Travel to Italy

It is one of the only countries in Europe that has active volcanoes within it. In total, there are three active volcanoes within Italy's borders. They are Mt. Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius. The latter famously erupted in 79 A.D., flattening the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

Residing in the Mediterranean climate, Italy has a warm climate during the Summer months, with typically cool and wet winters. However, due to its altitude and latitude, some Northern parts of Italy experience much colder temperatures than its Southern counterparts throughout the Winter.

The official language of Italy is Italian, which is spoken throughout the vast majority of the country. However, there are also 34 minority languages that are also spoken, including German, Sardinian, Slovene and Albanian.

Italy's culinary delights are admired the world over. From widely shared dishes like pizza and pasta, to cappuccino and focaccia bread, virtually every part of the world has adopted something off of the traditional Italian menu. The national dish of Italy is Ragu all Bolognese, which is noodles with a bolognese sauce, along with meat.

In truth, there are so many amazing facts about Italy's history that they could make up its own list. The country itself was united into one state in 1861, with the current Republic of Italy only being established in 1946. However, dating back centuries, Italy has seen the Romans and key elements of the Renaissance spring from its lands. More recently, both World Wars saw parts of Italy be fought over.