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Italy /'?t?li/&_160;(help·info) (Italian Italia), officially the Italian Republic, (Italian Repubblica Italiana), is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula, while Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland.

Italy has been the home of many European cultures, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the universities and of the movement of the Renaissance, that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Italy's capital Rome was for centuries the center of Western civilization; it also spawned the Baroque movement and seats the Catholic Church. Italy possessed a colonial empire from the second half of the nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.

Today, Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country with the 8th-highest Quality-of-life index rating in the world.^[4] It is a founding member of what is now the European Union (having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957), and a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is a member of the G8 (having the world's 7th largest nominal GDP), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Western European Union, the Central European Initiative, and a Schengen state. It has the world's 7th largest defence budget and shares NATO's nuclear weapons. On 1 January 2007, Italy began a two year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

The origin of the term Italy (It Italia), from Latin Italia,^[5] is uncertain. According to one of the more common explanations, the term was borrowed through Greek, from Oscan Víteliú, meaning "land of young cattle" (cf. Lat vitulus "calf", Umb vitlo "calf") and named for the god of cattle, Mars.^[6] The bull was a symbol of the southern Italian tribes and is often depicted goring the Roman wolf as a defiant symbol of free Italy during the Samnite Wars.

Italy Subcategories Italy Articles Italian Cuisine, Flavors of Italy, Culinary Art, Tradition and Culture by James Murray Jan 07, 2009 A Mediterranean diet and healthy Italian cuisine makes you live longer. Italy, the country known today had not officially formed until the 19th century, the Italian cuisine can claim their roots going back as far as 4th century BC. Italian c... Learn About The Alaskan Brewing Company by Jessica Santoli Jan 04, 2009 The Alaskan brewing company is the oldest operating brewery in Alaska, with their amber beer being their most popular brand. They produce two other brands as well, pale ale and Alaskan frontier amber. If you enjoy fresh amber beer, Alaskan brewing is... How About An Adriatic Sea Vacation In Italy? by Robert Bell Dec 25, 2008 Italy is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist spots in the world. But since the country is so rich in culture, history and architecture, most people do not mention Italy when it comes to beach holidays, forgetting the fact that the country als... Dreaming of an Italian Wedding by Jude Sachs Dec 16, 2008 More and more foreign people dream of a wedding "Italian style". American and Australian couples choose to make their wishes come true in the most beautiful Italian locations. Japanese and English brides don't stand still and plan to set their speci... It's party time for the guys born in the 60s by simona bonati Dec 12, 2008 Time to have fun the 6th of December at Grand Hotel Terme Astro: special night with delicious dishes and great music mixed by dj Luigi Furlotti from Radio12. Meet old friends you haven't seen for ages. Remember the moments of the past spent ... Discover Italy by Enjoying its Drinks by Silvia Zillo Dec 09, 2008 Italy is not only famous for its historic monuments, its cities full of beautiful art and architecture and its long history, but also for its excellent wines and other drinks famous worldwide. Take a trip with us down through this country to discover... Where to Find the Best Beaches in Tuscany, Italy by Robert Bell Dec 05, 2008 Tuscany is a great holiday destination and you can find many beaches to choose from. Tuscany has many sorts of coastlines that are good for relaxing, socializing, swimming, wind sailing, water skiing and coves that are wonderful for diving and under... The History of Pizza and Focaccia by James Murray Nov 30, 2008 The word Focaccia is derived from the Latin word "focus", or hearth, and is the precursor of Pizza as known today. Pizza is a derivation from flat bread that has been prepared since antiquity in different forms and garnished with various herbs, olive... Check Out the Romantic Island Getaways in the Caribbean by Ling Tong Nov 06, 2008 Planning a vacation to a Caribbean island does not have to mean sharing the beach with a crowd of tourists. There are many romantic island getaways you can choose in this part of the world so that you can relax as you please and explore the joys of r... A night at the opera: the attractions of Palermo by Isla Campbell Nov 04, 2008 In 2006, Italy was the fifth most-visited country in the world, with 41.1 million people choosing to travel to the European country. Indeed, many visitors head straight for the capital, whilst those who aren’t quite so interested in history, the...