Country Information : Italy

Italy occupies a Peninsula running southeast into the Mediterranean from the mainland of Europe. Its land borders in the North are with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. To the East, Italy faces former Yugoslavia across the Adriatic Sea. To the west is the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Rome is the capital city and among other important cities are Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Turin and Venice.

In the North, Italy shares the Alps with France, Austria and Switzerland. A major mountain chain, the Apennines, runs down the centre of the country. Vesuvius, close to Naples, is the only active volcano on the European mainland; Etna on Sicily is one of the world's largest volcanoes.

Italy's climate is varied. In the north winters are cold and the summers hot. The Apennines also have cold, snowy winters. The south is warmer.

When To Go

Italy is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November). During these seasons, the scenery is beautiful, the temperatures are pleasant and there are relatively few crowds. Try to avoid August, as this is the time that most Italians take their vacations, and many shops and businesses are closed as a result.

For any individual questions or to discuss your requirements in more detail please contact us.