Italy is a country in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere located in Southern Europe. The country is surrounded by water, including the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Tyrrhenian, and Ionian Seas. The land in the north not bordered by sea is bordered by the countries of France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, and the microstate, Monaco. Sardinia, both an island and administrative region of Italy, sits in the Mediterranean Sea just south of Corsica, France. Tunisia is the closest African country to Italy, across the Mediterranean Sea.
Here is everything you will find in this overview:
Map of Italy
Regions and Cities
Natural Features
Tourist Attractions
Travel Tips
Cultural Insights
Governance and Economics
Map of Italy
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Regions and Cities
Italy has 20 administrative division regions and five autonomous regions with greater government power. Rome is the capital of Italy. Two Microstates exist within Italy, San Marino and the Vatican. Just west of the Liguria region is Monaco, another Microstate.
The Five Autonomous Regions and Capital Cities
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Aosta Valley: Aosta
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Friuli Venezia Giulia: Trieste
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Sardinia: Cagliari
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Sicily: Palermo
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Trentino-Alto Adige: Trento
The 15 Oridinary Regions and Capital Cities
Natural Features
Italy is rich in natural wonders and landmarks and many are top tourist destinations, including:
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The Dolomites mountain range in the Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions
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Monte San Giorgio mountain range bordering Switzerland in Italy’s Lombardy region
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Gran Paradiso National Park in the Piedmont region
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Lake Como in the Lombardy region north of Milan
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Lake Garda on the borders of the Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige regions
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The Ligurian Riviera in the Liguria region stretches from the border with France to the Tuscany region
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Mount Vesuvius volcano in Naples — Italy’s Campania region
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Amalfi Coast in the Campania region
Tourist Attractions
Italy boasts numerous cultural landmarks and top tourist destinations. These are a few of them:
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The Colosseum, The Roman Forum, The Arch of Constantine, Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
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The Uffizi Gallery, The Ponte Vecchio and Piazza del Duomo in Florence
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Santa Maria delle Grazie, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Sforzesco Castle in Milan
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Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), Saint Mark’s Basilica and Rialto Bridge in Venice
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Pompeii, Castel Nuovo and the Catacombs of San Gennaro in Naples
Travel Tips
Fall and Spring are some of the best times of year to visit Italy because the weather is more mild and it is often less crowded than the peak summer months. You can get by with knowing just English in most of the tourist areas but learning some Italian phrases is highly recommend because it is respectful and it can go a long way in interacting with locals! It’s also usually not a bad idea to dress more fashionable in the larger cities like Rome and Milan.
Cultural Insights
Italy hosts some of the finest traditions, festivals, and culinary delights our world offers. The Palio di Siena in Siena is a legendary horse race not to miss. One of the finest masquerade parties in the world, the Carnival of Venice is undoubtedly another not to miss. The city of Milan itself is an international capital of fashion; a shopping experience like no other. The entire Tuscany countryside is full of idyllic villages worth visiting for a more rural Italian experience. Similarly, some of the most beautiful villages and best beaches dot the Amalfi Coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea in the Campania region.
Governance and Economics
Italy is very safe to visit with level 2 — increased caution — advisories by the U.S. State Department. The U.S. dollar stretches further in Italy, making travel within the continent relatively more affordable than the U.S. On average, expenses in Italy are 30-40% cheaper than in the U.S. Italy is in the European Union and uses the Euro (€) currency. Tourism is one of Italy’s largest industries, ranking #5 worldwide by the number of international arrivals.
