ABOUT ITALY

              Italy official name is Republican Italian. Capital city is Rome. Italy located in in the heart of  the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares open land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and City. Population of Italy is Around 61 million. Italy currency is Euro. Italy official language is Italian; German, French and Slovene-speaking minorities.

         THE HISTORY OF ITALY

             Italian peninsula shows evidence of habitation by anatomically modern humans beginning about 43,000 years ago. It is reached by the Neolithic as early as 6000 BC (Cardium Pottery in Coppa Nevigata). The Italian Bronze Age begins around 1500 BC, likely corresponding to the arrival of Indo European speakers whose descendants would become the Italic peoples of the Iron Age; alongside the early Italic cultures, however, the Etruscan civilization in central Italy and Greek colonies in the south flourished during 8th to 5th centuries BC. 

          Ancient times, Greek, Etruscan, Celtic, and other cultures have thrived on the Italian Peninsula.  The country, coming back to international politics among Western democratic powers, joined the European Economic Community (which has later constituted the European Union), the United Nations, NATO, the G7 and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Italy is currently ranked as a mid-great power and as a major regional actor.         

 RELIGION OF ITALY

            Italy religion is Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%.

     THE WEATHER OF ITALY

            The weather in Italy varies considerably from north to south. In the alpine north of the country, cold, harsh winters with heavy snowfall are typical between December and March, while summers are sunny and fresh. Around the northern Italian lakes, however, a mild microclimate prevails, benefitting the olive groves and tropical gardens that surround the lake, most of which come into spectacular bloom between April and June. In central Italy, beyond the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, the climate is milder and wetter with a less pronounced difference between summer and winter temperatures. Summer lingers longer and city centers, such as Florence, Siena and Rome can experience stifling humidity especially during July and August.In the south, summers are far hotter and drier and temperatures more akin to those in North Africa prevail, often reaching above 30°C. Snow is rare and winter is especially mild, making the southern tip of the peninsula and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia ideal late season destinations.

             There are lots of major tourist destinations in Italy. There is a lot of historic monuments and scenic areas of tourist interest. 

              For US citizens do not need visa for visiting Italy for maximum 90 days.