Italy

Where Italy is located

Italy is located in southern Europe and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, the southern side of Alps, the large plain of Po Valley and some islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Corsica, although belonging to the Italian geographical region, has been a part of France since 1769.

ITALY

Southern Italian Peninsula at Night

ITALY

Italian is the official language spoken by the majority of the population, but as you travel throughout the country you will find that there are several distinct Italian dialects depending on the region you're in. The current population of Italy is estimated in 61.321.000 million people. Italy is using the euro as it’s a member of the Eurozone since 1999.The capital of this country is Rome. Rome is the only city in the world to contain in its interior a whole state; the enclave of Vatican Rome has a status of the global city. Rome is the 3rd most visited city in Europe and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy.

Vatican City The name "Vatican" predates

Christianity and comes from the Latin Mons Vaticanus , meaning Vatican Mount. The Vatican City is the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the word both by area and population. In the city are cultural sites such as St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world's most famous paintings and sculptures. The unique economy of Vatican City is supported financially by the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications.

The military defense of Vatican City is provided by Italy and its armed forces, given the fact that Vatican City is an enclave within Italy. Vatican City has no armed force of its own, the Swiss Guard being a corps of the Holy See are responsible for the security of both the Pope and the Vatican City issues its own coins. It has used the euro as its currency since 1 January 1999, owing to a special agreement with the European Union Euro coins and notes were introduced in 1 January 2002—the Vatican does not issue euro banknotes. Issuance of euro-denominated coins is strictly limited by treaty, though somewhat more than usual is allowed in a year in which there is a change in the papacy.

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The Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome is the great Basilica of St John Lateran, which dates from the time of the Emperor Constantine, under whose reign theThe marvellous basilica of St Peter was rebuilt progressively throughout the 16th century and beyond, to replace the ruinous earlier building dating from Constantine’s time. The names of Michelangelo, Pope Julius II and Bramante stand out most prominently among those responsible for the huge project. The dome was a particular focus for attention, Michelangelo's design replacing Bramante’s, though it is interesting to note that its width did not quite equal that of the ancient Pantheon!

The Vatican Museums were founded by Julius II but developed by a sequence of subsequent scholar popes whose varying interests are reflected in the wide and eclectic range of the holdings. It ranks, without question, as one of the world's greatest museums. Included within it is the Vatican Library, founded in 1475, which holds probably the world's largest collection of manuscripts (i.e books written by hand, not printed). It has always been a semi-public library, whose resources have been made available to scholars of all faiths.

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ILICA It’s the biggest church worldwide.

TREVI FOUNTAIN

It’s been designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Pietro Bracci. It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world. In Trevi fountain is a coin throwing meant to be thrown using the right hand over the left shoulder.

Colosseum The Colosseum or Coliseum,

also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and stone, it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire, and is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering. It is the largest amphitheatre in the world.

Florence Florence is the capital city of the

Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany. Florence is famous for its history. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance, and has been called "the Athens of the Middle Ages". A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1871 the city was also the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy

Milan Milan is the second-largest city in

Italy and the capital of Lombardy. Milan is the main industrial, commercial and financial centre of Italy and a leading global city. Its business district hosts the Borsa Italiana and the headquarters of the largest national banks and companies. The city is a major world fashion and design capital. Thanks to its important museums, theatres and landmarks (including the Milan Cathedral, the fifth largest cathedral in the world, and Santa Maria delle Grazie, decorated with Leonardo da Vinci paintings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) Milan attracts more than two million annual visitors.

It hosts numerous cultural institutions and universities, with 185,000 enrolled students in 2011, percent of the national total .The city is also well known for several international events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair, the largest of its kind in the world,and will host the 2015 Universal Exposition. Milan is home to two of the world's major football teams, A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano.

Milan

Venice Venice s a city in northeastern

Italy sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It is located in the marshy Venetian Lagoon which stretches along the shoreline, between the mouths of the Po and the Piave Rivers. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks.The city in its entirety is listed as a World Heritage Site, along with its lagoon.

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ICE The gondola inside Venice.

Verona

Verona is one of the most popular cities in Italy. It is most known for Shakespeare's tragedy : Romeo and Juliet. It is about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays.

Sicily Sicily is the largest island in

the Mediterranean Sea; along with surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Siciliana. Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature, cuisine and architecture. It also holds importance for archeological and ancient sites such as the Necropolis of Pantalica, the Valley of the Temples and Selinunte.

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By Mallopoulou Anastasia and Maragkou Spyridoula!3rd Lyceum of Pyrgos(Pierre De Coubertin), Greece .Class: B’3