GENERAL INFORMATION

Population:56,778,000
Capital: Rome (2,775,000 inhabitants)
Language: Italian, and minorities speaking German, French, English
Dialing code: 39
Time zone: Central European Time
Regions: Italy is divided into 20 regions, each unique and interesting in its own way:

• Abruzzo is a land of antique crafts, of fishermen, farmers and shepherds. The National Park of Abruzzo is the habitation of bears, wolves, dears, chamois, otters and other animals. Aquila is its capital and historical center.
• Aosta Valley with its unique scenery, fields and vineyards, pasture ground, rocks and cascades covered with ice during the winter. Rock climbing was born here, followed by tourism and sport activities. It is the smallest region in Italy, therefore less populated and it enjoys the autonomous status. It's characterized by continental dry climate, harsh weather in higher region, mild in valley.
• Apulia (Puglia) is a promised land for many. It is a field of olives, orchards, vineyards...an agricultural land indeed. It's characterized by the mediterranean climate with calm weather.
• Basilicata is mostly mountain region sloping down to the small coastal part of the Ionian sea. Its mediterranean climate vary, mostly with cold winter and pleasant autumn and spring.
• Calabria is a peninsula mostly mountain which once made the communication rather difficult. Its high and rocky coast, places on the top as well as on the foot of the hills, diversity of landscape, hospitality...all make this region more magnificent. It's characterized by the combination of the mediterranean climate and the continental one.
• Campania is the region famous for the ancient city of Pompei and the volcano Vesuvius, beautiful and sunny region. Not only its mediterranean climate is favourable for summer tourism, but for winter tourism as well. Napels is its capital city whose name means the new city.
• Emilia – Romagna is the region of hills and long valleys, famous for parmesan, potatos, wheat, and not only. It is the region of art as well. It conects the southern part of the Padan plain with the slope of the Apennines. It has the continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.
• Friuli - Venezia Giulia – this whole region is a land of confines, interlaced with facts, people, migrations...Trieste is the capital city of three different cultures. The area is characterized by strong winds (bora), cold winters, continental climate.
• Latium (Lazio) with the diversity of landscape, arts and surroundings. It's characterized by the mediterranean climate with pleasant spring and autumn. Rome is its main center, the most populated city in Italy and its capital city as well. It is the center of culture, politics and tourism. Its area comprises the Vatican City, the independent papal residence.
• Liguria - cultivated with lavender, rosemary, olives and walnut behind the coastal belt. Besides, people here have always been traders and sailors. Therefore, this is one of the most developed regions in Italy. Here you will find the beautiful town Genova, interesting architecture, sense of art and special relation to the sea.
• Lombardy with its specific landscape of lakes, neoclassical villas with their gardens, many beautiful resorts. Its main center is Milan, an energetic town of affairs, production and arts as well. This region is characterized by the continental climate which vary depending on the altitude, sun exposure, lakes...
• Marche is a land of magnificent panorama with small places on the hills and rich valleys between them, the whole landscape of hills sloping towards the sea.
• Molise is the region of mountains and hills, the region of sheperds, vineyards and olive groves with the capital city of Campobasso.
• Piedmont (Piemonte) is a colorful region famous for castles and vineyards, lakes, antique villas with beautiful parks. Torino is the major center which has been the capital city for centuries. The name of the region means the foot of the mountain and it indicates the small part of the plain between the river Po and Sangone. It is the second largest region in Italy, characterized by continental climate with cold winters.
• Sardinia is an island of extreme beauty and nature, a real colorful island. It is the second largest mediterranean island with almost 1900 km of coast.
• Sicily – an impact of different cultures left traces on this beautiful island. It is the largest mediterranean island, 3 km distant from the peninsula. It's famous for the active volcano Etna and many splendid islets.
• Trentino - Alto Adige is a mountain region with numerous castles, vineyards and orchards, characterized by the diversity of culture and languages where people wear traditional costumes in some parts. The mountain climate with mild winters is convenient for winter sports.
• Tuscany (Toscana) – with beaches shaped like a sickle, islands in a distance, olive groves, cypresses that inspired many artists. The region, formed like a triangle, is characterized by the mediterranean climate along the coast combined with the continental one in the inland.
• Umbria – «green» and «mystical», these terms can be attributed to its name. It is the region with strong religious belief and medieval image. It is the only peninsular region surrounded by the land, with the mediterranean climate, the rainy region with mild summer.
• Veneto – its country rich in splendid villas reflecting nobleness and magnificent architecture. Its name derives from the inhabitants of the preromanic period (veneti). In spite of its continental climate this area has mild winters. Its main center is Venice, constructed on more than a hundred islets with over 400 bridges. It is the unique town indeed...

 

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