Italy is famously shaped like a boot kicking a ball—the island of Sicily. This unique form stretches across southern Europe, bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Surrounded on three sides by the Mediterranean Sea, Italy’s location has influenced its role as a trade hub for centuries. The country’s geography offers mountains, plains, rivers, and coasts, all packed into one slim peninsula. Trivia: Italy has more than 7,500 kilometers of coastline. The northern part of Italy is dominated by the Alps, Europe’s most impressive mountain range. These towering peaks separate Italy from France, Switzerland, and Austria. They are popular for skiing, climbing, and breathtaking alpine scenery. The Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are known for their dramatic limestone cliffs. Trivia: The Italian Alps host over 800 glaciers. The Po River, Italy’s longest river, flows for more than 650 kilometers. It creates the fertile Po Valley, an area vital to Italian agriculture. This region produces rice, corn, and wheat, making it Europe’s largest rice-producing area. The valley also contains industrial powerhouses like Milan and Turin. Trivia: Over 40% of Italy’s population lives within the Po Valley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.