Although Italy was unified country in 1861, its history and culture goes back almost 25 centuries. Italy territory in southern Apennine Peninsula, named for the ancient Greeks, who settled there in the XVIII-XVII centuries BC Today it is one of the most developed countries of the world, which plays a major role in world politics and economics. Italy is located south of the Alps, the Apennine Peninsula and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. It is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. "Inside" Italy is the State dwarfs San Marino and Vatican City. The total area of Italy - 301 230 km2, length of the border - 1,932 km of coastline - 7,600 km. The highest point - Mont Blanc in the Alps (4748m second peak of Mont Blanc de Courmayeur).
Italian population - 58.1 million (2006). In
Italy, there are three active volcanoes - Stromboli (924 m) on the same
island to the north-east of Sicily, Mount Vesuvius (1277 m), near
Naples and Etna (3323 m) in the eastern part of the island of Sicily. Official language - Italian. More than 90% of Italians - Catholics: with about a third of them always attend church services. At the same time, the influx of immigrants is increasing dramatically the number of Muslims. Italy - a parliamentary republic. The
head of state - the president, but actually running the country, Prime
Minister, put forward by a coalition of parties that won the
parliamentary elections. Italy
is divided into 15 regions (Abruzzo, Puglia, Basilicata, Venice,
Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont,
Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia Romagna) and 5 autonomous regions (Valle
d'Aosta, Sardinia, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-Venezia Giulia). The capital of Italy - Rome. The currency of Italy - Euro. Until 2002, the currency was the Italian lira.
The history of Italy has more than one thousand years, and all sorts of rich events. Even before the founding of Rome the peninsula was inhabited by different peoples, among which are the mysterious Etruscans. Appeared here and lasted almost 10 centuries, one of the largest and most powerful of the ancient world - the Roman Empire. But she could not resist the blows of the barbarians in the 450X's AD In medieval Italy became a link in trade between east and west Europe. Due to this the peak of its power reached such gorooda-states like Venice and Florence. Flourishing economy has led to a flowering of culture - in Italian Renaissance began - the Renaissance.
In the XVI-XVIII centuries, when most of the European countries to
strengthen and captured the colony, Italy remained fragmented into
several parts and then remained under the rule of Spain, Austria. Only
in the second half of the XIX century, the struggle for independence
under the leadership of Giuseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy
became a united country, as we know it today. The first capital of the Kingdom of Italy in 1865, was in Florence, and only in 1871 the capital was moved to Rome.
The beginning of the XX century took place in the battle between left and right wing. In Italy, was won by the Germans, led by Mussolini, and it may be said, greatly influenced the future of Europe. After the overthrow of Mussolini's Italy sided with the Allies and was occupied by Germany.
After the Second World War, Italy fell into the Anglo-American sphere of influence. Despite frequent changes of government, the economy grew rapidly. In 1957, Italy signed the Treaty of Rome, the first document of the future European unification. Italyis divided into 15regions (Abruzzo,Puglia,Basilicata, Venice, Calabria, Campania,Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont,Tuscany, Umbriaand Emilia Romagna) and 5autonomous regions(Valled'Aosta, Sardinia,Sicily, Trentino-AltoAdigeand Friuli-VeneziaGiulia).Samiareas are dividedinto provinces.
Regardless,therearehiking trailsthrough it,in any provinceof Italyhasa lot to lookinquisitive tourist.It could berocksof Sardinia,and ancient Greekruinsin Sicily,Calabriaand beautiful landscapesand beautiful beachesof Liguriaand Campania, and the mountainsValled'Aostaand Trentino-AltoAdige, and much,much more.
If you are readyto discoverthe richness ofculture, nature andhistory of Italy- forward, away from thebeaten tracks.But do notforget to bring theRussian-Italianphrase book, asin the Italianhinterlandyou willonly communicatein Italian.
