Italy Travel Guide

46° 33′ 12″ N, 12° 07′ 17″ E

Italy in a few words...

Italy. The land blessed by the Gods. Where each village is a postcard, each path offers a grandiose panorama, each beach is an invitation and each encounter a memory in the making. Discover the alpine vistas of the jaw dropping National Parks - Gran Paradiso, The Dolomites, the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga, Vesuvius and the Cinque Terre. Not to mention the wealth of mountain wildlife and extraordinarily varied plants protected by Italy's reserves and marine parks. Set amidst incredible backdrops these provide an unforgettable experience.

Although no longer a bed of tectonic activity, the coned roofs of Mt Etna and Stomboli evidence Italy's fiery past. Almost as fiery as it's locals! The strong sense of culture is reflected in their outlandish charm, fashionable style and famous cuisine. This, combined with Italy's historical past; forged mountain passages dating back to the world wars, bring an interesting heritage to an already beautiful nation.

06:10 GMT +2

local time

Rome

capital city

301,338

area in km²

Italian

main language(s)

Highlights in Italy

The Dolomites

Vertical, sharp, jagged, grandiose, these are four adjectives that perfectly qualify the Dolomites, a chain of limestone mountains listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. Located on the Austrian border, straddling the provinces of Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli, the Dolomites massif is made up of steep cliffs and more than 18 peaks over 3000 meters.

Gran Paradiso

At over 4000m above sea level, Gran Paradiso is the highest peak in Italy. With no technical climbing skills required, this peak is a great introduction to alpine mountaineering.

Cinque Terre

Between Pisa in Tuscany and Genoa in Ligure, stretches one of the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997: the Cinque Terre National Park. Monterosso, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. These 5 villages are linked together by picturesque paths and stairs, which meander through the scrub and terraces covered with lemon trees, olive trees and vines.

Sicily

With a culture mixed with Greek and Roman influences, this island has the richest and most varied history in Europe. From the ancient amphitheater of Taormina, to the archaeological sites of Syracuse, so many places with a rich past to discover.