Italy is one of the most difficult countries in Europe to classify. On the one hand, they are highly industrialized, as evidenced by Fiat and Olivetti, which are at the forefront of their fields. They are also thoroughly modern: Italian designers are the forerunners of European fashion every year. On the other hand, it is a typically Mediterranean country. Most of Italy is occupied by agricultural areas, on which (especially in the south) almost feudal relations still prevail. In all towns and villages across the country, life stops at noon on the siesta. Family life continues to be the most important point of reference for Italians, and its rhythm is determined by the tradition and customs of the Catholic Church, which, despite the growing skepticism of the young generation, is, as you can see at first glance, continues to be the dominant factor.
Above all, however, it rarely happens, so that someone has an indifferent attitude towards Italy. Italians are spontaneous and impulsive: in one day you can simultaneously experience superiority here, shown by the inhabitants of popular towns to the masses of tourists from all over the world, and embarrassing warm hospitality. If you choose one, the most characteristic feature of this nation, it would be a desire to enjoy life to the fullest. It's easy to see why: hundreds of local celebrations take place every day (fiesta) to honor the saints or to complete the harvest, there is a cult of good food here, obsession with beautiful dressing, and above all the custom of a daily evening walk with the family (passeggiata), which is celebrated by both young and old in every town and village, as a country long and wide.
Note, that up to a year 1864 Italy was not a united state , which resulted in a significant regional diversity of the country. Italians often feel more attached to their region than to the state as a whole.. The diversity of individual regions is manifested in local culinary traditions, Dialects, standard of living, and even in the landscape. Italy's vast cultural heritage is also regionally diverse: Tuscany itself has more famous historical monuments than any country in the world. Throughout the country there are many remains from the time of the Roman Empire, although, of course, most of them are in Rome itself. Each region has numerous masterpieces of art, and the artistic tradition of Italy is widely considered the richest in the world.
Tourists not interested in art can successfully spend time on the beach, because there are a lot of them. Unlike Spain, the expansion of coastal summer resorts is controlled, and many of them are visited mainly by Italian tourists. However, there are areas of the coast, especially in the southern part of Italy, which are rarely visited by tourists. The beaches are mostly sandy, and the sea is clean everywhere except the northern part of the Adriatic coast. The mountains occupy most of the Apennine peninsula. To the north are the Alps and Dolomites, which stretch along the peninsula to the south, being an important point of reference everywhere. Skiing and other winter sports are very popular, and five national parks, where hunting — the favorite sport of Italians — is prohibited, has a rich fauna and flora.