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Italy

Travel Guide Italy

Pizza and pasta, art and culture or cities like Rome and Venice – apart from these classics, Italy also offers a wide range of destinations for nature outdoor lovers. Winter sports enthusiasts as well as beach dwellers can definitely fulfill their travel dreams in the south European country and enjoy the Mediterranean flair. The spectacular Dolomites, beautiful Lake Como, the picturesque Tuscany landscape and, of course, the excellent Italian cuisine should not be missed!

Our trips to Italy:

Nature Travel Italy – Apennines Hiking Tour

Highlights in Italy

Of course, all national parks in Italy are a highlight themselves. However, in the following we present particularly beautiful and unique parks.

The Dolomites in South Tyrol are one of them. Especially in winter, the park is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, but also hikers and nature lovers get their money's worth in summer. The Dolomites are particularly famous for the "Three Peaks" and the Marmolata, which at over 3300 m is the highest mountain in the Dolomites. In spring, hikers are offered a particularly varied landscape. After the snow has melted, spring blossoms begin and plants such as gentian, rhododendron, edelweiss and bellflower show their full beauty.
Abruzzo National Park, founded in 1923, is located in the heart of the Apennines. The wild nature of the Abruzzo mountain ranges is characterized by inaccessible mountainous regions, rivers, remote valleys and a diverse fauna. The unspoilt landscape offers an ideal habitat for shy and rare wild animals such as brown bear, golden eagle, wolf, lynx and otter. Those who visit the various villages of the region can learn more about the flora and fauna of Abruzzo in several museums. Those who appreciate peace, nature and unique mountain panoramas found the right spot.
The coastal area of the Cinque Terre was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is also a national park. Along the Italian Riviera, five villages form the core of the region, which is popular among hikers and day tourists. For centuries the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso were only accessible on foot or by boat. Today a train route, regular boat trips and an adventurous cul-de-sac make the journey easier. It is advisable to arrive by train or boat. The villages are still connected to each other by footpaths which lead through beautiful nature and guarantee unique views.
As a representative of the many lakes in Italy, we would like to present two special ones: Lake Como and Lake Garda. Both lakes are located in the north of Italy and are surrounded by the foothills of the Alps. Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy, covering almost 150 km². If you want to see Lake Como from above, you can go for a hike on Monte Legnone near Colico, which is the highest mountain on Lake Como at about 2600 m.

Lake Garda is the largest Italian lake with almost 370 km². In the south, it is surrounded by a hilly landscape that was formed by glacial processes. In the north, the lake is narrower and overlooked by high mountains. The deep blue water and the rugged mountain scenery offer a wonderful backdrop for hikers, water sportsmen or cyclists.
If you want to explore Italy away from the mainland, we recommend a visit to the archipelago of La Maddalena which is part of Sardinia. 62 islands form the archipelago La Maddalena off the coast of Sardinia. The archipelago impresses with its beautiful beaches and peaceful atmosphere. Here, visitors find lonely bays and can enjoy the sound of the sea off the beaten tourist track. Most islands of La Maddalena are uninhabited. Together they form the Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park, a protected area that is particularly popular among sailors.

Geography of Italy

Shaped like a boot, Italy lies on a peninsula in the south of Europe, with the tip of the boot pointing southwest. Bordering states in the north are France, Switzerland, Slovenia, Austria and the enclaves of San Marino and the Vatican City. A further border is the one with Croatia which runs in the sea.

The rest of Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. To the south is the Ionian Sea, to the west the Tyrrhenian Sea and to the northwest the Ligurian Sea. The west coast of Italy is divided into the Riviera of Liguria and the Gulf of Naples. To the east is the Adriatic Sea. The east coast is therefore also known as the Italian Adriatic coast. Inland, the largest lakes are Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, all of which are located in the northern part of Italy.

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Geomorphology/Geology

Italy's diversity is particularly evident in its geomorphology. A large part of the Alpine massif runs through the north of Italy. Here you will find, among other things, Mont Blanc on the border with France, which at 4810 m is the highest peak in Italy.

The Gran Paradios, on the other hand, is located entirely on Italian ground and is also an impressive sight at just over 4000 m. The Gran Paradios is part of the Graian Alps, which run through Italy and France. The Apennines run through Italy from north to south, forming the main watershed of the country. The massif of the Gran Sassod'Italia forms the highest part of the Apennines at almost 2900 m.

Besides the imposing peaks, some islands also belong to Italy. Sicily and Sardinia are the largest islands in terms of area. Around these two main islands there are scattered individual smaller islands, such as the archipelago of La Maddalena off Sardinia. The so-called Pontine Islands lie off the west coast of Italy. The islands of Elba, Capri and Ischia also lie here. In the Adriatic Sea there are the Tremiti and the Pelagic Islands, including Lampedusa.

Italy is also famous for Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe at almost 3300 m. The volcano is located on the island of Sicily and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. Italy lies in a seismically active zone, which means that earthquakes may frequently occur. The most violent earthquake of the 20th century occurred in 1908 with a magnitude of 7.2.

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Travel Tips and Trivia for Italy

In Italy, is easy to get from one city to another by train. The rail network is well developed, connections are frequent and prices are moderate. If you want to travel in an environmentally friendly way and relax, you should plan your journey by train.

Long-distance buses are also a good way for travellers to get to their destination. Tickets are cheaper than for a train ride, but it usually takes a little longer by bus. In mountainous regions, however, the bus is sometimes the only way to reach a particular destination, as trains do not serve all towns and villages.

A rental car is, as in most countries, the most comfortable means of travel and allows a lot of flexibility. However, a rental car is also the most expensive option and you should bear in mind when planning your trip that driving can be very stressful, especially in the larger cities, due to the local driving style and the high volume of traffic!
- 1 January: New Year
- 6 January: Epiphany
- 25 April: Liberation Day
- 1 May: Labour Day
- 2 June: Day of the Republic
- 15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
- 1 November: All Saints' Day
- 8 December: Immaculate Conception
- 25 December: Christmas
- 26 December: Saint Stephen's Day
Movable holidays: Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, commemoration day of the town's patron saint
- It is common in Italy to greet people in a friendly way – even if you don't know them. When you are introduced to people or meet new people, it is also normal to greet and say goodbye with a kiss on both cheeks.
- In churches, you should cover your shoulders and legs and not dress too revealing.
- If you are invited, you should bring a small gift for the host such as wine, flowers or biscuits.
- In Italy, not everyone is always on time. Try to be on time, though, and don't show too much resentment when others are a little late.

Climate in Italy

The climate in Italy is as varied as the country's landscapes. In the south of the country and on the Italian islands a Mediterranean climate prevails all year round. Summers are dry and it can be up to 40°C during the day. In winter, temperatures can drop to 10 C° and it is usually very humid.
In the Alpine regions, on the other hand, summers are mild and winters cold, according to the classic mountain climate.

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Flora and Fauna in Italy

Due to the different climates and landscapes that are spread over the country, the flora and fauna in the north and south are quite different. In addition, there is a lot of agriculture in Italy which has partly displaced the native flora and fauna. There are many fruit tree plantations or olive groves in the different parts of the country.

At higher altitudes in the Alps, the vegetation is mainly characterised by larch and spruce. At lower altitudes, beech is dominant and, at the foot of the Alps, the most common trees are olives, evergreen cork oaks and cypresses. On the slopes of the Apennine massif there are also holm oaks.

In the Gran Paradiso National Park, visitors can observe Alpine ibex climbing. The largest national park in Italy is Pollino National Park which is also home to the wolf. Apart from the wolf, brown bear and lynx are also resident predators in Italy, although both species are as rare in Italy as the wolf. In the Alps, bird lovers can observe griffon vultures, falcons or eagles.

In addition to these rare animal species, chamois, marmots and numerous other animal species live in the mountain regions. The island of Sardinia, on the other hand, is home to wild sheep, wild boar and other species of hoofed animals. Trout, tuna or swordfish can be found in the Mediterranean Sea.

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Social Geography of Italy

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The service sector is one of the most important economic sectors in Italy. It includes tourism, banking and communications. Especially in rural areas, tourism provides jobs and a source of income in addition to agriculture.

As Italy has few natural resources of its own, many of the raw materials needed for industry have to be imported. In addition to agricultural products, Italy also produces other products such as cars, electrical appliances, ceramics, textiles, chemicals and shoes. Most of these products are exported. Over the years, Italy has made a name for itself in the textile industry, so that certain brand names are in great demand internationally. The most important trading partner is Germany, followed by France.

Although agriculture strongly shapes the Italian landscape and produces important export goods, it represents a smaller part of the economy. Leading agricultural products are olive oil and wine made from local grapes as well as special sorts of cheese, e.g. Parmesan or mozzarella, and also citrus fruits such as oranges or lemons. Other crops include sugar beet, tomatoes, potatoes and various fruits. Farmers also breed sheep, pigs, cattle and chickens. Due to the long coast, fishing is also important in Italy.