Italy: land of painters to popes, pasta to polenta, medieval castles to ice-capped mountains. And most importantly, the land of love. Thanks to its breathtaking landscapes (captured by pen and paintbrush by some of the world’s greatest artists), it’s developed a reputation for being one of the most romantic countries in the world.

And if you aren’t ready to fall in love with another person, you will definitely fall in love with the country itself. The history. The culture. The cuisine. The clothes. No wonder Italy is sometimes called “Il Belpaese”, meaning “beautiful country”.

Geography

Located in Southern Europe, the Republic of Italy is composed of the Po River Valley, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia (the two biggest isles in the Mediterranean), and the commune of Campione d'Italia. Within its borders are the independent countries of San Marino and the Vatican. The Principality of Monaco, Nice, Italian Switzerland, the Istrian peninsula, Corsico and Malta are also not part of the territory.

You can easily spot Italy on a map — it’s shaped like a boot (hence the local nickname, ‘lo stivale’). The north is embroidered by the snowy Alps, which it shares with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The deep blue ocean surrounds the rest of this peninsula: the Adriatic to the northeast, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Ligurian to the northwest. It shares these waters with Croatia, Slovenia and France.

While Italy is best known for the Venice canals, its major waterway is the Po River (the largest in the country) and its many tributaries. Other important geographical features are its two famous volcanoes, Vesuvius (now dormant) and Etna. Italy also has many mountains, making it ideal skiing country, but its highest point is Mont Blanc (4,810 metres or 15,781 feet high).

Climate

Italy’s diverse landscape also leads to equally diverse climates. In the north, summers are very hot and winters are very cold (especially in the alps, where the temperatures can get very harsh). The climate evens out as you head south, though the regions south of Rome can have a few weeks of extremely hot weather when the African wind Sirocco passes through.

Those who wish to visit Italy should schedule the trip during April to May (spring) and October to November (autumn), when temperatures are at their most pleasant. Avoid going there during August, which coincides with the locals’ vacation time — you’ll find many of the shops closed.

Most people will not travel to Italy specifically for medical treatment. However, if you are in the position to afford private medical care and would like to delve into the rich, ancient culture of a country, then Italy is an exciting possibility.

The Italian healthcare system ranked second in the world in a World Health Organization (WHO) report in 2000 in respect to fairness and public accessibility. Private hospitals in Italy give clients all the comforts of a five-star hotel but the treatments available are often equivalent to those offered at state-run hospitals and are considerably more expensive for non EU citizens.

Italy, being the capital of fashion, is one of Europe’s major medical destinations for cosmetic surgery, with hair transplants among the best services on offer. General treatments and surgery are also on offer throughout the country, with bigger hospitals in the main cities providing better levels of care.

Italian doctors train for a minimum of 6 years with further study necessary to specialize in a particular area, taking 3 to 4 years. Thus, doctors are highly qualified and despite their time generally being divided between state-run and private institutions, they offer patients trustworthy and professional consultations.

If after your medical treatment, discovering Italy’s historical and cultural sites should be on your itinerary if your wellness allows. Its Mediterranean climate, wholesome food and delectable range of wines can be the perfect aid in recovering from treatment.

Although medical tourism is not considered a major tourism market by the Italian government, there are a number of professional outfits providing advice and direction in finding the best medical care available in the country.

As a major seaport (and at points in its history, a major political power), Italy has been a melting pot of many cultures: Germanic, Celtic, Norman, Frankish, Byzantine.Because of the country’s diverse heritage, and the many periods of prosperity its various cities enjoyed, Italy was home to some of the world’s greatest artists, and most beautiful masterpieces of architecture, painting and sculpture.

No art student can study the development of European culture without encountering the Italian Renaissance and Baroque, or complete one’s degree without studying the works of Italian masters like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Bernini, Titian and Raphael. Its churches and villas are some of the most admired in the world, and in fact the country enjoys the distinction having the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (41 as of July 13, 2006).

Italy has also left its mark in literature, due to the work of the Florentine poet Dante Alighieri, whose Divine Comedy is said to be one the most important European works of the Medieval period. Other well known writers are Boccaccio, Giacomo Leopardi, Alessandro Manzoni, Tasso, Ludovico Ariosto, and Petrarca. In Philosophy, Italy is known for Machiavelli, Vico, and Bruno. The great literary tradition was continued by modern writers like Nobel Laureate Giosuè Carducci, Grazia Deledda, Luigi Pirandello, Salvatore Quasimodo, Eugenio Montale and Dario Fo.

Italian scientists have also been responsible for some of the biggest breakthroughs: Galileo Galilei, Fermi, Cassini, Marconi, Meucci. Leonardo Da Vinci, while better known for his art, was also an inventor.

Italy is also credited to have been the birthplace of the piano and the violin, and classical musical forms like the symphony, sonata and concerto. Some of the world’s greatest composers, like Vivaldi, Corelli, Paganini, Rossini, Verdi and Puccini were Italian, while Berio and Nono introduced the world to electronic music.

Italy is also home to some of the world’s greatest fashion houses, and Milan is counted as one of the world’s fashion capitals.

Etiquette

Italians generally are effusive in their public behavior. There is a great deal of public embracing and kissing upon greeting people. It is also polite to sit close to people and to interact by lightly touching people on the arms. Italian gazes are intense. It is felt that someone who cannot look you in the eyes is trying to hide something. Elders expect and get respect. They enter a room first. Men stand for women and youngsters for adults. Children tend to be used to run errands and help any adult, certainly any adult in the family. Gazing intently at strangers is common, and Italians expect to be looked at in public. Traditionally, younger women deferred to men in public and did not contradict them. Older women, however, joined in the general give and take of conversation without fear. Italians have little respect for lines and generally push their way to the front. There is great care given to preserving one's bella figura, dignity. Violating another's sense of self–importance is a dangerous activity.

Italy has some of the most beautiful and lively cities and tourist attractions in the world. These sites not only play host to descending tourists and curious travelers, they also shield the raw beauty of unexplored regions and unique fests from the rest of the world. With TSI Holidays outbound tourist packages, you can explore the famous with the lesser known attractions and events on your tour to Italy and its cities.

Tourist Attractions

St. Peters Basilica and St. Peter's Square, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Coliseum, Pantheon, Squares, Churches and Buildings designed by the famous renaissance and baroque artists and architects (Michelangelo and Raphael), islands and lagoons of Venice, winter sports at Veneto, the villas in Riviera, tours of the islands of Sicily and Mt. Etna, and the Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper at the convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, Milan are just some of the attractions that draw tourists to Italy still reeling under its past cultural and historical heritage.

Events

Events in Italy showcase its religious and cultural past as well as its progressive cosmopolite culture.

Carnivals

Ivrea, Viareggio, Venice, Baroque, and Putignano Carnivals and the Carnival in Acireale capture the festive spirit and eccentricities of the Italians.

Religious Fests

The nationwide Epiphany Celebrations that follow the colorful Christmas markets, Mass and feast of St. Nicholas, Holy Week celebrations are not to be missed on your tour to Italy.

Art, Culture and Seasonal Festivals

The Ravel Evening in Milan, Heineken Jamin festival of rock, the parades, processions and fireworks in Festino di Santa Rosalia, the International Urban Theater Festival in Rome, and Venice's San Rocco Music Festival for Baroque music suffice for the Italian cultural experience. Attend the spring and the autumn festivals to get a taste of the beautiful seasonal changes in Italy.

Sports Events

Boat race in Venice (Vogalonga), Rome Marathon, Milan motor racing, Giro d'Italia cycling race, golf tournaments and football matches will surely excite the spectator within you.