History
Learn about the history of each of the regions of Italy.
Culture
Italy IS la dolce vita, bathed in culture and we provide an insight.
Environment
An overview to the Italian Environment.
Getting Around
Getting there, getting around and making it fun.
Liguria - Places to Visit - Cinque Terre Marine Park
Terraces in the sea - The sea and land of the Cinque Terre together, form a unique and suggestive landscape: mountains, that reach 815 meters, descend suddenly towards the sea, their heights range from 500 to 2,500 meters. So that the terraces downgrade till underwater, reaching remarkable depths.
Along the enchanting coast cliffs and precipices alternate on the sea, bays, small beaches and ravines between the rocks, caves.
Sea beds, that downgrade rapidly, are rocky near the coastline and sandy and pebbled at their major depth. The presence of animal and vegetable creatures in the stretch of sea, that goes from the area of Punto Mesco to that of Punto Montenegro, is particularly rich and varied and influenced by the types of bottoms and depths.
The rocky walls, as well as the numerous banks and isolated sea rocks, are populated by different, very colored yellow, red, dark claret red, orange, pink "gorgonie", till the white of the "Eunicella verucosa", a white gorgonia rare in the Mediterranean, but widespread in the Atlantic Ocean.
Along the coast the oceanic "Posidonia" is also present, a plant due to its dense distribution forms "prairies". The steep rocky sea bottoms of Punto Mesco and Capo Montenegro are also rich, even at low depths, in coral formations, including very rare black coral.
Punta Mesco and Capo Montenegro, that represent the sea areas of major value and variety and where one encounters the rare white "gorgonia" and very rare black coral, are subjected to major protection (zone A and zone B).
But there is another presence that makes the sea of the Cinque Terre even more unique: whales.
It's no coincidence that this stretch of sea is inserted in the Sanctuary of the Cetaceo, an international protected area of upcoming institution.
These are only some of the environmental characteristics that have motivated the foundation of a protected marine area of the Cinque Terre, to preserve the biodiversity and habitats, regulating the usage and activities that are carried out there.
Without penalizing the local population, from the protection of a marine area so particularly important and beautiful, on the contrary they can profit from the new job opportunities and well-being.
A careful and correct evaluation of the places and resources allow in fact the promotion of riches, products and unrepeatable emotions and they offer that particular quality of Mediterranean life unique in the world, patrimony of today's generation and those of the future.
Italy By Region
Italy is divided into 20 regions each with its own unique flavors.
Places to Visit
Overview of the most popular destinations in Italy
Food and Wines
Each of the Regions offers specialist foods and wines, read about them here
Tourism and things to do
Italy - the living art gallery is full of wonderful things to discover, Explore the Tourism aspects of each regions.
Events
Whats on where and when. An over view of the Italy calender.
Population and Economy
Information about people and business including market sectors and production.