Italian Republic

• Form of government: republic
• Area: 300,000 sq km
• Population: 58,600,000 inhabitants
• Official language: Italian
• Religion: 95% Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox
• Capital: Rome
• Currency: EUR
• National Day: June 2
• Time Zone: GMT +1
• Internet domain:. It,. I
• Area code: 0039

Geographic location

Italy is situated in Southern Europe and consists primarily of a boot-shaped peninsula and two large islands Meditereana Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. As part of its northern Italy devolved part of the Alps mountains, the area bordering with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Italy is divided into 20 regions, five of which have special autonomous status: Valle d'Aosta, Trentino - Alto Adige, Sicily, Sardinia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Neighbors

France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia - to the north, north-eastern Adriatic, Ionian Sea to the southeast, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest and northwest United Linguriana. Relief

Apennine Mountains are located in the center of the peninsula, going east, merging with the Alps, which then forms an arc, closing in northern Italy. Here is a large alluvial lagoon, Laguna Po-Venice, crossed the Po River and its many tributaries of which flows from the Alps, Apennines and Dolomites. Other rivers are known Tiber, Adige and Arno. Italy's highest point is White Mountain (Monte Bianco) to 4808 m, but Italy is mainly associated with two famous volcanoes: Vezuvi now sleeping in Naples and asset appropriation of Etna in Sicily. Climate

Continental, with an average temperature of 1.5 º C in January and July of 24 ° C. Tourism, tourist attractions

Italy is full of culture, history, special scenery, which makes it one of the favorite destinations for worldwide tourists. Rome Italian capital is situated on the River Tiber and has a long history, being over the centuries the capital of the Roman Republic, Roman Empire and modern Italy. The Capital Region of Lazio and the Province of Rome. Rome is a major tourist center. Studded historical monuments of Romanian origin, Etruscan, Renaissance and Baroque left by the passage of time, has to offer something for all tastes. The largest and most important city of Italy, economic and cultural center is inhabited by over 2.5 million people, joined by millions of tourists who visit it each year. The main tourist attractions: the Colosseum, Trajan's Column, the Pantheon, hundreds of churches and monuments, the magnificent Vatican, romantic Venice and Sicily, the largest and most famous island in the Mediterranean. Another reason why Italy is among the most popular destinations are prepared culinary, wine, music. Church of Santa Maria Maggiore Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major churches in Rome, built in 352 AD and is dedicated to St. Mary. Dwelling was built after the Pope Liberius was shown in a dream Mother of God, which prompted him to make such a construction. Castle Sant 'Angelo The building, originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Adrian, is a strange building, circular mass, which is reached by crossing one of the most beautiful bridges in the world: Pont Sant 'Angelo, creative architect Bernini. In the sixth century was transformed into a papal fortress, is connected by underground passages to the Vatican. There were few pontifii who felt the need to use a secret passage in times of need. Today, the mausoleum is an interesting museum, especially as it is known that here was the place where suicide Tosca, Puccini subsequently evoked. Church of Il Gesù in Rome Built between 1554 and 1584, Il Gesù (Italian Chiesa del Sacro Nome di Gesù, best known under the name Il Gesù) is a large church in Rome, the Jesuits first church. General Project Forst church designed by architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, and the facade was designed by Giacomo della Porta. The building served over time as a model for many churches built in Baroque style in central Europe. Colosseum Colosseum remains the most famous and largest arena ever built by the Romans. Initiative to build its emperor Nero had major influence because they had at that time fighting gladiators. Thus, it made a huge arena for such public performances.

Colosseum term comes from the colossal statue - 36 meters - that we represent the face of Nero to the sun god, once located near the amphitheater, then demolished. Not only the statue, but the amphitheater was a grand sight. Ellipse-shaped, with large axis of 186 m, 150m small axis, have a perimeter of 520 m and a height of 55m, providing jobs for about 50,000 spectators. Foundation that was built was 12 feet thick.

To build something like this was even a challenge neintrecutii Roman builders. He called for - among many other construction materials - tens of thousands of tons of marble (brought from nearby, the Tivoli) and nearly 300 tons of iron to connect blocks to each other. As a precedent in modern prefabricated materials, many of the components of the Colloseum was built elsewhere and brought to the arena construction site for assembly. This method allowed an accelerated pace of work which led to the construction of the building in just 7 years. Capitol Hill Municipal headquarters, Capitol Hill was the center of government of ancient Rome and is the geographical center of the city today. The most beautiful view you can admire the night, when the desert. Market was designed by Michelangelo in 1583. It is also bordered by three buildings designed by the famous Renaissance artist: Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatives, which together house the Capitoline Museums, Palazzo and Senatorio. Bronze equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius, who is in the center of the square is a copy made by old photographs. The original date at the end of the century II en was severely affected by pollution and pigeons, were removed in 1981. After it was restored was exhibited in the Palazzo Nuovo. Fountain wishes Splendor - Fontana di Trevi was built by architect Salvi in 1735 and ended in 1762. This fountain is a perfect example of rococo style with dramatic effects - aquatic creatures marble, dominated by an impressive Oceanus. The water source comes from the Acqua Vergine, named so because, according to legend, a virgin has revealed the source of thirsty soldiers. The story is carved right of Oceanus. They say you should throw a penny in the fountain to be sure that you will return to Rome, but that made throwing bucks desires are fulfilled. Pantheon With its absolutely perfect proportions, Pantheon site was considered in antiquity as a "miracle Rome. Assessment remains valid until now, for this miracle to raise proud, just as Adriano was built in 1 900 years ago. This temple is a great example of one of the greatest inventions novels: the dome. With a diameter of 43.5 meters - the equivalent distance between sandals and torch of the Statue of Liberty -

Pantheon's dome remained until the 15th century the biggest building of its kind in the world. Construction is a perfect hemisphere, with a height and diameter equal to each other. A structure of this type was feasible at that time only because of another Roman invention, concrete. But how was it possible for the Romans to build a dome of that size without the reinforced steel fittings? Using pumice mixed into concrete, the builders of Rome have created an incredibly easy rolling and durable. It was modeled in a matrix that is narrow, ranging from 6.7 meters thick at the dome at only 0.6 meters in its tip.

Market Navonna Piazza Navona is one of the most famous and most beautiful squares of Rome. Great, full of terraces and artists who paint outdoors, Piazza Navona has no less than three wells. The higher the Fontana dei Quattro Fiume (Fountain of the four rivers). Each of the four statues that decorate this time is a river on many different continents: the Nile, Ganges, Danube and Amazon. The other two wells are in the northern market Fontana di Nettuno and Fontana del Moro in the South. Here, during winter it is organized one of the greatest Christmas fairs in Europe. Vatican - Holy See There are many religions that have a state, but Catholicism is not just a religion. Holy See - The Vatican is probably the richest independent state in the world, impressive collection of precious art treasures offsetting total lack of natural resources. For art lovers, the Vatican is the supreme center, shelters universally known treasures, from the Sistine Chapel built by Bernini in the famous market. Naples Naples is the largest city in southern Italy. It is one of the regional capitals and has a population of one million inhabitants, and metropolitan area gather together with three million inhabitants. It lies midway between Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei volcanic area. Naples was a Greek colony that was called Neapoli (new city) and is influenced by his passion for pizza margherita. Naples is a city with a beautiful geographical situation, around the bay at the foot of Mount Vesuvius and namesake, rich in monuments such as Castel Nuovo (se. XII), the Arc de Triomphe, the Royal Palace (XVII century), Palace and National Gallery the Capodimonte churches them located near the Roman town of Pompeii covered with lava during the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius in the year 79 AD, now issued by them. Milan - Nearby attractions Dome 3 ranks among the largest churches in the world. Market where there is the Dome of Tourists. Open daily from 9.30-17.00; Church of Santa Maria Delle Grazie Inside it was the work of Leonardo Da Vinci 'Last Supper'. The visit must be planned in advance. Open daily from 7.30-19.00;

Pinacoteca di Brera

Contains a collection of works of art made of very well-known authors. Open: Tuesday-Saturday from 8.30-19.30; Gallery Victor Emmanuel II An elegant gallery that includes restaurants, cafes etc.. It is both a center for cultural activities and for the fashionable. Other cities and tourist attractions Naples - the city is a whole monastic Roman - Gothic San Francescodin sec. XIII, consisting of two basilicas overlapping the top with frescoes by Giotto depicting the life of the saint. Bologna - city contains many palaces, churches, fountains, two angled towers and one of the oldest universities in the world. Padova - great basilica II Santo century. XIII, which houses the tomb of St. Anthony of Padua, Scrovegni Chapel century. XIV painted by Giotto, palaces, orenumita university to learners and some Roman princes.   Pisa - Piazza del Duomo or Campo dei Miracoli, with the famous tower of Pisa - Tore Pendente / leaning tower, which has a height of 30 feet and weighing 14,453 tons.

Siena - the famous Piazza del Campo, the square-shaped fan, bordered by the Palazzo Publico in particular having a high tower of 88 m.

Ravenna - the church of San Vitale in sec. VI presenting the famous mosaics and the kings of Justinian and Theodora with their suites, other basilicas, Dante's tomb, the mausoleum of Theodoric. Destination Romance

Rivierele are areas developed for tourism season, the most important being the Italian Riviera, consisting of a chain of health resort - sea: San Remo, Diano Marina, Alassio, Nervi, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, etc ..., then rivierele wafer located in the Gulf of Naples: Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri and Ischia islands, Veneziana: Lido di Venezia, Riccione, Rimini, Sardinian them located in the island of Sardinia, palermitana them located in the Palermo area. Venice Located in the salt lagoon of the Adriatic Sea, almost 5 km of land, Venice stretches more than 100 islands. The main way water is the Grand Canal, which meanders from Piazza San Marco to the edge of town. For along the Grand Canal can admire some of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, raised by rich Venetian merchants. The main attractions of the city it is, besides the Grand Canal, San Marco Square and Basilica, Doges Palace, Bridge of Sighs, Ponte Rialto, historical downtown neighborhoods: Castello, Cannaregio, San Polo, Santa Croce, Dorsoduro, with countless architectural treasures, artistic and cultural. It may be omitted islands lagoon - Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, Sant'Erasmo or Pellestrina.