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Italy: An Overview

Introduction

For many years, Italy, to the majority of Britons buying properties there, meant just three areas: Venice and Florence, Tuscany, and the Isle of Capri. The realisation dawned finally that, from Lake Como to Marche and from Umbria to Sicily, Italy was home to some stunning properties of exceptional value, including everything from wonderful ski chalets and mega-chic city apartments to tumbledown farmhouses.

There aren’t many places in Europe where you can eat and drink better, or where you can find people who adore the idea of spending an afternoon in the shade of an old tree with a large group of friends and family, enjoying a meal that has been prepared by the whole group amid shouts of laughter and large helpings of drama.

Geography

From Liguria in the west, the Italian coastline extends down to the tip of the Calabrian boot and back up to the area called Friuli-Venezia, where it borders Slovenia. Below Italy’s southernmost tip lies Sicily, with Sardinia and Elba to its northwest.

The Italian peninsula offers something for everyone. Think of beauty and art and you’ll inevitably think of Florence, Venice and Verona. These three don’t appear to have an ugly corner between them. Head further south and you’ll leave the bustle of Turin and Milan and come into a much more Mediterranean region, where life slows down and the climate warms up. Down here, colours seem brighter and the sun hotter. Apart from Calabria, take a look at the regions of Basilicata and Puglia.

Climate and weather

Italy’s climate can best be described as Alpine in the north and hot and dry Mediterranean in the south. Interestingly, rainfall in Rome is greater than that in London. In Rome, it’s 762mm a year, compared with 610mm in London.

The mountains in the north provide an effective barrier against cold north winds, and the sea moderates the climate and keeps the overall weather relatively temperate. Sea breezes can help to keep coastal regions cooler in the summer, which is the best time for outdoor activities.

History

As far back as the 12th century, a few Italian cities became independent city states. These included Florence, Venice, Genoa, Milan and Pisa. Despite continual rivalries, the city states were a major influence on the economic and cultural development of Italy.

Between 1796 and 1814, the Italian peninsula was under the heel of Napoleon Bonaparte. By 1815, Italy consisted of two kingdoms, the Papal States and a few smaller duchies in the northern part of central Italy.

Even when the Kingdom of Italy was declared in 1861, Italian politics continued to be turbulent. Unification was achieved in 1871, and Rome was declared the capital of Italy. However, there were problems between the Vatican and the state right up to 1929.

Following the downfall of Mussolini, the king abdicated in 1946, and the country was declared a republic.

More pages

Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: Italian culture
Page 3: Natural beauty
Page 4: Public holidays

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