Italian Regions

The Abruzzo region is located in central Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. It is divided into 4 provinces: Chieti, L'Aquila, Pescara and Teramo. The Abruzzo region is known as the Greenest Region of Europe because of the many protected Nature Reserves and National Parks, but also for the beautiful Italian landscapes. There are many important places of interest to be visited here as well: museums, churches, basilicas and cathedrals but Abruzzo is also home for many medieval and renaissance hill towns, which are among the most beautiful villages in all Italy.

Basilicata is a region in Southern Italy, also known as the Lucania region. It lies between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the regions of Campania, Puglia and Calabria. The Basilicata region is considered to be the "instep" of Italy, because of it's location on the map and it is divided into 2 provinces: Matera and Potenza. The coastline of the Basilicata region is known for the beauty of the ocean floor, these Italian seabeds being famous all around the world. Among the cultural attractions of the Basilicata region, worth mentioning are the “Sassi di Matera” and the statue of Cristo Redentore, one of the largest statues of Christ in Europe.

The region of Calabria, the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula, is situated in South Italy. It lies between the region of Basilicata and two seas, the Ionian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Region Calabria is divided into 5 provinces: Catanzaro, Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio di Calabria and Vibo Valentia. A warm climate, sandy beaches and rocky cliffs are what make Calabria a tourist destination all year round. There are many Italian places of interest to be visited here: Scilla, the site of the Greek mythological sea monster, Tropea, renowned for the sweet red onions, Capo Vaticano and others.

The Campania Region is situated in South Italy, being the second most populated region of all Italy. This Italian region includes the small Phlegraean Islands and the small island of Capri, all lying in the Mediterranean Sea. The Campania region is divided into 5 provinces: Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples - Campania's capital - and Salerno. Campania is famous for its culture and ancient sites, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum and Velia. This Italian region is also the birthplace of the famous pizza. The Amalfi Coast and Mount Vesuvius are also among the famous Italian tourist destinations.

The Region Emilia Romagna is situated in Northern Italy, between the River Po and the Apennines. This Italian region is one of the wealthiest and most developed regions on the European continent and it is divided into 9 provinces: Bologna, Ferrara, Forli-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini. Emilia Romagna is one of Italy's cultural and tourist centres, home for Romanesque and Renaissance cities and popular coastal resorts. This region is rich in historical monuments such as Romanesque cathedrals and Christian monuments but it's also a very popular Italian touristic destination for many who spend summer vacations in Rimini, Riccione or Cattolica.

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is an Italian region, situated in Northern Italy, surrounded by mountains and with an opening to the Adriatic sea. The Region Friuli Venezia - Giulia is divided into 4 provinces: Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine. The region offers spectacular views of the Dolomite Mountains, lakes and valleys, lagoons, sandy beaches and more. Because of the wide variety traditions here, Friuli-Venezia Giulia was names "the land of contrasts". There are many Italian historical places of interest to be found here, such as the ancient roman ruins in Aquileia or medieval castles, built centuries ago.

The Lazio region is situated in the peninsular section of Italy. The region is divided into 5 provinces: Frosinone, Latina, Rieti, Rome and Viterbo and is, of course, home for country's capital, Rome, Italy's largest city. Lazio is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea, with its sandy beaches and, even if it's mainly a flat region, there are still some small mountain areas that characterize this Italian region. There are many things visitors can do in Lazio, from visiting Natural Reserves or lakes, such as the Monte Rufeno Reserve or Lake Bolsena, to getting a glimpse of Italy's history by visiting the beautiful cities of this region.

The Liguria region, a very popular tourist destination, is situated in North-Western Italy. The region is divided into 4 provinces: Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia and Savona and it is a mix of Italian culture, entertainment, nature, adventure and more. Among the famous Italian tourist destinations, Liguria is home for the Cinque Terre, Paradise Gulf, Riviera dei Fiori and more. Popular tourist destinations also include Genoa, with its Aquarium, one of the largest in Europe, Sanremo, famous for the Italian Music Festival and the Italian Riviera, where tourists invade it every year for the amazing beaches and deep blue water.

Lombardy is a large region of Italy, a sixth of the country's population living here. The Lombardy region lies in Northern Italy and is sharing the border with Switzerland. This region is divided into 12 provinces: Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantua, Milan, Monza and Brianza, Pavia, Sondrio and Varese and is home to a wide range of beautiful landscapes, from pittoresque mountain areas to valleys, such as the Po Valley or lakes, such as lake Garda or Lake Como. Among the Italian tourist attractions, Lombardy has the Cathedral of Milan, Italy's largest Cathedral, Italian medieval castles and basilicas and more.

The region Marche, located in Central Italy, is divided into 5 provinces: Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesaro e Urbino. Marche is overall a hilly region, but the river valleys and narrow coastal area characterize the region as well. Many summer vacation resorts are visited every year by tourists, but so are the National and Regional nature reserves, oases and caves, the Frasassi Caves being quite famous in Europe. The Marche region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with many historical monuments, and also a famous Italian pilgrimage destination, because of the many Medieval Churches, Cathedrals and Sanctuaries.

The region Molise is situated in Southern Italy, between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Molise is divided into 2 provinces, Campobasso and Isernia, and it became a region only in 1970, making it the newest region of Italy. The Molise region is characterized by old traditions, good Italian food, history and art, but the main place of interest of Molise has to be the 'tratturi', the historical paths of seasonal migration of people with their livestock, the ancient tradition of transhumance. National Parks, Nature Reserves and ski resorts are also characteristic for the region of Molise.

The Piedmont region, situated in North-Western Italy, bordering both France and Switzerland, is characterized by mountains, hence the name "piedmont" which means "foot of the mountains". The region is divided into 8 provinces: Alessandria, Asti, Biella, Cuneo, Novara, Turin, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola and Vercelli and is home to the highest mountain peaks and largest glaciers in Italy. Turin, the region's capital city, houses one of the largest museums in the world, the Egyptian Museum. Piedmont is also the region where tourists come to visit the Sacred Mountains, historical towns, Italian sanctuaries, castles but also Nature Reserves, ski resorts and lakes.

The Puglia region (English: Apulia) is situated in Southern Italy, forming the 'heel' of Italy's 'boot'. The region is bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Taranto in the south. Puglia is divided into 6 provinces: Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce and Taranto. The Puglia region is characterized by Italian history, from medieval castles to borgoes surrounding small towns and by beautiful Italian landcapes. Tourists who visit the region of Puglia never miss the town of the trulli, Alberobello, or the places of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, the place where Padre Pio died in 1968.

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is also one of Italy's autonomous regions. Mainly a mountainous region, Sardinia is divided into 8 provinces: Cagliari, Carbonia-Iglesias, Nuoro, Olbia-Tempio, Oristano, Medio Campidano, Sassari and Ogliastra. Sardinia is home for some UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the nuraghe, ancient megalithic edifices, or Su Nuraxi, a nuragic archaeological site in Barumini. Many Natural parks and reserves characterize this region as well and many tourists don't miss out on the wildlife reserves, oases and natural Italian monuments, all preserved by UNESCO.

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and also one of Italy's regions. Situated in the central Mediterranean, it expands from the 'tip of Italy's boot' towards the African continent and it's separated from the main land by the Strait of Messina. The Sicilian region is divided into 9 provinces: Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Catania, Enna, Messina, Palermo, Ragusa, Siracusa and Trapani. The most important Italian lansmark of Sicily is Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe, but the island is also characterized by scattered small islands, archaeological sites, Italian natural parks and many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Trentino-Alto Adige (English: Trentino-South Tyrol) is one of Italy's regions, located in Northern Italy. It is divided into 2 provinces: Trentino and South Tyrol, each having their own capital city, Trento and Bolzano. Part of Austria-Hungary until 1919, and very poor in the past, the Trentino-Alto Adige region is now among the wealthiest in Italy. Touristic Italian attractions in this region include ski slopes, in the Dolomites, for sports lovers, but also picturesque lanscapes, such as Lake Garda, for nature lovers. There are many spa towns in Trentino-Alto Adige as well, famous in Europe for their treatments and therapies.

The Tuscany region is situated in Central Italy and it is divided into 10 provinces: Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena. Tuscany stretches from the Apennine mountains, in the East, to the Tyrrhenian Sea, to the West. The region is characterized by Italian traditions, history and culture, but also by nature, breathtaking landscapes, medieval castles and more. There are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites to be seen here, the historic centre of Florence and Siena, the square of the Cathedral of Pisa, the Val d'Orcia and the Medici Villas and Gardens are only some of them.

The Umbria region is situated in Central Italy and it is the only Italian region without a coastline. Umbria is divided into 2 provinces: Perugia and Terni and it is characterized by Italian history, traditions and artistic influence. The region is home for Central Italy's largest lake, Lake Trasimeno and for some Italian UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the town Assisi. Tourists also visit Umbria's oldest village, Gubbio, which has many Italian attractions to offer, Orvieto, with its famous Roman Catholic cathedral and Spoleto, a small Italian ancient town with thousands of years of history.

The Aosta Valley is a mountainous region of Italy, situated in the North-West of the country. It is the smallest region of Italy and is consists of only one province, Aosta. Despite the small size of the region, the Aosta Valley is home for the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe. Touristic activities for who visits the Italian region include skiing, snowboarding, trekking and ice skating, but there are many sites to visit as well, for who wants a taste of Italian history. Medieval castles, Italian monuments and imposing Cathedrals are the most famous touristic attractions of the Aosta Valley.

The Veneto region is situated in the Northeast of Italy, and it is one of the most industrialized regions of Italy. The region is divided into 7 provinces: Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso, Venice, Verona and Vicenza and it's also one of Italy's richest regions in culture, music, history and more, being the most visited region of the country. Touristic destinations in the Veneto region include Venice and its lagoon, Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, Belluno, the capital of the Dolomites and many World Heritage Sites such as the"Orto botanico di Padova", Palladian Villas and more.