Almost 65 million people visit Italy each year. Given that most head to Rome, Florence and Pisa, it’s still possible to find uncrowded places. Italy is filled with wonderful places to eat, wonderful scenery to visit, and many wonderful cities and towns and villages to visit. A perfect place to get great photos.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
We already knew Italy is a smokin’ hot country, but did you know Italy is a hotspot for volcanic activity? All three of Europe’s active volcanoes, including Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli.
Mount Etna is located on the island of Sicily. It last erupted in 2018, but you can see a plume of white steam rising from the peak. Mount Stromboli is currently active, although it’s located on its own island off the coast of Sicily.
Meanwhile, the notorious Mount Vesuvius is located in Naples and hasn’t erupted since 1944 when it caused major destruction. The volcano is also responsible for one of the most catastrophic eruptions in history in 79 B.C. You can still see the destruction caused by the volcano in the ancient city of Pompeii.
Mount Etna is located on the island of Sicily. It last erupted in 2018, but you can see a plume of white steam rising from the peak. Mount Stromboli is currently active, although it’s located on its own island off the coast of Sicily.
Meanwhile, the notorious Mount Vesuvius is located in Naples and hasn’t erupted since 1944 when it caused major destruction. The volcano is also responsible for one of the most catastrophic eruptions in history in 79 B.C. You can still see the destruction caused by the volcano in the ancient city of Pompeii.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
The first modern pizza, with a tomato base, was made in the Campania region of Naples in 1860. Since then, it has become one of the most beloved foods on the planet. Although the humble pizza has gone through many changes over time, the world’s most delicious pizza can still be found in Naples today. Buon Appetito!
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
The lakes of Italy are stunning, and there are over 1,500 of them scattered across the country. Surrounded by the snowy Alps and golden beaches, you can spend hours enjoying the beauty of Italy’s lakes. Sail with the stars on the famous waters of Lake Como and Lake Garda. Or explore the smaller gems like Lake Iseo and Lake Ledro.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
One of the tiniest fun facts about Italy is that there’s a whole other country inside it! Spanning just 44 hectares, the Vatican City is around one-eighth the size of New York’s Central Park. This makes it the smallest country in the world.
The mini city-state is located within Rome and packed with some of the world’s most famous monuments. Tens of thousands of visitors stream into the Vatican City each day to see historic sites like St Peter’s Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo in 1512.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
Italy is less than 200 years old; However, the capital city of Rome is ancient. The city was founded in 753 BC and has a history dating back 28 centuries. The Romans named the city after the Roman Empire, which began in 27 BC and ruled over much of Europe and North Africa until 395 AD.
The region was then divided into separate states, which didn’t unify until 1861. That’s when the Kingdom of Italy we know today was founded.
ONE LAST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT ITALY:
One of the most delicious facts about Italy is that they have the highest variety of cheeses in the world. It’s one of Italy’s greatest gifts to the world, with over 2,500 traditional cheeses. Some of the most popular include parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta, provolone and gorgonzola.
The country is the third-largest cheese producer in the European Union, behind France and Germany. If you’re a cheese fanatic, head to Lombardy where they make 77 varieties of cheese. We know where to go for our next cheese and wine night!
