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Italy stretches out south from the centre of Europe into the Mediterranean in the shape of a boot. It comprises the mainland and the two largest islands in the Mediterranean - Sicily and Sardinia. The Apennine Mountains which form the backbone of the mainland give rise to some spectacular scenery for which the Italian interior is known, while the Alps which form its northern borders not only make Italy a top winter sports destination, but also feed its five largest lakes. Italy is split into 20 regions and the mainland is also host to the two independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City. Italy is probably best known through its capital city Rome, which was home of the Roman empire and the center of western civilisation. After its collapse during the 5th century Italy entered a period of turmoil and constant invasion until it regained prominence through the birth of the Italian Renaissance towards the end of the 13th century.
With 7600km of coastline including its islands, its mountainous interior, lakes, history and cultural background, Italy has much to offer in terms of tourism. For a more detail description see our guides to the individual regions.
Italy has an abundance of places to stay - rent direct from private owners or from small agencies. On the coast, small resorts, luxury villas with pools, townhouses and apartments are the popular choice. Those right by the beach or on hills can have stunning sea views. Rural accommodation comes in the form of village houses, cottages, bungalows and farmhouses (these often have podere in the title). Holiday homes are often converted from barns and other former agricultural buildings - even olive mills. In the mountains, swiss style chalets are common. One of the unique Italian forms of countryside accommodation is the 'agriturismo'. These have grown up to allow farmers to diversify the usage of their properties. They often take the form of studios and apartments converted out of beautiful restored old stone buildings and are somewhat like the French gite concept, with the owner usually living somewhere on site. Sometimes, these are on vineyards rather than farms and they may have been established with eco tourism in mind. They are almost always family friendly. For something unusual, there is the trullo - round stone houses, with conical rooves. Bed and Breakfast and small hotels are popular in Italy.
For more information see our
Visitors Guide
