About Italy:

Destination Italy, a Nations Online country profile of "Bella Italia" - beautiful Italy, how many Italians love to call their country. Italy is located in southern Europe on the Apennine Peninsula. Its distinct shape, resembling a kicking boot, makes it easy to recognize it on maps or even from space. The Adriatic Sea borders the peninsula in the east, the Sea of Sicily in the south, the Ionian Sea in the southeast, the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west; all those seas are parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The country covers an area of 301,318 km² (116,340 sq. mi.), compared, it is about 80% the size of Japan or slightly larger than the U.S. state of Arizona. Italy has a population of more than 59.6 million people (in 2020), the capital and largest city is Rome (Italian: Roma). Other major cities are Florence, Milan, Naples, and Venice. Spoken language is (only) Italian.

About Rome:

Rome, the “eternal city”, is so called because it is a place of great beauty, contrast and life. Rome is an ecletic city: the religious world centre of Catholic Church, the fabulous ruins of the centre of the Roman Empire, and modern, bustling Rome. All three seem incongruous, yet they live inside and beside each other with great ease. You will soon realise Rome was build to rule and dominate the world. Everything is on a massive scale, solid and “eternal”.

Culture of ancient Rome:

The culture of ancient Rome existed throughout the almost 1200-year history of the civilization of Ancient Rome. The term refers to the culture of the Roman Republic, later the Roman Empire, which at its peak covered an area from present-day Lowland Scotland and Morocco to the Euphrates.

Life in ancient Rome revolved around the city of Rome, its famed seven hills, and its monumental architecture such as the Colosseum, Trajan's Forum, and the Pantheon. The city also had several theaters and gymnasia, along with many taverns, baths and brothels. Throughout the territory under ancient Rome's control, residential architecture ranged from very modest houses to country villas, and in the capital city of Rome, there were imperial residences on the elegant Palatine Hill, from which the word palace is derived. The vast majority of the population lived in the city center, packed into insulae (apartment blocks).

How to Reach Italy:

Italy by Train

Italy is connected to other cities in Europe by train, and you can hop on to the Italo Rail or the EuRail which will help you reach Italy easily. Tickets for the train ride can be bought from the Eurail website.

Italy by Water

Italy has major ports in Venice and Rome and it’s a popular site for cruises. So Italy can definitely be reached by water and in fact, within Italy too, places like the Amalfi coast and Capri are often approached by water. A cruise to Italy is actually the perfect way to begin your holiday and it can get quite scenic and beautiful. Italy is one of Europe’s glorious cities and travelling here is convenient as there are many options to reach the country. Do remember to check the SOTC website for offers and deals on Italy tour packages before you book your Italy tickets.

Italy by Air

Most people prefer air travel as it’s the easiest and fastest way to reach Italy. There are international airports in all major cities such as Rome, Florence, Milan and Sicily. Within Italy too, travelling by air is convenient as the cities are connected and you can reach your destination sooner.

Italy by Road

Italy shares borders with countries such as France, Switzerland and Austria. So you can travel by road from these countries to Italy, either by hiring a private car, or share a ride with other travellers. The other option is to travel to Italy by bus from any of these border countries.

Top 10 Research Centers:

1. National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN)
2. National Research Council (CNR)
3. Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS)
4. University of Padova (UNIPD)
5. Sapienza University of Rome
6. Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)
7. University of Bologna (UNIBO)
8. University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB)
9. University of Naples Federico II (UNINA)
10. Polytechnic University of Milan