Italy is a large state in southern Europe. It has a huge number of UNESCO-protected world heritage sites – there are historical monuments and works of art all over the country. The country is also famous around the world for its national cuisine, fashion, sports cars and luxury motorcycles, as well as its beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains with numerous ski resorts.
On the territory of Italy there are two independent dwarf states: San Marino and the Vatican. Although they are not formally members of the European Union, both countries are part of the Schengen area and the European Monetary Union.
Italy is located in the Mediterranean part of Europe and borders France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The boot-shaped peninsula on which it sits is washed by the Ligurian, Sardinian and Tyrrhenian Seas to the west, the Sicilian and Ionian Seas to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Italian is the most widely spoken language in most of the population, but as you travel around the country you’ll find that there are many different dialects of Italian, depending on the region. The landscape of Italy is very diverse, but can primarily be described as mountainous, given the mountain ranges of the Alps and Apennines that cut through it.
Climate and weather in Italy
Italy has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, but this does not mean that the weather in all its regions is the same. In the interior of the country and in the northern regions there are features of temperate climate. It gets warmer from north to south.
The climatic features of the regions are determined by two factors: the influence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Alps, as the mountains are a natural barrier to the winds blowing from the west and north.
Summer in Italy is hot and dry (+24 to +34 ° C), winter on the coast in the center of the country is mild, in the north is colder by 7-12 degrees.
Precipitation is distributed unevenly by regions: the area around the Alps receives up to 1200 mm per year, including heavy snowfalls in winter. The center of the country receives on average up to 750 mm, and much of it falls on winter rains. In the south, the climate is drier, with precipitation of up to 500 mm.
What to see
If you don’t count the Italian cities filled with sights, there is still plenty to see and do. At least the nature – famous islands in the Gulf of Naples, picturesque lakes Garda and Como in northern Italy, the Italian Alps, including the magnificent ski resorts of Italy, and much more. But still the main treasure of the country is its rich cultural heritage. All the attractions are more than realistic to see on their own, or order a couple of detailed tours, good prices for tours in Italy are quite democratic.