Italy - Alps, Mediterranean, Islands: To the north the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Elsewhere Italy is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, in particular by the Adriatic Sea to the northeast, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest, and the Ligurian Sea to the northwest. Areas of plain, which are practically limited to the great northern triangle of the Po valley, cover only about one-fifth of the total area of the country; the remainder is roughly evenly divided between hilly and mountainous land, providing variations to the generally temperate climate. Mountain ranges higher than 2,300 feet
Authors Note: This article was originally written for ALuxuryTravelBlog.com by this author.Many luxury travelers have seen the major tourist cities in Italy such as Rome, Florence, and Venice. They have probably even visited the second-tier hot spots of Cinqueterre, the Amalfi Coast, and Sienna.An area of Italy that is difficult
The official roster of Italyâs most beautiful small towns has grown with the recent recognition of half a dozen heritage-rich communities across the country.
The monastery of Santa Maria dellâ Isola is perched on a rocky promontory above the beaches of Tropea. (Photo: iStock)
Enticing visitors to explore beyond Italyâs well-trodden destinations,
I Borghi più belli dâItalia, an association that promotes small Italian towns and villages of historical and cultural interest, has recently added six more communities to its 300-plus-strong network. For an authentic, traditional slice of the
bel paese, look no further.
The northernmost addition to the lineup is