Rome

301,230 km²
(7.2x the Netherlands)

UTC +1

Italian, German, French, Slovenian

Mont Blanc de Courmayeur - 4,765 m
(2nd summit Mont Blanc mountains)

The first time a green, white, and red flag was used was by the Cispadane Republic in 1796. The Cispadane Republic in northern Italy was founded in 1796 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Green, white and red are traditional Milanese colors. Red and white come from the Milanese coat of arms which is a red cross on a white background. Green was the color of the uniform of the Milanese civic guard.

The euro was introduced simultaneously in 12 European countries, as well as in Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City on 1 January 2002. This was the largest monetary exchange operation of all time. On the front of the note is a gate or window and a bridge on the back. These are all fictional. The euro replaces the Lire, introduced in 1861, which was known as the least valuable currency in Western Europe.

Vesuvius is a stratovolcano just south of Naples. It has a diameter of 8 km and is 1,281 meters high. Vesuvius is located in the caldera of an older volcano, Monte Somma. This caldera formed approximately 18,300 years ago when the cone of Monte Somma collapsed. The most famous eruption of Vesuvius is that of August 79. The top of the volcano exploded and the Roman sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Stabiae and Oplontis were completely buried under ash and pumice stone. An eruption in 1631 was almost as heavy as in 79. 1944 saw the last eruption. When you want to walk aroud the cone you need to hire a guide.

Pompeï is located about 10 km south from Mount Vesuvius. It was founded at the river Sarno some 500 meters from the sea and had a harbor. Due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius it was 2 km further from the sea. Pompeï was probably founded in the 7th century BC when the Oscans settled here. In the 6th century BC, the town was under Etruscan influence. In the years 91-89 BC it participated in a war against Rome. Together with Stabiae and Herculaneum they were defeated by the Roman dictator Sulla, who annexed the city in 80 BC, making it a Roman colony with the official name Colonia Veneria Cornelia Pompeianorum. In 62 Pompeï was destroyed by an earthquake. On August 24, 79, the fatal eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered Pompeï with a four meter thick layer of ash and pumice stone. Pompeï was rediscovered during the construction of the Sarno Canal in 1594-1600. The first excavations started in 1860 under the leadership of the archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli.

The island of Capri was once the residence of Emperor Tiberius (Villa Jovis). The ruins of his villa can only be visited during the morning until 1 pm. A walk along the coast via Tragara along the rocks of Faraglione and Arco Naturale is highly recommended. Afterwards you can go to the Arco Naturale and have a drink on a terrace with beautiful views.

Located on the south side of the Sorrento Peninsula, the Amalfi coast is part of the coast of the province of Campania. It runs from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the East. It is considered one of the most beautiful coastlines of the world. It is known as hiking area and birthplace of the Limoncello liqueur. During hiking you will find lemons everywhere on the mountainsides. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coast takes its name from the town of Amalfi. Best way to get around is by bus (SITA). The road along the south of the peninsula is very narrow. Parking is hardly available.

The village of Amalfi is at the base of a ravine at the foot of the 1,315 meter-high Mount Cerreto. It was founded as a trading post in 339. Between 839 and 1137, it was the capital of the Republic of Amalfi. During the reign of Duke Manso (966-1004) it had a population of 70,000. In 1137 it was defeated by rival Pisa. After a tsunami, following an earthquake on November 25, 1343, the harbor and the lower city disappeared into the sea. When you are in the village it is difficult to imagine that the village with a population of 5400 inhabitants once hosted 70,000 inhabitants.

The beautiful Positano was a port of the Republic of Amalfi and reached its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries. Until 1950 it was a relatively poor fishing village. After that it flourished as a tourist destination. It is one of the most beautiful places on the Amalfi Coast.

Il Sentiero degli Dei, the path of the gods, is the best known hiking route of the area. The 12 km long path leads over an average altitude of 500 meters from the church square in Agerola to Nocelle. Halfway a memorial stone has been placed in honor of the namesake of the route, Giustino Fortunato. The hike takes about 3 hours.