LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Italy: Countries
built 646 days ago
After several defeats, Italy was invaded in May 1943. In July 1943 King Vittorio Emanuele III staged a coup d'etat against Mussolini, having him arrested. In September 1943 Italy surrendered. It was immediately invaded by Germany and for nearly two years the country was divided and became a battlefield. The Nazi-occupied part of the country, where a puppet fascist state under Mussolini was reconstituted, was the theatre of a savage civil war between freedom fighters ("partigiani") and Nazi and fascist troops. The country was liberated by a national uprising on 25 April, 1945 (the Liberazione).
Source:
Italy is governed under the constitution of 1948 as amended. The president, who is the head of state, is elected by both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; there are no term limits. The premier, who is the head of government, is appointed by the president and approved by Parliament. The Council of Ministers, head by the premier, serves as the country’s executive; it must have the confidence of parliament. The bicameral parliament consists of the 630-seat Chamber of Deputies, whose members are popularly elected, and the Senate, with 315 members elected by region, plus a few life members. All legislators serve five-year terms.
Source:
Italy's history, art, architecture, and culture have attracted travelers for several centuries. The country has harbored a refined civilization for two millenia, as demonstrated on a grand scale by the imposing ruins of Rome's imperial past, and on a more daily scale, by the excavations of private villas in Pompei. The great cities of art such as Rome, Venice, Florence, and Siena, are so laden with art, culture, and history, that they sometimes give the feeling of being museums themselves. Color and decoration is present anywhere, from the rainbow colors on the facades of the great Romanesque-Gothic churches, to the pastel multicolored palette of villagers houses. Besides being spread with many architectural treasures, the countryside ... often displays a remarkable harmony between the natural environment and the human elements, one that can be reached only by millenia of patient cultivation. The rolling countryside of Tuscany, the coastal towns and villages of the Riviera of Levante cost, those of the Amalfi coast, have each a very distinct character, but they all share a remarkable degree of preservation and scenic beauty.
Source:
Italy has been less successful in terms of developing world class multinational corporations. Instead, the country's main economic strength has been its large base of small and medium size companies. These companies typically manufacture products that are technologically moderately advanced and therefore increasingly face crushing competition from China and other emerging Asian economies. Meanwhile, a base of corporations able to compete in markets for advanced goods and services is underdeveloped or lacking entirely. It is not obvious how Italy will overcome this significant structural weakness in the short run, and Italy has therefore been referred to as the new "sick man of Europe".[14]
Source:
The pinnancle of the summer in Italy is August 15th and is called Ferragosto. This day is ... a national holiday celebrated by the Catholic Church. For tourists, Ferragosto can be a good moment to visit the big cities, unusually empty, even if some museums and services may be closed too. Local festivals (called sagre) and bigger events abound all across the country. The Italy for Visitors guide on About.com has compiled a nice list of key events happening this summer.
Source:
Italy is quite an expensive country. It has many luxury hotels and posh restaurants. It may cost €40.00 a day if a person self caters, stays in hostel, avoids drinking and doesn't visit too many museums. However, staying in a comfortable hotel, eating out regularly and visiting lots of museums and galleries, may cost a person at least €100-150 a day. Hiring a car may double expenses, so one should visit with enough budget.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Countries