Italy of today is littered with the relics of more than 3,000 years of history, and an atmosphere that ranges from the Armani-wearing-scooter-driving-espresso-drinking buzz of its cities to the quiet, pastoral existence of its hillside olive farms and seaside fishing villages.From the depths of the canals in Venice, which floats on a series of islands in an Adriatic lagoon, and the bleached sands of San Remo on the Riviera, to the rocky crags of the Alps, Dolomites and Apennines, Italy has everything from beach holidays to luxury mountain ski resorts.Italy's cities reveal awe-inspiring architecture from the curved arches of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence to the crumbling magnificence of the Colosseum in Rome. Home of da Vinci, Michelangelo, Carvaggio and Botticelli, its artworks are a visual delight to all visitors.

Currency: The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, which is divided into 100 cents Land Code: +39. City/area codes are in use, e.g. 02 for Milan and 06 for Rome

Language: Italian. English is understood in the larger cities but not in the more remote parts of the country

Weather: The climate of Italy is mainly temperate, though it varies slightly according to region. The north of Italy is warm in summer, with occasional rain; the central area of the country is very humid; and the south is hot and dry. The northern cities of Milan, Turin and Venice experience cold, damp foggy winter weather, and in Tuscany the mercury drops close to freezing. Winter weather in the south of Italy is more pleasant. The recommended months for travel to Italy is during April and May (spring) or September and October (autumn), when the weather is favorable and resorts and tourist sites are less crowded.