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.
July 15th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Resia Pass First update from the almost 1000 meters of Landeck, in the Tyrolean Alps. A day of rest where, apart from ensuring a minimum of maintenance to Rocinante, I'm in full immersion in the art of eating: b ... 7 photos[full story]
July 4th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Trento Venice! SO COOL! Did you know that Venice is made up of 117 islands? It makes sense, doesn't it, that a city famous for its nurmerous canals that those canals carve up the land into islands? But I ... [full story]
July 3rd 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Trento Hi!! Just a quick note to let you know we are safe in Dro! It was really awkward at first, haha, the first people we met interrogated Ian and Dillon a little bit, haha they had to prove they were fami ... [full story]
June 19th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Trento PHOTOS TO COME
Another early start and an efficient pack-up, and we’re soon en route to the campsite in Ca’Vio. Verona is also not a possibility for a stop, as it’s too far for ... [full story]
February 14th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano
Verona is a beautiful, small Italian city in the Veneto region and is known as "piccolo Roma" (little Rome) due the Roman Arena - a small version of Rome's Colosseo. The lovely old town centre is bu ... 50 photos[full story]
January 19th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano This morning dawned way too early again, but with ski departure of nine thirty planned (for the others, not me, don’t get your hopes up!), we needed an early start. First, we enjoyed a leisurel ... 13 photos[full story]
January 18th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano Despite a decided lack of sleep (only two hours - thank you jet lag!), I was ready to go and determined to ski when I got up this morning. We had a lovely, quiet breakfast at La Bercia, and then rush ... 19 photos[full story]
January 17th 2008Europe » Italy » Trentino-Alto Adige » Bolzano Alors, je suis arrivée, finalement! I know, I know, I’m not traveling to any French-speaking countries on this trip, but I’m practicing for my upcoming French class. And the arrival of o ... 5 photos[full story]
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