Geographic map Italy
Country of oppositions
Take a look at the map of Italy and you will find out immediately that the country is characterized by two big mountain ranges: the Alps in the North and the Apennine mountains along most parts of the peninsula. Surrounded by four seas on three sides, the interior country is mostly hilly and only on some parts very plane. High mountain panoramas, scenic hills and miles long sandy beaches can all be found in Italy and are part of the geological variety of the country.
Volcanoe Etna
Idyllic mountain world of Italy
Despite many beaches, islands and the reputation as a bathing paradise in the Mediterranean Sea, mountains and hills characterize the map of Italy. Two big mountain ranges define the country: The powerful mountain massif of the Alps in the North and the Apennine mountain range, which is extended over two thirds of the peninsula. Both mountain ranges are the result of the approaching tectonic plates of Africa and Europe and dominate the Italian countryside for 2 million years.
In the North, Italy shares some of the highest mountains of the Alps with its neighbouring countries French and Switzerland. The Aostatal Valley with the impressive mountain massif Mont Blanc (4.897 m), Monte Rosa (4.633m) and Matterhorn (4.478m) is part of the highlights of the Italian mountain world. Not less impressive are the Dolomite Mountains in the North-East of Italy. They are a tourist magnet for active sportspersons and nature lovers both in winter and in summer.
On the other hand, the Apennine Mountains run in curves for more than 1.350 kilometres from Genoa to Calabria and therefore pass through nearly two thirds of the country. Because of its form and length, they are also often called the backbone of Italy. The highest elevation of the Apennine Mountains is the Corno Crande (2913 m) in the Abruzzi.
Map of Italy: Peninsula and Bathing Paradise
The map of Italy looks like a boot. Four different seas surround the peninsula in the Mediterranean Sea from three sides: The Adriatic Sea in the East, the Ionian Sea in the South and the Ligurian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the West. One can find a great variety of landscapes in Italy, from flat sandy beaches on Sardinia to the breathtaking rock cliffs round Amalfi. An 8000 kilometres long coast surrounds Italy, where year after year millions of seaside holidaymakers bustle around and seek to relax from everyday life.
