Tourist information - Italy
Italy (Italian Italia) is a republic in southern Europe. Bordered on the north by Switzerland and Austria, on the east by Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea, on the south by the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ligurian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, and on the northwest by France. In addition to the Italian mainland, the Mediterranean islands of Elba, Sardinia, and Sicily are Italian territories. There are enclaves within mainland Italy that are independent countries being San Marino and Vatican City. Rome is the capital and largest city of Italy.
Climate
The climate of Italy is highly diversified, too much so for these brief notes.
Principal Cities
The capital and largest city of Italy is Rome which is a famous cultural and tourist center. Other important cities include Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo in Sicily, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Bari, Catania in Sicily and Venice.
Rome is the capital city of Italy and sits on the on the Tiber River. The Vatican City, is located within an enclave of Rome. It is the seat of the papacy of the Roman Catholic church and is recognized as an independent state by the Italian government. The dome of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City dominates the Roman skyline. Rome has been called the Eternal City, a title earned because of its importance as one of the great cities of Western civilization. Since 1871 it has been the capital of all Italy.
