Background: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
April 16th 2008Europe » Italy » Lazio » Ostia Antica Let's start with Sunday.
Imagine an area starting at Nobbys car park and running along the foreshore to a line level with Darby st, turn left and go all the way up to Parkway Ave and then turn left t ... [full story]
April 9th 2008Europe » Italy » Lazio » Ostia Antica April 6, 2008
I woke up too early this morning, and not because I wasn’t tired, because I was exhausted, but 2 of the girls staying in our room were getting ready and were loud, the woman sta ... 8 photos[full story]
April 8th 2008Europe » Italy » Lazio » Ostia Antica April 3, 2008
Finally, time for ROME! After waking up at the right time, because earlier in the morning I woke up because I was so excited to leave, I got ready, packed some last minute things, ate ... [full story]
January 22nd 2008Europe » Italy » Lazio » Ostia Antica Ostia is the sight of the ruins of a town from the times of Ancient Rome. I think it was destroyed by the Roman empire as it expanded. It was amazingly beautiful and peaceful there. Ostia (not the rui ... 15 photos[full story]
Map of Italy
Italy's Flag
