Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea Sicily and Sardinia.
Relief :
Italy occupies a long, boot-shaped peninsula that juts southward into the Mediterranean Sea. The terrain of Italy is mostly mountainous and rugged, with some plains and lowlands along the coasts. Italy also comprises more than 70 islands, including Sicily and Sardinia, the two largest. The majority of Italy is made up of mountains. The central range, the Apennines, which reach heights of almost 10,000 feet in some areas, extend the length of the mainland and into Sicily, where Mount Etna, an active volcano, is located. Another active volcano, Mount Vesuvius, is included in the same range and is located near Naples. The soil on the mountains is thin, but some mountain meadows provide pastureland, and the valleys between the mountains also provide some arable land.
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| Sicilia-Italy |
The Appenines merge with the Alps, forming boundaries with Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, at the northwest tip of the peninsula. Several lakes, including Lago Maggiore, Lago di Como, and Lago di Garda, are located in the southern portion of the Alps. Italy's largest lowland region, the plain of Lombardy, stretches eastward between the Apennines and the Alps. This area is the most populated, and most fertile, section of Italy. More than two-fifths of Italy's crops, including potatoes, corn, wheat, olives, citrus, and stone fruits are grown in this area. The land also supports cattle, sheep, and cows. Italy produces more wine than any other country in the world, and most of its vineyards are located in this fertile region.
Rome, Italy
Castel Sant'Angelo - is one of finest sites in Italy with a varied and interesting history. Capitoline Museums - Italy and its museums are home to some of the most renowned statues in the world. The Colosseum - one of the world’s most famous structures and the gem of Italy. The Pantheon - is one of Italy’s most beautiful and stunning buildings and has stood for nearly 2,000 years.
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| The Colosseum |
Scala Santa (Holy Stairs) - these twenty-eight marble stairs (brought to Italy in 326 A.D.) are said to be the steps Christ walked upon on his way to his trial before Pontius Pilate. Villa Celimontana - a treasure of Italy and one of Rome's loveliest public gardens, Villa Celimontana is wonderful as a picnic spot or a respite from sightseeing.
Venice, Italy
The Accademia - the best of many fine art collections in Venice, The Galleria dell'Accademia is a true artistic treasure of Italy.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection- the Peggy Guggenheim collection of modern art is considered one of the most distinguished of Italy.
Palazzi and bridges - spend time wandering up, down and over famous bridges that span the Grand Canal of Italy (See Rialto Bridge, below) or admire the view from the canals by taking one of the many waterbuses.
Rialto Bridge - a historical landmark of Italy, the Rialto Bridge crosses the Grand Canal at an angle and until 1854, was the only place that the Grand Canal could be crossed on foot. St Mark's Square - easily the most famous sight in Venice, the Piazza San Marco is the charming, lively center of Italy and is often crowded and full of pigeons and surrounded by beautiful architecture.
Milan, Italy
The Duomo - Milan's Duomo is one of the largest churches in the world and easily one of the most striking attractions in Italy: boasting 135 spires and 3,400 statues.
Piazza Duomo - the square in front of the Duomo is a favorite place for young tourists to hang out; the area is surrounded by stunning architecture.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele - a beautiful glass-roofed area that connects the Piazza Duomo to the Piazza della Scala. This breathtaking galleria has floors intricately decorated with mosaics of the signs of the zodiac.
The San Lorenzo Columns - once a Roman building in the 2nd or 3rd century B.C., these columns were later situated in front of the Basilica and are beautifully lit in the evening.
The Stadio Meazza - also called the San Siro Stadium, this football stadium is the pride of Italy and considered one of the world's greatest.
Florance, Italy
Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) - a beautiful expanse of rich, extravagant pleasure, these peaceful gardens boast some of the most photogenic views of Florence.
Ponte Vecchio -this landmark of Italy means literally, 'Old Bridge,' is not only one of Florence’s most famous landmarks, but it’s one of the cities few free attractions.
Statue of David - by Michelangelo is perhaps the most famous statue in the world today. Commissioned in 1501 by the Arte Della Lana, which was responsible for the upkeep and decoration of the Cathedral in Florence, the statue is housed today in the Galleria dell' Accademia.
Uffizi Gallery - offering one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world, the Uffizi Gallery is a living representation of Florence’s role in the Renaissance.
Cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine,Jewish and Arab cuisines. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World with the introduction of items such as potatoes,tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century. Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, abundance of difference in taste, and is known to be one of the most popular in the world, with influences abroad.
The main characteristics of Italian cuisine is its extreme simplicity, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients. Italian cooks rely chiefly on the quality of the ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation. Dishes and recipes are often the creation of grandmothers rather than of chefs, and this makes many recipes ideally suited for home cooking. This is one of the main reasons behind the ever increasing popularity of this cuisine, as cooking magazine in foreign countries popularize Italian recipes targeted at the home cook. Ingredients and dishes vary by region. Many dishes that were once regional, however, have proliferated with variations throughout the country. Cheese and wine are a major part of the cuisine, with many variations and Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC) (regulated appellation) laws. Coffee, specifically espresso, has become important in Italian cuisine.
Cefalu
The town is one of the major tourist attractions in the region. Despite its size, every year it attracts millions of tourists from all parts of Sicily and also, from all over Italy and Europe. In summer the population can triple, making the main streets and major roads in the country crowded, and with it a young atmosphere and lively nightlife. The villages, a unique combination of small Italian towns that stand out among others for artistic, cultural and historic reasons, and for harmony of urban liveability and public services. 
