Capital: Rome … 60,590,000 People … 301,338 km² 
The Country
Colourful, historical, and full of amazing food, Italy is a country that has a rich culture that spans thousands of years. With 110 provinces within 20 regions, you could spend a lifetime exploring this Mediterranean country. Metropolitan cities including Rome and Milan have some of the best shopping in the world, while the Amalfi Coast and Northern Italy showcase pristine natural beauty.
Fun Facts
Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius, the three active volcanos of Europe, are all in Italy.
Italy has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
“In bocca al lupo” (translated as “into the wolf's mouth”) is the Italian way of saying “break a leg” to wish someone good luck.
My Experience
So far, I have visited Italy twice in my life. In 2015 I visited areas of southern Italy which included Rome, Cagliari, Palermo, Naples, Pompeii, and numerous towns on the Amalfi Coast. During the same trip I also visited Pisa and Florence.
In 2018, I spent 2 weeks in northern Italy which included visiting Milan, Genoa, Cannobio, Falmenta, and Venice. I also revisited Pisa and Florence (climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa again is always fun, but be careful of the slippery steps).
I have always been interested in history, and Italy is rich with historical architecture and artifacts. The colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Pompeii were all places I would highly recommend. For art, the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence (where the Statue of David resides) is close to the centre of the city and is filled with other pieces of art.
In 2015, I enjoyed an assortment of wine and pastries in a small commune in Sardinia called Maracalagonis. There was live music and performers, but trying 12 different kinds of pastries made me avoid sugar for the majority of the trip. It was not until buying lemon candies in Positano, famous for their Amalfi Lemons, that I slightly became addicted to sour treats.
When I went back to Florence for the second time, I was desperately trying to find a restaurant I went to in 2015. They had a truffle rigatoni that I had been craving again for years, but I could not remember exactly where is was in Florence. I knew it was near Santa Maria del Fiore, but after a few hours of not being able to find it, I went to a different restaurant instead… Which happened to have an even better truffle pasta dish. As someone who loves pasta, Italy was simply heaven. When visiting a friends family in Flamenta, a commune near the border of Switzerland, we walked through the narrow streets high in the Italian Alps. There we had some of the best homemade pasta I have ever had, as well as a few Aperol Spritz’s. Away from the crowds of Milan, the mountainous landscape surrounding Cannobio and Falmenta was truly peaceful.
Italy, as a whole, has always been an incredible experience. The food, wine, and people of Italy are a few of the many reasons I believe Italy is a great destination for anyone. I only encountered a language barrier in Falmenta, as it was a commune in the north with less than 150 people. I have visited in both the Spring and Fall, and the weather has always been fair. Italy has something for everyone, and I urge you to find the best truffle pasta in Florence.
Photos of Italy