Flag of Italy

Flag of Italy

Facts

  • Population » 61 million
  • Language » Italian
  • Religion » Christianity
  • Life expectancy » 81 years (men), 86 years (women)
  • Currency » Euro (EUR)

Geography

Map of Italy (Source » Wikimedia)

Map of Italy (Source » Wikimedia)

Maps and Navigation

Terrain

  • Mostly rugged and mountainous w/ some plains
  • Coastal lowlands

Climate

  • Predominantly Mediterranean
  • Alpine in far north
  • Hot and dry in south

Tourism

  • Overtourism »
    • BBC » May 2024 » “Italy has been saying  “no” a lot recently: no selfies in Portofino; no large cruise ships in Venice; no free entry for day-trippers; no tourist buses on Amalfi’s seafront; no sitting on the Spanish steps in Rome… The list of small measures trying to curb overtourism is long and at times creative – consider for instance the fine of up to €2,500 for wearing flip flops on the Cinque Terre trails.”
  • Italy signed the Schengen area agreement on 27 November 1990. They started the implementation of the agreement on 26 October 1997 .
  • Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.
  • The Roman Empire left behind a rich history and a lot of cultural attractions
    • This has enabled Italy to become one of the top destinations in Europe.
  • Italy gave to the world some of the most famous scholars, artists, and polymaths
    • Michelangelo
    • Leonardo da Vinci
    • Raphael
    • Galileo
    • Machiavelli
  • Venice is on the Silk Road
    • Other the well-documented flow of goods heading west, consignments of cotton, ivory, animal furs, grapevines and other goods passed through the strategically sited port on their way east.
  • Resource » Wikivoyage

Adventures

  • Italian port cities (Genoa, Civitavecchia, Salerno) offer ferries to Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia
  • You will need your driver’s licence and an International Drivers Permit (IDP) or an official translation of the driver’s licence.
  • Motorists must give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings.
  • By law, drivers must use headlights on main roads outside the urban areas and on highways, including during the day.
  • Vehicle access to the centres of many Italian cities is restricted to help reduce congestion.
    • Traffic Restricted Zones (ZTL) and their hours of operation, vary from city to city.
    • Vehicles within the ZTL are fined if they don’t carry ZTL passes.
    • Rental cars often don’t have a ZTL pass.
  •  Snow tyres or chains are mandatory in mountainous regions where snow is common. Road signs will indicate if they are required. If you don’t have the right equipment, you may be fined.
  • In summer, only residents can take their cars to the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida.
  • On-the-spot fines are payable for a range of minor traffic offences. Many municipalities have outsourced the collection of traffic fines to the European Municipal Outsourcing (EMO).
  • Colle delle Finestre (Map)
  • The Dolomites – one of the best regions in the world to hike
    • One of Italy’s most beautiful paradises of valleys and mountains (Wikiloc)
    • Lake Sorapis
    • Marmolada Peak
    • Viel dal Pan refuge from the Pordoi Pass
    • Tre Cime di Lavaredo
    • Sassolungo circuit
    • Adolf Munkel Trek
    • Trekking of the Thinking Christ
    • Fanes Cascades

National Parks

  • Cinque Terre National Park » Dont forget to wear appropriate footwear 😳 (CNN)
    • Cinque Terre welcomed four million visitors in 2023, an increase of one million from 2022.

Notes

Coffee Notes

  • Rome, the capital of espresso, is Starbucks-free. (as of 2020)
  • Drink your cup of espresso while standing at the bar like the locals do.
    • An espresso in Rome will cost $2 when standing at a local coffee shops bar, however it can cost double or more if you choose to sit down.

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This page was updated May 29, 2024