Here is what useful to know before going to this remarkable country:

Italy - one of the most ancient countries of the world and during too time this youngish state which has appeared on a political card only by little more hundred years ago after final association in 1871 of separate duchies existed earlier in its territory and kingdoms. Nowadays this large capitalist state entering in " a greater seven of the countries of the West ".

The image of the country has strongly changed for last century. Glory of modern Italy create not only fine Mediterranean landscapes, snow-white peaks of the Alpes, orange groves of Sicily, vineyards of Tuscany and Latium, not only uncountable monuments of centuries-old Italian culture, but also cars let out in the country, production of the chemical industry, fashionable clothes and the footwear popular all over the world films.

The rich history of Italy begins about 500 years up to a.d., when bases of powerful Roman empire borrowed to V to a century н.э have been incorporated. Huge territories of the Europe, Asia and Northern Africa. In end V of a century modern Italy has been won by germen, остготами and Gotha which board last some centuries.

In the end of Middle Ages there were the rich cities-states which have peacefully existed up to the middle of XV century when the next states have begun a series of wars for possession territories of peninsula Apenninskogo.

In 1861 king of Sardinia Victor Emmanuel II has proclaimed creation of the uniform state which however did not include yet Rome and Venice. By 1870 Italy was already practically in modern borders, and in July, 1871 Rome became capital of the incorporated Italy.

In 1924 to authority to Italy Mussolini's which have existed till 1943 the fascist mode when dictator Benito Mussolini was казнен guerrillas has come, and allied armies have landed in Italy. In June, 1946 king of Italy has renounced a throne and has left the country. Italy has been proclaimed by republic.

Since 1944 the political life of Italy went rather roughly, to that testifies frequent (sometimes two-rub times a year) resignation of the government of the country. Italy is a member of the United Nations and all specialized agencies of this organization, NATO, EU, the OATS, the Organization of economic cooperation and development.

Italy - the typical Mediterranean country located in the central part of the Southern Europe. Its territory includes the lowland Padanskuju, the slopes of the Alpine mountain arch turned to it, peninsula Apennines, large islands of Sicily and Sardinia and numerous fine islands (Egad, Lip Arian, Poincianan, Tuscan archipelago, etc.). In the north, in a continental part, Italy borders on France, Switzerland, Austria and Yugoslavia. In the south it (through Sicilian channel) adjoins to Africa. Coast of Italy are washed by the seas: in the West - Ligurian and Tyrrhenian, in the south Ионическим, in the east Adriatic.

Position of Italy in the center of the Mediterranean pool, on a crossroads of trading ways between the West and the East, always played the important role in a life of the country. In XX century special value gets position of Italy on a way from the countries of the Near East with their rich oil deposits to industrial areas of the Foreign Europe which industry consumes Near-Eastern oil.

Economic-geographical position in the center of the Mediterranean pool long since favoured to development of communications with the countries of the Near East and Northern Africa, and also with other countries of the Southern Europe. And now it promotes economic development of Italy. Overland borders with France, Switzerland and Austria, and partly and with the former Yugoslavia pass across the Alpes. Northern Italy is in more favourable, than Southern position as has an opportunity to carry out external economic relations both on overland and on sea roads. Through Italy pass transcontinental aviation lines.

In territory of Italy there are three versions of a climate: moderated and subtropical Mediterranean. Such variety is defined by extent on a longitude.

In the north of Italy, on plain Padanskoj, a climate transitive from subtropical to moderated - hot summer (July from +22 With up to +24) and cold foggy winter (January - nearby 0).

Climate of an island part of Italy - the Mediterranean, 2/3 years there the clear blue sky, summer hot and dry (in July +26), and winter warm and soft (from +8 With up to +10 With in January). The snow drops out extremely seldom, except for mountain areas of the Alpes where it lays at heights more than 1500 m. till 200 days in a year.

In the south of peninsula from March till October dry hot winds from Sahara - "сирокко" blow. During this period the temperature raises up to +35 With.