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When you mention countries
around the world that are famous for their tradition, culture, history
and cuisine, many people think of Italy right away. The islands of
Sicily and Sardinia also belong to the country of just over 60 million
people, which borders France, Austria, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The
Vatican City and San Marino are also located there geographically, but
are independent states.
The history of Italy goes back about as far as any as
it’s often been called the cradle of European cultures and peoples.
The Roman Empire basically taught and ruled much of Western
civilization for hundreds of years. Italy then gave birth to the
Renaissance movement which influenced most of European. Italians enjoy
a high standard of living and it’s pretty evident when you visit. The
ancient ruins of old civilizations are still there and share the land
with modern cities and ideas.
The most popular destination in Italy for visitors is
usually Rome, the capital, but places like Venice, Turin, Naples,
Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, and Bari, are also popular. In fact
Italy usually attracts about 40 million tourists every year. It’s also
home to over 40 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the most in the world for
one country. You
shouldn’t have much of a problem conversing with somebody in English,
even though Italian is the official language and there are others
spoken to a lesser degree. The main religion is Roman Catholicism, and
this leads to many of the Italy’s famous sites as there is an
abundance of churches, basilicas, and cathedrals to visit with some
fantastic examples of historical architecture.
If you want to travel from city to city, the highways
are quite good and the train system is also a great way to get around
as there is a high-speed rail network linking most of the cities
together. There are hundreds of cafes, restaurants, and bars to choose
from in each city center and the nightlife is quite vibrant and active
throughout the land. Of course, you can still get away from the bigger
areas to relax along the coast and in some of the smaller towns.
The arts are very important in Italy along with
architecture. There is a wide variety of architectural styles such as
Classical Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, and Neo-Classical, Art
Nouveau to Modern. There are numerous architectural monuments to
visit, including the Pantheon, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the
Colosseum, Milan Cathedral, the Piazza del Campo, Florence Cathedral,
and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. People also enjoy visiting
the opera, theatre, gardens, palaces, villas, and museums to soak in
the history and culture of the country. However, some travelers prefer
to just relax and sit at the outdoor cafes reading the newspaper and
watching the world go by.
Music, cinema, fashion, and sport are also high on the
list in Italy and you’ll find the country is fanatical when it comes
to soccer. Rugby, cycling, and fencing are also popular as is motor
racing and volleyball. When it comes to food and wine, you can’t
really go wrong here as some of the best in the world are produced in
Italy. This list is endless with ice cream, cheese, pizza, pasta,
lasagne, gelato, and coffee all being adored by citizens and tourists
alike. With such a
selection of places to see and things to do in front of you in Italy,
it seems that 24 hours in a day isn’t nearly enough. |
Italy
