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Italy’s Continent: What You Need to Know

There is only one right answer to the question what continent is Italy in and that is Europe.

You might also be asking yourself if is Italy in Europe or Asia and the correct answer is Europe, not Asia.

This magnificent country is located in southern Europe and is considered to be part of Western Europe.

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It comprises the boot shape peninsula that extends from the southern side of the Alps, down to the large plain of the Po river to some of the most beautiful islands of Europe, Sardinia and Sicily.

 

 

The south-central Europe peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, but it also has borders with Austria, France, Switzerland and Slovenia.

Inside the Italian territory, there are 2 of the smallest states in the world, one located in Rome, the Vatican city-state and the other one located in the northeastern part of the Apennine Mountain and is known as San Marino.

What continent is Italy in and general information

As I said earlier, Italy is located in Europe, but it shares the boundary with the Eurasian plate, while some of the Italian islands are really close to the countries in North Africa.

More than that, the Italian peninsula has been a member of the European Union since the middle of the 20th century, Italy being one of the countries that founded the European Union.

It is also a member of the United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, G-20, G-7 and other important international organisations.

Besides the boot shape peninsula that is occupied by this magnificent country, there is also an areal enclave in Switzerland called Campione and a maritime exclave in Tunisian waters, called Lampedusa that belongs to the Italian peninsula.

 

 

The country covers a surface of 301.000 square kilometres making it the 10th largest country in Europe with a total population of more than 60 million people.

Spread along with the country there are 14 volcanoes out of which 4 are still active: Etna, Stromboli, Campi Flegrei and Vesuvius.

The largest city in the country is Rome, which is also the capital followed by Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna, Florence, Bari and Catania.

These are the new essentials you have to pack for your trip

This central European country hosts more than 45 Unesco World Heritage Sites and this, together with its beautiful cities and incredible landscapes make Italy one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

A brief history of the country

Now that you know what continent is Italy in, let’s find some useful information about the history of this country.

Between the 6th to 3rd centuries BC, the Italian city of Rome conquered the Italian peninsula and spread in the Mediterranean and Western Europe.

The Roman Empire played a major role in European history as maps show, leaving deep marks in European society, European culture and even political organisation.

By the 5th century, the empire fell apart and Italy was now the target of several invasions.

 

 

Another important period from Italian history was the renaissance and the Kingdom of Italy from the 8th century to the 19th century.

During the Renaissance emerged the powerful city-states of Florence, Venice and Genoa, places considered to be the birthplace of a new current in art.

During these times, Italian territory was split into smaller states and most of them were under foreign domination.

By the 19th century, the unification and independence movements became stronger especially after the moment when Napoleon created the Kingdom of Italy that extends on almost the same territory occupied by Italy today.

The Kingdom of Italy was subverted when the fascist dictator Mussolini took over power.

Modern Italy has been a democratic republic since 1948 with a new and modern constitution adopted by all Italians.

Conclusion

I hope this article managed to answer all your questions if is Italy in Europe or Asia or what continent is Italy in.

I must tell you that Italy is one of my favourite places in Europe and each time I visit it I discover new things about it and many amazing attractions.

No matter if you are a ski lover, a beach lover or a city break fan, Italy has something to offer to everybody.

You definitely have to go and see with your own eyes the beautiful Alps and the mountain regions from northern Italy.

 

Lago di Coldai Italy Lake

Lago di Coldai Italian Lake

 

Trentino Alto Adige is one of my favourites with its picturesque mountain villages hidden between the rocky mountains.

The highest peaks from the Alps are not located in Italy but in France (Mont Blanc) but the Dolomites are totally unique and cannot be compared with the Austrian Alps from South Tyrol for example, or with any other mountains in Europe.

And the beautiful and sunny island of Sicily with its volcanic landscape and beautiful beaches with turquoise waters.

Logistical tips and tricks for your trip

Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.

You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.

Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.

When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.

Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.

We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.

Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.

We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.

Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.

We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.

Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.

Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.