Italy [antikvár]

Introduction In 1965, while orbiting the Earth high above Italy, the crew of Gemini 7 could clearly see that the country was shaped much like a boot. Defined by its position and peculiar shape, the Italian peninsula stands out as the most unusual geographical formation in Europe. Joined by Alpine mountains to the central regions of the old continent, the country reaches down to the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, almost forming a bridge between Europe and Afi-ica. By strange coincidence, and due to its pronounced elongation along a northwest-southeast axis, its extremities are equidistant in terms of both longitude and latitude. Because of its location and physical features, Italy was the "caput mundi" of Roman civilization, a land much sought after by neighboring war-mongering populations. Later it was the cradle of the Renaissance of the Western world. It was the object of a revived nationalistic spirit during the mid-19th century. After being freed from nvo decades of dictatorship, it became the protagonist of an exceptional post-war economic boom. Italy now carries the image of an industrious nation in the avant-garde in the fields of technology and tourism. The peninsula offers a variety of scenery, ranging from splendid mountains to barren, sun-drenched expanses where the only sound is the chirping of cicadas. Over and above its natural marvels, this land also offers the fascination of ancient civilizations and cultural movements that have animated it and made Italians so extraordinarily lively and varied. It is precisely this heterogeneity that makes Italy so fascinating to the foreigner. People have always identified Italy with pizza, macaroni, and the mandolin. But cross the frontier, and it is easy to forget the things usually identified with Italy. To deny these preconceived ideas, begin your itinerary at Trieste, which Umberto Saba describes as having ". . .a sullen grace. When it pleases, it is like a course, greedy youngster with blue eyes 14