Italy

Italy

Italy, a country in south-central Europe, occupies a peninsula that juts deep into the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital Rome is one of the oldest of the world's great cities and a favorite. The 20th century saw the transformation of Italy from a highly traditional, agricultural society to a progressive, industrialized state. Although the country was politically unified in 1861, regional identity remains strong, and the nation has developed unevenly as a cultural entity.