The Romance of Italy

With a marvelous blend of painters, poets, architecture, culture, and history, it is no wonder why Italy is one of the favorite European destinations. It seems as though everywhere you turn, you see beautiful churches, medieval hill towns, Renaissance art, Roman ruins, canals, and a whole array of experiences only seen in Italy.

Of course, Italy also offers simpler pleasures such as dining on amazing Italian food, sipping on red wine, or shopping for magnificent Italian clothing or shoes. Italy has a total population of 57.6 million but just 3.8 million in Rome, the capital city. The first group of people to rule the peninsula was Etruscans, believed to have arrived between the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Etruscans were eventually absorbed in with the Roman Empire, leaving behind little to no cultural evidence with the exception of the odd tomb. Then, ancient Greeks established several colonies along the southern coast, becoming known as Magna Graecia, which were developed into independent city, states. With this, the Romans became expansions of both Greek and Etruscan cultures.

Around 509 BC, the first Roman Republic was founded, which started the dogma of democracy that would become the worst linguistic nightmare of Latin, along with the largest empire in existence. Several areas were taken over by the Republic, making way for further expansion into Britain, Spain, North Africa, and today’s Iraq. Soon, the empire grew incredibly large, then being divided into western and eastern sectors.

When Christianity was embraced, the empire’s capital moved from Rome to Constantinople, today’s Istanbul. However, faced with famine, plague, and tribal incursions, the empire was officially declared null in 476. At that time, a German warrior named Odovacar stated he would be the ruler. Even so, the eastern Roman Empire tried to keep going but in 1453, it was overrun by the Turks.

From that time forward, Italy was thrust into a period of Goths, often called the Dark Ages. Numerous invasions were made on the peninsula, each trying to lay claim to the lost title of empire and emperor. However, by 800, an emperor was finally crowned. By the 12th century, things began to settle down. Cities and merchant class grew in the 15th century, which brought with it an entire class of geniuses, philosophers, architects, painters, sculptors, and poets.

By the 19th century, there was a post-Napoleon shake up that pushed for unification. With this, the Kingdom of Italy was formed in 1861 although Venice remained a part of Austria until 1866. The country underwent numerous economic crises and when World War I hit, Italy struggled through, dealing with unrest until the early 1920s. Unfortunately, postwar years were rough as well and until 2000, trouble brewed with various leaders but today, we see a great country that offers tremendous opportunity and value.

Often referred to around the world as a living art gallery, Italy has more culture than any other country. From pillar ruins in the floor of the train station to a Baroque style church, you will find massive culture and history everywhere. Other points of interest in Italy include the Roman ruins, Moorish architecture, Etruscan tombs, Greek temples, and more. If you enjoy music, you will quickly discover that not only did the Italians invent the piano but they are also known for producing many musical masters such as Rossini, Puccini, and Vivaldi.

While music and art are very important to the Italian people, the food is what most people think of when they hear “Italy”. While cuisine varies from one region to another, and dishes notably vary depending on cooking style, Italian food is great no matter how you look at it. Some of the mainstays include lasagna and spaghetti Bolognese but if you want, you can also enjoy a number of more elaborate dishes. Of course, the Italian desserts are incredibly delicious such as granite and zabaglione.

As a boot-shaped country, Italy offers both mountain ranges and lowland. Although the winters are very harsh in the Alps, the summers are generally hot and in some regions humid. When you visit, be sure you plan to enjoy some of the unique activities and festivals. For example, the Festival of Snakes is held in the month of May while the Fiesta of Sant’Antonion is in June. With so many things to see and do, you could easily spend a month in Italy and never run out of adventures.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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