Italy is a European country located in southern Europe. Italy is a member of the European Union and is a convenient place for trade and economic relations in a geographical aspect.

Map of Italy. Geographical characteristic

A detailed map of Italy includes not only cities and regions, but also other objects: rivers, lakes, mountains. From a geographical point of view, Italy is located on the peninsulas (it occupies the entire Apennine Peninsula and the northwestern part of the Balkan) and islands (for example, Sardinia and Sicily). Italy is located on the Mediterranean coast, its area is 301 thousand km 2.

It borders on the following countries:

• France;
• Switzerland;
• Austria;
• Slovenia.

Within the state there are also borders with San Marino and the Vatican.

Italy differs from other countries in its long coastline, its length reaches 7600 km. This made the state not only a popular resort, but also a promising place for the development of trade and monetary relations.

Italy on the world map: geography, nature and climate

The geographical structure of the territory where the Italian Republic is located today is distinguished by the presence of volcanoes. Etna is an active volcano, whose height is 3340 meters. It is located on the island of Sicily and is surrounded by the landscapes of the Calabria region. Among the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands, Stromboli and Vulcano are popular. Among the extinct volcanoes, Vesuvius stands out, which is located near Naples. Experts believe that this volcano will still be active, so it should be feared.

The map of Italy in Russian includes the names of such popular rivers as:

• Brent;
• Renault;
• Adige;
• Piave;
• Livenets.

The northern part of Italy is an abundance of river channels, so there are most of the rivers. Italy is a country on the water, so sea transport, which allows you to melt down rivers, is very well developed here.

The source of water on the territory of the Italian state is also lakes, of which there are about one and a half thousand. Most of them are mountain lakes, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich is insignificant. These include Lugano, Como, Garda (the largest lake in Italy), Iseo. The lakes are located near citrus and olive groves.

The relief of the state is represented mainly by mountainous terrain, which occupies about 50% of the entire territory. The height of the hills and mountains, which make up almost half of the country's area, starts from 702 meters. At the same time, the plains account for less than 25%.

The highest point in Italy is Mont Blanc, located on the southern slopes of the Alps. The mountain range called the Alps is divided into the following parts:

• Ligurian;
• seaside;
• Grayskie;
• Bergama;
• Julian;
• Dolomitic;
• and some others.

In addition to the Alps, Italy has the Alennine Mountains and the Calabrian Apennines.

Italy on the world map is a large European country that has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. It is comfortable to be here most of the year, as the Alps "protect" the state from the northern and western winds. The climate in the northern part of the country (near the Alps) is continental.

In the central part of Italy, the temperature rarely drops below zero, and the average summer temperature is +23 degrees Celsius. The southern coast is characterized by an average annual temperature of around +18 degrees Celsius, which makes this area optimal for recreation at any time of the year. Maximum temperatures reach +40-45 degrees Celsius, in the Sardinia region; minimum - up to -20 degrees Celsius, in mountainous areas.

Map of Italy with cities. Administrative division of the country

A map of Italy with cities in Russian allows you to visually see how the country is divided. Italy consists of 20 regions, each of which has its own characteristics. At the same time, five of the 20 regions have a special autonomous status and other (other than Italian) official languages. This is due to the residence of national and linguistic minorities in this territory. The administrative-territorial structure of Italy implies that in each region there are governments and city councils that are engaged in self-government. Some of the largest cities in the state are:

• Rome The capital is the largest city in terms of area. It is located in the central part of the country, located on the river called the Tiber. Rome is the administrative center of the Lazio region.
• Milan- a city that is the most popular in the northern part of the country. In terms of area, it is second only to Rome, and the population exceeds 1 million. Milan is the administrative center of the largest region of the country, it is called Lombardy.
• Naples- the administrative center of the Campania region, located near the Gulf of Naples, not far from the island of Ischia. Naples is located in the south of the state, he heads the province of the same name.

The map of Italy allows you to understand the geographical position of the state, with its relief and climatic conditions. This information can be used both for broadening one's horizons and for independent trips to Italy.

Like most other tourists, having visited only one city in Italy (in my case it was Rome), I mentally ticked off this country - I checked it out, so to speak. Imagine my surprise when I arrived in the north of the country, and a year later - in its south. It was then that I realized that two different parts of Italy are like two separate worlds. They differ in everything - architecture, geographical features, culture and traditions, the character of people, their attitude towards tourists, even types of pizza, after all.

Until the first half of the 19th century, on the territory of present-day Italy, there were many different states that were not connected with each other, although their inhabitants spoke similar languages. Most of them were in a state of socio-economic decline, which was extremely dissatisfied with the population. In the 1930s, a revolutionary organization called "Young Italy" was created, which advocated the creation of a single country and its national independence. She reached her final goal in the early 70s, when Rome became the capital of a unified state. This movement is called the beautiful word risorgimento (in Italian it means "rebirth").

To date, Italy is divided into 20 regions, which, in turn, consist of several provinces. Of these twenty, five have a special autonomous status and at least one other official language besides Italian. You can move around them freely both by car and by public transport, the railway system that connects the whole country from north to south is especially convenient to use. Before proceeding to the description of each part, I will note that all regions, even the smallest ones, are worth visiting.

Valle d'Aosta

I'll start, perhaps, with the northernmost, and probably the most "non-Italian" region of the country. He is one of the five that I talked about in the previous paragraph. Being on the border with France, Valle d' adopted a lot from his neighbor, including the language - French is recognized as official here, there are also several dialects. The administrative center is a wonderful city, which many call "Alpine Rome" because of the well-preserved ancient buildings.

The region itself, surrounded by the highest mountains in Europe (Mont Blanc, Gran Paradiso, Monte Rosa and Matterhorn, each more than 4000 m), is famous for its premium ski resorts, the total length of which exceeds 1000 km. A ski pass for six days costs more than 300 EUR, and red slopes predominate among the pistes.

There are also many castles in the region, the most famous of which is called Fenis (Castello di Fenis). In this majestic medieval building with several towers and a double defensive wall, you can mentally transport yourself to the era of knights thanks to its slightly mystical atmosphere.

As for the gastronomic delights of the region, be sure to try the fontina cheese, which has been made in the small cheese dairies of the area since the 13th century. As for wines, the most popular are Fumin, Muscat blanc di Chambave and Petite Arvine, which are produced in high Alpine vineyards.

Piedmont

The region is famous for its many lakes. The largest are Maggiore, Garda, Iseo. If you are in these parts, be sure to spend a day at least one lake - you can’t miss such beauty. Active guests will appreciate the many hiking and cycling trails, tennis courts and golf courses.

Here is one of the largest and oldest national parks in the country - Stelvio (Parco nazionale dello Stelvio). It is characterized by a wide variety of flora and fauna, so do not be surprised if a predatory golden eagle flies over you during your walk, and several young deer emerge from the forest.

Thanks to the large number of lakes, it is famous for its freshwater fish dishes, and it is also the birthplace of mascarpone cheese, which is used to prepare many desserts. While in Milan, be sure to order Milanese risotto (risotto alla milanese), and, of course, don't forget the Franciacorta sparkling wine, the so-called Italian champagne, which is produced near the city.

Trentino - Alto Adige

A feature of this region is its division into two parts - the southern Italian-speaking Trentino (in honor of the capital - the city of Trento) and the northern Alto Adige (aka Südtirol), where, like in neighboring Austria, German is spoken. Previously, Trentino - Alto Adige was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which also had a tremendous impact on its development.

Today this region is especially loved by fans of winter sports - the ski resorts are located in the heart of Südtirol, among the massifs of the Dolomites. There are many slopes, so they are suitable for both beginners and pros, their quality is at the highest level, and the prices are much nicer than in the French part of the country. In particular, a ski pass for 6 days costs around 160 EUR. In addition, the region is recognized as the world center of mountaineering, so if you have always wanted to try this extreme sport, you are on your way here.

As for winemaking, the southern part is famous for this (as it should be - Italians are big lovers of wine than Germans), the most popular brands are Vino Santo and Trentodoc. The northern part specializes in the cultivation of apples and all kinds of dishes from them, mainly desserts.

Veneto

Probably one of the most popular part of the country among Russian tourists. The capital of the region is the unique and romantic Venice, which you can read about. Also worth a visit is Verona, where, according to Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet lived.

In addition to romantic and cozy cities, it is famous for its good beaches. I can vouch for Caorle, a typical fishing village with a beautiful square and port, where you should come at dawn when the boats return from the sea with their catch.

If you want to escape from the crowds of tourists, go to, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the summer it is incredibly beautiful, calm and, what is important, cool, and at the beginning of winter the ski season opens.

In addition to fine wines (the best in the region are Leonildo Pieropan, Amarone della Valpolicella and Bardolino Classico), it is worth trying the famous grape vodka. In local non-tourist restaurants, you will not find the usual pasta, pizza and lasagna - the cuisine is different from the average Italian one. I advise you to try fresh seafood dishes and Venetian liver (fegato alla veneziana), which is prepared according to a special recipe with onions and red wine.

Friuli Venezia Giulia

This is a small region that has everything at once: beautiful architecture, snow-covered slopes, beaches, and opportunities for agritourism. The administrative capital is magical Trieste, which was an important political and cultural center during the prosperity of Austria-Hungary, and today is famous for a mixture of Eastern and Western European culture.

In my opinion, it is worth going here in the spring to admire the unique architecture of Trieste and visit the famous Cantine Aperte festival, which means “open wine cellars” in Italian. On it you can taste a variety of wines, as well as get advice from expert sommeliers and find out the answers to all your questions.

Speaking of winemaking: Friuli Venezia Giulia is famous for its white wines, so every tourist should try the local Pinot Grigio. In restaurants, pay attention to seafood dishes and prosciutto San Daniele, the gastronomic pride of the region.

Emilia-Romagna

This is perhaps the most popular region of the Adriatic Riviera, since here is Rimini, the most popular resort among Russian tourists. The administrative capital is the city with the oldest European university and magnificent architecture.

In addition to the noisy tourist Rimini, there are many quiet cities with a clean beach - for example, San Mauro Mare. Sports car fans will be delighted with museums dedicated to such automotive giants as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati, Maserati.

Moreover, this is one of the main gastronomic centers of Italy - it was here that the traditional Italian lasagna, the famous Bolognese sauce, sparkling Lambrusco wine, Parma ham and delicious Parmesan cheese appeared.

Tuscany

A region of vineyards, endless green fields, the birthplace of many great artists, cities with incredible cathedrals - all this is it,. Its capital is the famous Florence, which you can’t help but fall in love with (you’ll find out why).

Here, just half an hour away by train, is where you should stop by for a while to take a photo with a falling tower on your palm (don't laugh - this is a must do). Nearby is located and - a city whose symbols are Chianti wine and Pali horse races (il Palio).

Here you can also relax on the sea - the largest port of Tuscany is located in Livorno, and there are many small towns nearby that are perfect for a relaxing family vacation. I cannot fail to mention the island of Elba, where Napoleon was once exiled. From the city of Piombino, huge ferries depart daily, offering amazing views as they approach their destination. It is worth spending a day on the island - the most beautiful landscapes and luxurious villas will remain in your memory for a long time.

Frankly, having arrived in Rome for a week, on the last day I wanted something else - either because of the heat, or because of an overdose of architectural works of art, and we began to think where to go. There were three options - the thermal resort of Fiuggi, the Circeo National Park, the coastal resort of Gaeta. We chose the third and did not lose at all! Leaving the train, we breathed in the fresh sea air and, probably, immediately fell in love with this cozy city, not spoiled by tourist attention. In addition to a very good beach holiday, the region is famous for the Monte Orlando park. Be sure to go up there. You can wander there for a couple of hours, admiring the views of the coastline.

Hungry, sit down in a restaurant and order, of course, spaghetti carbonara, which first appeared in Lazio. It is also worth trying the so-called telephone wires (Suppli al telefono) - delicious rice balls stuffed with mozzarella. For white wines, try white Frascati and Marino, for reds, I highly recommend Aprilia.

Molise

This small region is not at all popular with tourists, but in vain - coming here, you will feel like a pioneer - the local beaches and parks are so unexplored. It seems that time has stopped here - all the main highways connecting south and north bypass Molise. Instead of them, there are a lot of "tratturi" - ancient roads that were actively used by shepherds many years ago.

Almost everything here reminds of history: many archaeological excavations, medieval abbeys, ancient castles, one of which - Monforte - is located in the administrative capital of Campobasso. Interested? Drive to the village of Isernia, where settlements (one of the first in Europe) appeared about 700 thousand years ago. Perhaps, if you want to taste the measured Italian life that films are made about, you are here.

As for gastronomic delights, while on the coast, pay attention to seafood dishes. The region is home to several pasta factories - a paradise for pasta lovers. From alcoholic drinks, locals strongly advise you to try milk liqueur and cherry tincture.

Campania

You can spend several months in this region and not have time to explore it completely, or you can stay here for only an hour and fall in love once and for all. It is here that the Amalfi Coast is located, where it is absolutely impossible to find at least one ugly place - what is the only Villa Rufolo in Ravello worth.

There are many hiking trails, such as the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei). Walking along it and admiring the opening views, I really thought that it was something divine, and that all this was not in reality - it was so beautiful there.

Here are the famous Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius - the only active volcano in Europe, as well as the administrative capital of the region. Behind him, the glory of a very dirty and unsafe city was established, but many forgive him for this for the most delicious pizza in the world.

Besides Neapolitan pizza, Campania is home to my favorite cheese, mozzarella. They grow lemons, which are then used to create limoncello, a sour but very tasty liquor. Of the wines, I advise you to try the red semi-sweet Falerno.

Puglia

Apulia is, so to speak, a heel, if you imagine Italy in the form of a boot. The region is famous for its clean beaches, which are not yet too popular with tourists. Particularly beautiful, it seems to me, is the area near the capes of Castrignano del Capo and Santa Maria di Leuca. The coast is cut by wild rocks and dotted with grottoes with azure water, and when you first see it, it seems that you can spend an eternity here.

The administrative capital is the cozy city of Bari, which is compared with Paris itself. This is a very popular place of pilgrimage for Christians, since it is here that the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker are located.

Locals are very fond of pasta, the most popular and unusual is orecchiette - small pasta with turnips. Such an unusual combination, as a rule, is not to everyone's taste, but this dish is worth a try. There is a city in the region where the best mussels in Italy are mined. For red wines, I recommend Primitivo di Manduria, for whites - Locorotondo.

Basilicata (Basilicata)

This region is not at all spoiled by the attention of tourists, and therefore it is, in fact, beautiful. Half-empty beaches with clear water attract those few travelers who still reach the pearl of southern Italy with their untouchedness and very inexpensive vacation prices.

The main pride of the region is, of course, the cleanest coast. In addition to simple beaches, there are several very worthy resorts with thermal springs - for example, Terme La Calda and Terme Rapolla. I advise you to pay special attention to the small town of Maratea - this is where the statue of Christ the Savior is located. With a height of 22 meters, it is the second largest in the world after the statue in Rio. It is silly to describe its greatness and beauty of the landscapes opening from the mountain - you need to see it yourself.

There are many unusual culinary delights in Basilicata - for example, offal zrazy (gnummarieddi) or horseradish omelet (rafanata). The wines produced here are Aglianico del Vulture, which is produced near the extinct volcano Vulture. It has a light berry flavor and, as a rule, is very popular with the fair sex.

Calabria

The hottest, southernmost region of the country. A favorite vacation spot of the Italians themselves, and they should be trusted in this regard. I must say that in some cities there are a lot of Russians - for example, in Scalea there is a whole company that sells real estate to our citizens. You should also be prepared for the fact that most of the local population does not speak English, so write down all the basic phrases in Italian in advance. However, in the capital - - you will most likely not have such problems.

Be sure to visit Diamante. I was told that unlike all other cities on the coast, it did not have any zest that would attract tourists. After long meetings, the authorities made a very beautiful embankment and invited artists to paint pictures on the walls of the city. It seems to me that it turned out very unusual and interesting.

What is famous in the field of gastronomy is, first of all, limoncello, which I have already talked about a little higher. In local pastas, fileja pasta is most often used, and delicious pecorino cheese is also produced here.

Sardinia

This paradise island is dearly loved by many people whose names can be found on the Forbes list. On the northeast coast of the Costa Smeralda there are many villas, including Russian millionaires. However, do not think that a budget holiday is impossible here - the local prices are not too different from the prices in mainland Italy.

Sardinia has countless beaches and resorts to suit all tastes. For example, Porto Cervo is popular with people who love luxury holidays, Porto Rotondo is suitable for diving, and Baia is famous for its bustling nightlife and loud parties.

Most tourists come to the island for a beach holiday and completely forget about everything else. Do not make this mistake, go to the capital of the region - Cagliari. There, be sure to stroll through the historical center and climb the Bastion of St. Remy (Bastione di San Remy), offering breathtaking views of the city and the sea.

Speaking of local delicacies, you can make a list of several dozen items, so it is extremely difficult to single out one thing. Perhaps this is pasta or risotto with bottarga - this is dried tuna caviar, from which all the locals go crazy. Be sure to try Malvasia - this is a very delicate and light dessert wine.

Sicily

The island, famous for its mafia clans, in reality is not at all as scary as many people describe it. Picturesque landscapes fall in love with thousands of tourists, and the active volcano Etna seems to challenge the most daring of them, offering to climb to the top.

The capital of the island - many deservedly called an open-air museum that combines the incongruous. So, walking around the city, you will pass through typical Turkish streets, stumble upon Arab mosques and see ancient Roman architecture.

It is impossible to get bored in Sicily. In Syracuse you will find many ancient excavations, in Messina you will listen to the legends that have been roaming here since the time of Homer, and you should go to Catania if only to look at the city, which is located at the foot of Etna and more than once seemed to be born again.

When it comes to Sicilian cuisine, it is said to be a must try pasta with cuttlefish ink, which makes it look a bit exotic. From alcohol, refined and strong Marsala, Moscato, Faro-di-Messina are held in high esteem here.

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Tourists often come across the names of regions when planning a trip to Italy. What are the names of the individual regions of Italy and where are they located? You can find out with our map. The regions are marked with different colors on the map of Italy (you will find the name next to it). A brief description of the regions and cities popular with tourists will help you prepare for your trip.

There are 20 regions in Italy. Each region, with the exception of the Aosta Valley, is divided into provinces.

The territory of the country can be conditionally divided into larger parts (macro-regions), for example, the northwest, northeast, central part and south.

Macroregions

• Northwest: Aosta Valley, Liguria, Lombardy, Piedmont. The largest city is Milan.
• Northeast: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-South Tyrol, Veneto. The largest city is Bologna.
• Center: Lazio, Marche, Tuscany, Umbria. The largest city is Rome.
• South: Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise. The largest city is Naples.
• Islands: Sardinia, Sicily.

Region of Lazio

The region of Lazio is located in central Italy. Here are the capital of Italy, the city of Rome, as well as the state of the Vatican. Therefore, Lazio can be considered the most visited region of the country. It is the second most populous region in Italy.
There are three airports in the Lazio region. Leonardo da Vinci International Airport is the largest airport in Italy. Rome Ciampino Airport also serves a large number of tourists.
The Lazio region has a fairly long stretch of the Mediterranean coast (Tyrenian Sea). The Port of Civitavecchia, also known as the "Port of Rome", receives a large number of cruise ships. (Ship passengers can visit Rome and the Vatican.) Beach lovers can also have a good holiday in Lazio. Good beaches and resort hotels are also available along the coast.

Regions of Italy.

Tuscany

Tuscany is located in central Italy, north of the Lazio region. Florence is the most famous city in the region. Tuscany is one of the most popular tourist regions in Italy. There is almost everything that interests tourists: historical monuments, works of art (museums), delicious food and good beaches. The most popular destinations are Florence, Pisa, Montecatini Terme, Castiglione della Pescaia and Grosseto. The length of the coastline is approximately 320 kilometers.
Pisa International Airport (Aeroporto Internazionale di Pisa, PSA), also known as Galileo Galilei Airport, is the largest airport in Tuscany.
Florence Peretola Airport (FLR, Amerigo Vespucci Airport) and Marina di Campo Airport also serve tourists traveling to Tuscany.
Port of Livorno is the main port of Tuscany. (Cruise ship passengers arrive in Tuscany via this airport.)

Regions of Italy.

Umbria

The region of Umbria is located in central Italy, east of Tuscany and north of Lazio. The administrative center is the city of Perugia. This is the only region of Italy that has neither a coastline nor borders with other countries. Umbria is known for the historic Ceri festival and the Umbria Jazz festivals.

Regions of Italy.

Marche

The Marche region is located in central Italy, on the Adriatic Sea (east coast of Italy). The administrative center is the city of Ancona. The Marche region is bordered by Emilia Romagna and the Republic of San Marino to the north, Tuscany to the west, Umbria to the southwest, Abruzzo and Lazio to the south, and the Adriatic Sea to the east.

Veneto

The Veneto region (Venice) is located in the northeast of Italy. According to information from various sources, this is the most visited region in Italy. Venice is the largest and most popular tourist city in the region. Verona and Padua are also among the most visited cities.
The Veneto region also has good beaches, such as Lido, Caorle, Bibione and Cavallino-Treporti.
Venice International Airport (Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo) is one of the largest airports in Italy. The second major airport in the Veneto region is Treviso Airport, which is located 20 kilometers from the city of Venice.
On the territory of the city of Venice there is a port, which is visited by a large number of cruise ships.

Regions of Italy.

Emilia-Romagna

Emilia Romagna is located in northern Italy. This is one of the largest regions in the country. The administrative center is the city of Bologna. The region is known for its historical sites and popular coastal resorts such as Cervia, Cesenatico, and Riccione.
Bologna Airport is the largest airport in the region (Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport). There are also other airports in the region. For example, Federico Fellini International Airport (formerly known as Rimini Miramare Airport) is located near the city of Rimini and the state of San Marino.

Regions of Italy.

Lombardy

The Lombardy region is located in northern Italy. Lombardy shares a border with Switzerland. Milan is the largest city in the region. Lombardy is landlocked. Milan is considered one of the world's fashion capitals, along with New York, Paris and London.
The main tourist sites in the region are historical, cultural and artistic sites in Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Varese. Natural attractions: Lake Garda, Como, Iseo.
Milan Malpensa Airport (IATA: MXP) is the largest international airport in Lombardy.
Orio al Serio International Airport is located approximately 4 kilometers southeast of Bergamo.
Milan Linate Airport (IATA: LIN) is Milan's third international airport. This is the closest airport to Milan (distance 7 kilometers).

Regions of Italy.

Campaign

The Campania region is located south of the Lazio region, along the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea). Naples is the largest city in the region. The region also includes the islands of the Gulf of Naples: Ischia, Procida and Capri.
Campania is among the 20 most visited regions in Europe. Here are such famous places as the archaeological site of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the volcano Vesuvius. It is believed that pizza was invented in Naples.
Naples Capodichino Airport is located at a distance of about 4 kilometers from the center of Ngorod.
The port of Naples is one of the busiest in the Mediterranean, in terms of the number of passengers served. Cruise ships also frequent the port of Salerno.

Regions of Italy.

Calabria

The region of Calabria is located in southern Italy, in the southernmost part of the Apennine Peninsula. The coastline of the region is 780 kilometers (485 miles). The coast is mostly rocky with short beaches. Calabria attracts tourists at any time of the year. Several ski resorts are available in the mountain. (Here you can ski in winter.)
There are two main airports in Calabria: Lamezia Terme International Airport and Reggio di Calabria "Tito Minniti" Airport.

Regions of Italy.

Liguria

The Liguria region is located in northwestern Italy, on the northern coast of the Ligurian Sea. This region (in part) can be considered a continuation of the Côte d'Azur of France. Genoa is the largest city in the region. The cities of Savonna, San Remo, La Spezia are also popular with tourists.
Liguria attracts tourists with its beaches, beautiful nature, architecture and Mediterranean cuisine.
From the west, the region borders on France. The distance from Genoa to Nice and Monaco is approximately 180 kilometers.
Genoa Christopher Columbus International Airport is the main airport in Liguria. Riviera Airport, also known as Albenga Airport, is located on the Italian Riviera between the cities of Savonna and Imperia.
Large ports are available in the cities of Genoa and Savonna.

Regions of Italy.

Sicily

Sicily is an island and region in Italy. The region also includes several small islands, along with the island of Sicily. It is the largest region in Italy by area.
Sicily offers a lot of interesting things to tourists: architectural sights, works of art, excursions, beaches, delicious food. Mount Etna is one of the natural attractions of the island.
There are several airports in Sicily. Catania-Fontanarossa Airport is the busiest airport in Sicily and Falcone Borsellino Airport (Palermo Airport) is the second airport in Sicily in terms of passenger traffic.
Sicily has ferry connections to the mainland from many ports.

Italy is made up of 20 historical regions or regions. If you move from west to east and from north to south, the list will look like this: Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Liguria, Sardinia, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily.

• All regions, with the exception of Valle d'Aosta, are in turn subdivided into provinces and have their own capitals, as well as self-government bodies with sufficient autonomy.

The largest region of the country in terms of area is the island of Sicily (25,711 km2, the capital is Palermo), in second place is Piedmont (25,402 km2, the capital is Turin), and the third is the island of Sardinia (24,090 km2, the capital is Cagliari).

The most populated region (and, in addition, economically developed) is Lombardy, where over 10 million people live.

Map of Italy with regions

Human. The capital is Milan, the second largest city in the country.

Pegasus at the Milan Gallery

• It is followed very far behind by central Lazio with 5.9 million inhabitants with the capital - that's right, Rome - and southern Campania (capital - Naples), which is inhabited by approximately the same number of people (5.85 million)

Tourist regions of Italy

The most interesting and visited regions of Italy, in addition to Lazio and Lombardy, are:

• Veneto (Venice)
• Tuscany (Florence)
• Piedmont (Turin)

Slightly inferior to them is Emilia Romagna with its wonderful cities like Bologna, Parma and Modena, as well as Liguria with Genoa and the coastal strip (a very famous Cinque Terre region of five settlements) of fishing towns and villages, now turned into a stronghold of wealthy holidaymakers.

• They are not visible on the map of regions - the area is located just north of La Spezia

The island of Sardinia, which is considered today one of the most elite resort destinations, is well known to tourists. Rest here is more expensive than anywhere else.

The southern regions of Italy, both economically and in terms of tourism, are slightly less developed. One can single out such a city as Naples with the ruins of the ancient Roman Pompeii and the formidable volcano Vesuvius at hand.

Islands of Capri and Ischia. Poorly explored by the mass tourist Sicily, which has a monstrous amount of natural and attractions from different eras. All of them are extremely interesting, and either have already become, or may soon become the most popular destinations.

© Eurotraveler.ru

Map of Italy with cities

Wines of Italy.

There are 20 regions in Italy and each of them produces its own wine, which is distinguished by its diversity, terroir and unique winemaking approach.

The DOC Wine Zones Law in Italy was signed on July 12, 1963.
The first area to receive the DOC category was Vernaccia di San Giminiano. This happened in 1966.
The highest DOCG category was first awarded to Brunello di Montalcino, Nobile di Montepulciano and Barolo in 1980.

Today there are 523 wine-producing zones in Italy, among them 332 DOC, 73 DOCG and 118 IGT. These wines account for 70% of the production.

Click on a region to find out more.

Piedmont - Lombardy - Valle d'Aosta - Trentino-Alto Adige - Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Veneto - Liguria

Emilia-Romagna - Tuscany - Marche - Umbria - Lazio

Abruzzo - Campania - Molise - Apulia - Basilicata - Calabria - Sicily - Sardinia

Volcanic wines

In recent years, the Italian press has been writing and talking a lot about wines originating from volcanic soils. They note their unique character, high acidity and special aromatics.
When mentioning a volcano, the wines of Etna immediately come to mind, but in Italy, volcanic soils cover an area of ​​\u200b\u200bmore than 17 thousand hectares, which are scattered from north to south.

15 Italian wines coming from vines growing on their own roots

As you know, after the phylloxera epidemic, which destroyed most of the European vineyards, most of the vines grow on American rootstocks. However, in Italy there are areas that have not been touched by phylloxera due to their geographical and climatic features. As a rule, vines growing on their own roots reach a solid age, sometimes passing a century. They are found in different parts of the Apennine Peninsula and give unforgettable emotions, being in a glass in the form of wine.
We present to your attention 15 Italian wines originating from vines growing on their own roots.

Sweet wines of Italy

The production of sweet wines in Italy has a long history, first of all we are talking about passito, made from grapes dried on the vine or in special boxes.

Sparkling wine (spumante)

"Endless Bubbles" is one of the favorite and popular wine themes. Sparkling wines have long had a reputation for being festive and special, whether it's a New Year's table, a birthday or a podium at prestigious races. Transparent paths of bubbles, slightly prickly in taste, delicate aromas give the atmosphere of a holiday and the expectation of a fairy tale.

Passito.

Passito is a sweet wine made from raisined grapes.
It can be called melting gold or liquid fire, depending on the color of the grapes from which the passito is made, its concentrated, rich aromas drive crazy anyone who has ever tasted real raisin wine, called passito in Italy, at least once in their life.

Boiled wine (Vino cotto).

Boiled wine (Vino cotto). Such a strange phrase "boiled wine" denotes a typical rural product from Marche and Abruzzo. Sweet, with bright aromas of spices, boiled wine was drunk by patricians, emperors and popes at the end of plentiful meals.

Official name - Italian Republic (Repubblica Italiana).

The capital is Rome.

The official language is Italian.

The monetary unit is the euro (since 2002, before that, the lira).

Member of international organizations: UN (since 1955), EU (since 1957), NATO (since 1949), G8, etc.

Largest cities: Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Bari, Catania, Venice, Rimini.

Geography of Italy

The area is 301.2 thousand sq. km.

Italy occupies the southern part of the Alps - the Italian Alps, some of whose peaks exceed 4000 m. To the south follows the Padana Plain and then the entire Apennine Peninsula, which is famous for its "boot" shape. The peninsula is divided along into two parts - western and eastern - by another mountain system - the Apennines, the maximum height of which is more than 2000 m. In general, mountains and hills occupy more than 75% of the territory of Italy.

Italy also owns two relatively large islands - Sicily and Sardinia and several much smaller ones - Elba, Capri, etc.

Forests cover less than a quarter of Italy, below the European average. The largest river, the Po, flows through the Padana Plain and flows into the Adriatic Sea. Other rivers are relatively small. The most famous are the Tiber, Arno.

Climate of Italy

In most of the territory, the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, on the Padan Plain it becomes temperate, and in the Alps region it becomes cold, sharply continental. Winters are mild, with some snow falling only in the northern part of the peninsula and in the mountains.

The average temperature in July is from 23-24°С in the north to 26°С in the south of the peninsula and islands. In January - from 0°С in the north to 10°С in the south and islands.

Population of Italy

Population - 60 million people (2010). Population density - 200 people / sq. km. (4th place in Europe). The main nationality is Italians (over 97%) who speak local dialects of the Italian language. The main religion is Latin Rite Catholicism.

Political and administrative system of Italy

Italy is a parliamentary republic headed by a president.

Regions of Italy on the map

The supreme body of legislative power is the bicameral parliament headed by the speaker of the upper house of parliament, the highest body of executive power is the cabinet of ministers (government) headed by the prime minister.

Administratively, Italy is divided into 20 districts, 94 provinces and about 1 thousand communes (municipalities).

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Section 26.

Italy regions map

Italy. (textbook)

§ 26. Italy

Remember

1. What are the geographic features of Italy?
2. Or is the climate of the Apennine Peninsula favorable for the development of Italian agriculture?
3. What products is Italy known for in the world market?

Business card

Square: 301 337 km2

Population: 58 126 000 (2010)

Capital Rome

Official name: Italian Republic

State structure: Unitary republic

legislature: Bicameral Parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate)

head of state: The president

Administrative device: 20 regions consisting of 103 provinces

Common religions: Christianity (Catholics)

Member UN (1957), NATO (1949), EU

Public Holiday: Republic Day (first Sunday in June)

Administrative-territorial division

EGP and natural resource potential. Italy is a typical peninsular Mediterranean country, washed by the waters of the Adriatic, Ionian, Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas and has more than 80% of maritime borders.

In the north it borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Within Italy, there are two enclaves: the Vatican (the residence of the Pope) and San Marino.

80% of the territory of Italy is occupied by mountains, foothills and hills: the Alps with the highest point of Mont Blanc 4807 m and the Apennines with heights up to 2914 m. In the south of the country are active and extinct volcanoes: Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli, there are earthquakes.

The climate of Italy is Mediterranean. Of the 600-1000 mm of annual precipitation, half falls in spring and summer with heavy summer showers, accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, in spring and summer there are floods. In the Alps, the climate varies with altitude from moderately warm to cold, snow lasts for several months, and lies constantly on the peaks. These conditions contribute to the development of mountain resorts and ski tourism. There is a clear cloudless sky over the peninsula for more than 250 days a year. In the south of the Apennine Peninsula and on the islands, the summer is dry and hot, the winter is mild, warm, the influence of the sirocco is felt - a dry and hot wind from the Sahara, bringing with it reddish dust and an increase in temperature up to 33-350C . One fifth of the territory is occupied by forests represented by Mediterranean shrubs, patches of bark and iron oak, chestnut and beech forests, pine and Aleppo pine groves.

Among the mineral deposits, it should be noted oil about. Sicily, natural gas, lead, zinc, mercury, sulfur, pyrite, potassium salts, granites and marbles.

population. Italians make up 94% of the country's population, and among representatives of other nationalities - a significant number of Germans, French, Greeks, Slovenes, Jews, living mainly in the border areas. Modern Italy is home to a large number of refugees, mainly Arabs and Albanians. The Italian diaspora has about 20 million Italians (USA and Western Europe).

Catholics make up 90% of the population, the rest profess Protestantism, Islam, Judaism. The official language is Italian.

The urban population is up to 70%. Population density - 193 people. per km2. Life expectancy is 77 years for men, 80 for women. There is a significant outflow of labor resources to the countries of Western Europe, internal migration from the agricultural south to the industrial north, a large flow of labor migration from the countries of North Africa and Eastern Europe is directed to the country. Significant expenditures of the country's GDP go to education, in almost every large city there is a university. The largest cities in Italy: Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa.

Rome, the capital of Italy, is a great transport hub: the international airports of Leonardo da Vinci di Fiumicino and Ciampino, the metro operates. An important financial and industrial center of the country with a developed engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical, printing, furniture, light and food industries, arts and crafts, film industry. One of the largest tourism centers in the world.

According to legend, it was founded on seven hills by the brothers Romulus and Remus in 753 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates a settlement from the Bronze Age (1500 BC). Medieval quarters (Trastevere), palaces and churches of the Renaissance and later have been preserved here.

Today "The eternal City" is the main cultural and scientific center of the country. There are more than 20 institutes and academies engaged in the study of the problems of fine arts, theater, music, cinema; astronomical observatory, the National Council for Scientific Research, the National Nuclear Center (the Club of Rome is a world-famous research center that brings together the world's largest scientists), more than 25 libraries, an opera house, the Eliseo Theater, a conservatory founded in 1570, etc. Masterpieces of Italian painting and sculpture are collected in the Vatican Museums, the Borghese Gallery, the Capitoline Museum. The most famous is the National Roman Museum, located in the Baths of Diocletian (306).

Milan, a city in northern Italy, on the Padan plain, an important economic and cultural center of the country, a leader in the chemical (plastic production) and textile industries, mechanical engineering (automobiles, machine tools, electrical engineering), metallurgy, oil refining, light, food, printing, glass, pharmaceutical industries. A major banking center in Italy, the center of the fashion industry, one of the most significant centers for the sale of silk. The boards of the Italian companies Ferrari, Fiat, Epson and others, as well as the largest Italian stock exchange are located in Milan.

The city (Mediolanum, from its location: "medio" - in the middle, "Plano" - plain) was founded at the end of the 5th or the beginning of the 4th century BC by Celtic tribes (Insubrams). The location of the city contributed to its development, since paths passed through it to the north, Milan, famous for its museums, art galleries, theatres, architectural monuments, educational institutions, and the world-famous theater "La Scala" operates here.

Genoa, northern Italian city, on the shores of the Gulf of Genoa, the Ligurian Sea. In antiquity, it was a Ligurian settlement conquered in the 3rd century BC. Romans, Genoa was one of the most important trading portsRoman state.

The city stretched for more than 30 km along the narrow coastal strip of the Italian Riviera and swallowed up the small towns closest to it (to the west - Cornigliano Ligure, Sampierdarena, Pel, Voltri, Sestre Ponente, in the mountain valleys - Bolzaneto, Rivarol, Pontedecimo) and, together with they form a large urbanized area of ​​Big Genoa. One of the largest ports in the Mediterranean Sea (import of oil, coal, scrap metal, cotton, timber, grain; export of finished industrial products).

Heavy industry is dominated by the Finsider, Finmecanica, and Ansaldo monopolies. There are shipyards producing aircraft, aviation and marine engines, turbines, boilers, locomotives, tractors, electrical equipment, developed military industry, precision mechanics, metallurgy (the second largest in Italy, the Cornigliano plant), oil refining, chemical, light, textile, food industries several thermal power plants are in operation.

Economy. The employment of labor resources in the spheres of the economy is distributed as follows: agriculture - 4.2%, industry - 30.7%, services - 65.1%.

Italy is divided into an industrial north and an agricultural south with high unemployment. In the north-west of the country, in the zone of the "Industrial Triangle" Milan-Turin-Genoa, 80% of the country's industrial production is concentrated. The innovation center "Novus Ortus", which is aimed at raising the economic development of southern Italy, is the largest technopark in the country. Located in the south of the country near the city of Bari.

The Italian economy produces high-quality consumer goods, mainly by small and medium-sized enterprises. Italy also has a significant shadow economy, which by some estimates contributes up to 15% of the country's GDP. The country's official debt balances are 100% higher than GDP.

GDP per capita is $31,000. The country's GDP is formed as follows: 2% comes from agriculture: 26.7% - industry, 71.3% - services. Italy is ranked 6th in the world in terms of economic development. In the late 1990s, the processes of European integration, the introduction of the euro caused a revival of the economy, stimulated the further development of small and medium-sized businesses.

On about. Oil and natural gas are extracted in Sicily, the Padana Plain and the continental shelf of the Adriatic Sea, in Sardinia and Tuscany - brown and black coal, polymetallic ores, pyrite, in Sicily - Sulfur and potash salts, in Tuscany - marble and granite. Despite the presence of its own energy resources, Italy depends on their imports by 80%.

Industry. The leading industries in Italy are mechanical engineering and metalworking, chemical and petrochemical, food and light industries. In the production of steel and rolled products (Cornigliano, Piombino, Bagnol and Taranto), the country ranks second in Western Europe after Germany. A powerful oil refining industry is based on imported oil and gas (Genoa, Naples, Venice, Sardinia). Fiat, headquartered in Turin), including racing cars (Ferrari), million motorcycles. Almost all factories are located in the north of the country.

Shipbuilding is developed in Monfalcone, Trieste, Venice, Genoa, La Spezia, and Naples. Significant development was achieved by the electrical and electronic industries. Italy is one of the world's largest manufacturers and exporters of refrigerators and washing machines (Milan, Rome, Naples). The production of personal computers and office equipment is developed (the Olivetti firm). The main region of the chemical industry is Milan (Pirelli car tires). The chemical industry produces pharmaceutical products: oils, plastics, synthetic rubber, chemical fibers, etc. A significant part of the petrochemical plants is located in the seaport areas: Brindisi, Gela, Naples, Cagliari and others.

Italy is one of the world's largest producers of cotton and woolen fabrics, shoes, high-quality ready-made clothing and knitwear, furniture, jewelry, art glass and faience. The textile industry is based mainly in the north of the country (Piedmont, Venice, Tuscany). Italy ranks second in the world for shoe production after China.

The food industry specializes in the production of pasta, cheese, granulated sugar, olive oil, canned vegetables and fruits, juices, grape wines, and tobacco products. Italy produces annually more than 70 million decalitres of wine (125 liters per capita).

Italy's service sector is dominated by tourism, which is the most important source of income. More than 50 million tourists visit Italy every year. Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan are places of real pilgrimage for tourists.

In the center of Venice

Shopping tourism is developing. It attracts wholesalers of products, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as individual consumers of Italian and clothing. Italy is the birthplace of banks, in 67% of its settlements there are banking institutions.

Agriculture. The government of the country is making considerable efforts to increase the level of development of the agricultural south of the country. Characteristic features of this region are high unemployment, low incomes of the population and its significant outflow to the EU countries. There are over 3 million farms in Italy, most of which are small. The level of mechanization of agricultural work is significantly inferior to the corresponding level in other countries of Western and Central Europe.

38% of the country's territory is used in agriculture, pastures occupy 15%. The leading branch of the economy is crop production, which provides 60% of agricultural products. The main agricultural crops are wheat, corn, rice (the largest producer and practically the only exporter in Western Europe), sugar beets, and olives. Italy is among the top five largest world producers of fruits (apples, peaches, walnuts are grown on the Alpine hills), berries, citrus fruits, grapes, vegetables and melons.

Along with France, the country is one. Of the world leaders in the collection of grapes (90% of it goes to the production of wine) and the production of grape wines (the regions of Calabria, Apulia, Sicily).

For the collection of olives and citrus fruits in Western Europe, Italy is second only to Spain.

animal husbandry developed throughout the territory, in the north - within the mountains, in the south and in the center - on natural pastures. Cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry are bred.

Transport. In Italy, all types of transport are well developed. Seaports, with the exception of Genoa, Venice, Trieste and Naples, are small (Augusta, Bari, Brindisi, La Spezia, Livorno, Milazzo, Porto Foxy, Porto Torres, Salerno, Taranto, Trieste). The length of railways is 19.5 thousand km. There is a dense network of domestic and international airlines. The total length of pipelines exceeds 20,000 km.

Domestic transportation of passengers and goods is carried out by a well-developed network of roads with a total length of more than 300 thousand km (second place in Europe after Germany). There are tunnels in the north in the Alps. There are 32 million Internet users in the country.

economic map

Foreign economic relations. Exports are dominated by products of labor-intensive industries and consumer goods. The country exports technical products, office equipment, fabrics and clothing, machinery, rolled steel and pipes, rolling stock, transport equipment, chemical industry products, food, beverages, tobacco, non-ferrous metals, and petroleum products. Italy is one of the largest suppliers to the world market of household appliances - televisions, refrigerators (included in the top ten manufacturing countries), washing machines, dishwashers, microwaves, sewing machines.

The largest export partners are the EU countries: Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain and the USA. Oil and energy resources occupy the main place in imports. They also import technical products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and non-ferrous metals, fabrics, clothing; food, drinks, tobacco (from Germany, France, China, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain).

The country receives significant income from foreign tourists, who are attracted by winter sports, ski resorts, many historical monuments, Mediterranean beaches.

Leaning Tower of Pisa. Italy

According to the territorial structure, Italy is a unitary state. The system of territorial division of the country is three-tier, includes three links: regions, provinces and communes. All of them are characterized by the Constitution as autonomous formations (Art. 115, 128). But if the principles on the basis of which the regions determine their functions and competence are established by the Constitution of the country, then in relation to the provinces and communes this is done by the laws of the Republic. In particular, the Constitution establishes the basis for the competence of the regions (Article 117). At the same time, the provinces and communes are characterized by the Constitution not only as autonomous entities, but also as units of state and autonomous division (Article 129).

Within its competence areas have the right to make laws. All this allows us to conclude that the regions have a greater degree of independence than the provinces and communes. The areas are divided into two categories: areas with general status and areas with special status. The status of the regions of the first group (there are 15 of them) is regulated by constitutional and legislative norms common to all these regions. The special status of the remaining five areas in which national minorities live, or which are characterized by an insular position (Sicily and Sardinia), have a different, different status.

Each region takes its own statute, acting as its fundamental law. The statute is adopted and amended by the regional council. The Italian Constitution establishes a complicated procedure for its adoption. The statute is adopted by a double vote, and the interval between two votes in the regional council should not be less than 2 months. The statute may be submitted to a regional referendum if within 3 months after its official publication, 1/50 of the voters of the region or 1/5 of the regional councilors demand it. At a referendum, a statute is considered adopted if more than half of the voters of the region voted for it, whose ballots are recognized as valid (Article 123 of the Constitution). Prior to the amendments to the Italian Constitution of November 22, 1999, the regional statutes needed to be approved by the law of the Republic, the new version of Article 123 does not require this.

Areas of competence(Article 117) includes the organization of their own state authorities, the establishment of boundaries between communes, the regulation of issues of public charity, sanitary and hospital care, urban planning, tourism, hotel business, agriculture, the organization of urban and rural police and other issues specified by constitutional laws. Moreover, on issues of their competence, the regions have the right to adopt laws and carry out administrative activities. Regions with special status have broader powers.

Each area has own authorities. This is the regional council, the junta and its chairman. Councils are representative and legislative bodies elected directly by the people. Juntas are the executive bodies of the regions. Junta is headed by a chairman, who is currently elected directly by the population of the region (unless otherwise provided by the legislation of the region). The chairman of the junta independently appoints and dismisses the members of the junta. This procedure for the formation of the junta is established by the new edition of Art. 122 of the Italian Constitution, which was adopted by the Constitutional Law of November 22, 1999 (before that, the Constitution required that both the chairman of the junta and its entire composition be elected by the regional council from among its deputies).

The chairman of the junta represents the region in relations with the supreme bodies of the Republic and other regions, promulgates laws adopted by the regional council, adopts his own resolutions, coordinates the work of the junta, bears responsibility for it, and performs administrative functions delegated by the state to the region (Article 121 of the Constitution).

Article 126 of the Italian Constitution provided for the right of the regional council to express no confidence in the chairman of the junta. The proposal to this effect must be signed by at least '/^ of the councillors.

Maps of Italy

No confidence is considered expressed if an absolute majority of the total number of advisers voted for it. Voting is by roll call. Discussion of the issue of no confidence in the chairman of the junta cannot begin earlier than 3 days after the proposal is made. The expression of no confidence in the chairman of the junta, as well as the early termination of his powers for other reasons (his removal by the President of the country, death, resignation, impossibility of exercising powers) simultaneously entails the resignation of the entire junta and the dissolution of the regional council. The same consequences are entailed by the simultaneous resignation of the majority of the deputies of the council.

The region has not only self-government, but also public administration, presented by the government commissioner. It exercises administrative supervision over the activities of the regional councils. But the Constitution provides not only this form of central control over regional autonomy.

According to Art. 126 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic may dissolve the regional council and remove the chairman of the junta for acts contrary to the Constitution, as well as for a serious violation of the law. The dissolution may also come for reasons of national security.

The regions are divided into provinces(there are about 100 of them). They also have self-government bodies (councils elected by the population and juntas formed by councils) and state administration.

(prefects subordinate to the Minister of the Interior). Finally, the lower link of the territorial division - communes, of which there are approximately 8 thousand in the country. The organs of self-government of the commune include the council, as well as the junta elected by it and the mayor. The latter also performs the functions of a representative of the central authority in the commune. The scope of competence of these territorial units is small. It includes the management of some social services, school affairs, etc.

The change of the boundaries of the provinces and the formation of new provinces in accordance with the Constitution is carried out by a law of the Republic, which is adopted on the initiative of the communes concerned and after consultation with the respective region. Changing the boundaries and names of communes, as well as the formation of new communes, is carried out by the law of the region, taking into account the opinion of the population concerned (Article 133).

Italy occupies the Apennine and part of the Balkan Peninsula, the Padana Plain, the southern slope of the Alps, as well as Sicily, Sardinia and several small islands. The total area of ​​the state is 309.5 thousand square kilometers. Italy also has two microstates: the Vatican and San Marino.

Italy is a decentralized unitary republic, divided into 20 regions or regions, and 5 of them - Valle d'Aosta, Sardinia, Sicily, Trentino - Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia are recognized as autonomies. Here live national minorities who are allowed to have their own local government and legislation. They are also allowed to use their native language along with the state language for all procedures.

Each region of Italy, except for the self-sufficient autonomous region of Valle d'Aosta, is divided into provinces, of which there are only 110. The provinces, in turn, are divided into communes, and the largest of them can be divided into territorial parts, called frazioni by the local population. Communes differ significantly from each other both in size and in population.

Within the provinces and communes, there is a local parliament - the junta, which regulates local issues of health care, urban planning, land use, and social security. Small junts, for example, urban ones, are subordinate to larger and more significant ones. Also, a number of administrative issues lies with the mayors of cities.

List of Italian regions

1. Abruzzo


2. Apulia


3. Basilicata


4. Valle d'Aosta


5. Veneto


6. Calabria


7. Campaign


8. Lazio


9. Liguria


10. Lombardy


11. Marche


12. Molise


13. Piedmont


14. Sardinia


15. Sicily


16. Tuscany


17. Trentino - Alto Adige


18. Umbria


19. Friuli Venezia Giulia


20. Emilia-Romagna

Tourist features of the regions

Italian territory can be divided into north, center and south. In the north of the country, the influence of neighbors is strong: Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and France. This area is attractive for ski resorts and shopping. Traveling in northern Italy, you should definitely visit Milan, Turin, Genoa, Rimini, Bologna, Verona and Venice.

Fans of ancient and Catholic history should head to the center of the country, namely the provinces of Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria. Those who do not want either the glamorous boutiques of the north or the carelessness of the southern beaches make pilgrimages here. In these places you will be inspired by walking through the squares of Rome and Pisa, enjoy nature and feel the spirit of the times.

For a holiday experience, food, the best parties and the beaches of the Mediterranean, head to the south of Italy, where all these pleasures are concentrated. In the provinces of Puglia, Campania, Molise, Calabria and Basilicata and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, you will find picturesque landscapes, famous cuisine, an atmosphere of a leisurely life, holidays on the coast and, of course, cultural monuments!