PHYSICAL FEATURES OF ITALY

Italy consists predominantly of a large peninsula (the Italian Peninsula) with a distinctive boot shape that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, where together with its two main islands Sicily and Sardinia it creates distinct bodies of water, such as the Adriatic Sea to the north-east, the Ionian Sea to the south-east, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south-west and finally the Ligurian Sea to the north- west.

The Apennine mountains form the backbone of this peninsula, leading north-west to where they join the Alps, the mountain range that then forms an arc enclosing Italy from the north. Here is also found a large alluvial plain, the Po-Venetian plain, drained by the Po River

Po River — is Italy's biggest river with 652 km — and its many tributaries flowing down from the Alps

Mount Blanc

The famous Mount Vesuvius

Vineyards in Italy

The Apennine mountains

Venice by gondola: Venice is built on 118 small islands. These are connected by canals, or roads of water. There are no cars in the city. People travel by gondola and water taxis to get from place to place.

Climate The Italian climate is unique and can be far from the stereotype of a "land of sun.", depending on the region. The north of Italy (Turin, Milan, and Bologna) has a true continental climate, while below Florence it becomes more and more Mediterranean. The climate of the coastal areas of the Peninsula is very different from that of the interior, particularly during the winter months. The higher areas are cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions, where most of the large towns are located, have a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot and generally dry summers. The length and intensity of the summer dry season increases southwards (compare the tables for Rome, Naples, and Brindisi).