Italy, country of south- central Europe, occupying a peninsula that just deep into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy comprises some of the most varied and scenic landscapes on earth and is often described as a country shaped like a boot. at its broad top stand the Alps, which are among the world’s most rugged mountains. Italy’s highest points are along Monte Rosa, which peaks in Switzerland, and along Mont Blanc, which peaks in France.

The western Alps overlook a landscape of Alpine lakes and glacier – carved valleys that stretch down to the Po river and piedmont. Tuscany, to the south of the cisalpine region, is perhaps the country’s best – known region. From the central Alps, running down the length of the country, radiates the tall Apennine range, which widens near Rome to cover nearly the entire width of the Italian peninsula.

South of Rome the Apennines narrow and are flanked by two wide coastal plains, one facing the Tyrrhenian sea and the other Adriatic Sea. At the bottom of the country, in the Mediterranean Sea, lie the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. most iconic food in Italy are pizza-Bottarga – Lasagne- Fiorentina steak- Polenta. Italy is renowned as a tourist destination: it attracted more than 40 million foreign visitors annually in the early 21st century. conversely, less than one – fifth of Italians take their holidays abroad.

The tourist industry in Italy experienced a decline from 1987 onward, including a slump during the Persian Gulf war and world recession, but it rebounded in the 1990’s, posting gains in the number of overseas and domestic tourists. in addition, the jubilee celebrations promoted by the roman catholic church in 2000 to mark the advent of its third millennium attracted millions of tourists to Rome and its enclave, Vatican City, the seat of the church. Pope Francis declared 2016 to be an extraordinary jubilee of mercy, an event that drew still more pilgrims to the Vatican.

The tourist industry has flourished under both national and international patronage. The most popular locations, apart from the great cultural centres of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Naples,are the costal resorts and islands or the Alpine hills and lakes of the north; the Ligurian and Amalfi rivers as; the northern Adriatic coast; the small islands in the Tyrrhenian sea; the emerald coast of Sardinia, sicily, gran paradiso national park and the dolomites, and Abruzzo national park.