The Italian landscape rolls smoothly from the remarkable, vibrant southern coast into the towering ice-cocooned alps. Four seas – the Adriatic, the Ionian, the Tyrrhenian and the Ligurian surround the boot-shaped country. Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius are two volcanoes, among many others that dot the mountainous Italian countryside.
Italy (along with Greece) is considered to be the birthplace of western society. Great artists including the likes of Botticelli, Michelangelo and the multi-talented Leonardo da Vinci were all born here. The brilliant astronomer and mathematician (among other things) Galileo Galilei was also Italian.
The country is known for the beautiful glass work from the Venetian island of Murrano. Throughout the world, the delicious Italian cuisine has its own fan-base and, needless to say, it is best experienced in its homeland. The country is at the forefront of the fashion world, having given rise to brands like Valentino, Prada, Armani, Gucci and Ferragamo. It is also a legend in the world of cars, boasting manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati.
The official language is Italian and the Euro is the currency in use. Italy can be visited any time of year but July and August can be both hot and crowded.