|BNational holiday|N: Anniversary of the Republic, June 2.
|BNature and climate|N: Comprises the Italian boot-like peninsula, the big islands Sicilia and Sardina and the smaller islands Elba, between the Italian mainland and French Corsica, the Ponziane Islands, off the Golf of Gaeta, the Lipari Islands and Ustica Island, north of Sicilia, and Linosa Island, Pelagie Island and Pantelleria Island off the Tunisian coast.
The European Alps form Italy's natural northern border to France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Highest peak, Monte Rosa, reaches 4633 m.a.s.l.
The Italian peninsula is dominated by the Apennine mountainchain, running from northwest to souteast and bends westward and continues on the island Sicilia. The highest peak of the Apennines is Monte Corno reaching 2914 m.a.s.l. There are some still active volcanoes in the Apennines, Etna on Sicilia is the most known.
Between the Alps and the Apennines are the fertile plains surrounding Po river. Extensive stockraising have devastated most of the natural forests in Italy. Vegetation is today mainly brushwood and steppe.
The fauna is destituted by man, but in inaccessible parts of the Apennines still lifve bears and wolfs. Many migratory birds stop by at the Po plains on their way between north Europe and Africa.
Average temperature in January between 2 and 5°C, with 0°C in the Alps and 10°C by the southern coasts. Average temperature in July between 20 and 25°C. Percipitation between 600 and 800 mm.
|BPeople|N: Homogeneous Italian with small minorities of Germans, French and Slovenians in the north and Albanians in the south.
