within its borders. Its also borders the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean, Ionian, and Adriatic Seas.
Visitors can expect hot, dry summers and cold, damp winters in the north with milder weather in the south. The country is geographically divided into 6 regions: Northwest Italy, Northeast Italy, Central Italy, Southern Italy, and Sicily and Sardinia. Sicily and Sardinia are islands off the southern coast of mainland Italy.
You can't go to Italy without having pizza and pasta paired with a glass of wine. After dinner, stop by a gelato stand for a sweet treat.
As a popular tourist destination, Italy has a wide variety of accommodations available. World-class hotels, holiday rentals, and bed and breakfasts are available in almost every populated area. Though there aren't as many hostels as you'll find in other countries, you can find inexpensive accommodations at campgrounds or farm stays.
