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Stromboli Volcano in the Aeolian Islands. Mount Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for more than 2,000 years; its last serious discharge occurred in 1921. The volcano’s eruption pattern consists of summit crater explosions, with mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs, a type of tephra, at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. This pattern of emission is referred to as Strombolian eruption and is also observed at other volcanoes worldwide. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.

View of homes on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.

View of homes and hotels on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.

Closer view of some of the homes on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.

View of homes in Positano on the rugged Amalfi Coast. The city is about 18 km east of the city of Amalfi. It was a prosperous port of the Amalfi Republic during the 16th and 17th centuries. Most of the population emigrated in the 19th century, mainly to Australia. In the 1950s, the town began to become popular with artists and writers. Tourists began to arrive in the mid 1950s in large numbers. The city and area are famous for the liqueur Limoncello.

This view show the city of Positano built vertically on the face of a cliff on the rugged Amalfi Coast. In the foreground is the church Our Lady of the Assumption (Santa Maria Assunta) with its gleaming ceramic dome.

Positano is a small, picturesque town on the Amalfi coast. In the 16th and 17th centuries, at the peak of its importance, it was the main port of the Amalfi Republic, but by the first half of the 20th century, it was a poor fishing village. In the 1950s, it emerged as a tourist attraction.

View of the city of Positano on the rugged Amalfi Coast showing the church Our Lady of the Assumption in the foreground and homes built vertically on a cliff in the background.

The ceramic dome of the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano on the Amalfi Coast.

Entrance to the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano. The church was constructed as a Benedictine Monastery in the 10th century and remodeled between 1777 and 1783.

Altar inside the church Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Above the altar is a 13th century Byzantine Black Madonna and Child.

The town of Vernazza on the Italian Riviera is part of the Cinque Terre National Park (a World Heritage Site) established in 1999; which consists of five picturesque villages reached only by hiking trail, train, or ferry.

The ancient and historic city of Rome, showing the dome of the Pantheon on the left, the Monument of Victor Emanuel II in the left background, and various church domes.

The Garibaldi Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica appears in the background.

The Vittorio Emanuele Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome with Vatican City in the background. The bridge was completed in 1911.

The Vittorio Emanuele Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome with Vatican City (and St. Peter's Basilica) in the background.

The Castel Sant'Angelo along the Tiber River in Rome is also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian. The Roman emperor built it as a tomb for himself and his family around A.D. 135. Succeeding emperors were also entombed there. The structure was in turn a fortress, a castle, and a museum.

The Colosseum in Rome was first used in A.D. 80. In Roman times, it was called the Flavian Amphitheater and held 50,000 spectators. The name "Colosseum" was introduce in medieval times and referred to a giant statue of Nero that stood nearby. The outer walls have three levels of arches with columns topped by Ionic capitals at the lower level and Doric and Corinthian at the top. The 80 entrance/exit arches, known as vomitoria, allowed spectators easy access and the ability to clear the building in minutes.

The Roman Colosseum's arena was a wooden floor covered with sand, underlain with rooms and passageways for performers, sets, and animals. Spectator seating was divided into three sections: ordinary people sat in the upper level, the better off in the middle sections, and the elite in the lower level.

The Colosseum in Rome had seating for 50,000 spectators. Most of the stones used for construction of the building were taken by citizens of Rome in the Middle Ages for construction of other buildings in the city. The upper level of the Colosseum had supports for 240 masts that held up a canvas awning to shield spectators from sun and rain.

The Colosseum in Rome showing the interior with a partial reconstruction of the wooden arena floor. The rooms and passageways under the floor were used for performers, sets, and animals. The arena could be flooded to recreate sea battles.

The Colosseum in Rome showing the exterior arches that once surrounded the building. Most of the arches and much of the building were dismantled in the Middle Ages by citizens of Rome who used the stone to construct other buildings.

Ruins of a Roman building in Rome.

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) in Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Construction began in 1294 and consecration took place in 1442. Many of its 16 chapels are decorated with frescos by Giotto and his students. The basilica is the burial place of Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and other famous Italian figures.

Church towers and the dome (in the far background) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Florence.

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) spans the Arno River in Florence at its narrowest point. The current structure dates to 1345. As it has for centuries, the bridge still houses shops on either side of the roadway.

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) spans the Arno River in Florence; since Medieval times it has hosted shops and merchants along its length.

View on the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) with shops (mostly jewelry boutiques) lining the roadway and the dome of the Duomo (Cathedral) in the background.

The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), built between 1298 and 1314, is the traditional seat of the Florentine government. Its Torre d'Arnolfo (Arnolfo Tower) is 94m (308 ft) high and is a symbol of the city. The building, which stands on the Piazza della Signoria, is fronted by several famous statutes.

The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John) in front of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Florence is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its construction dates to between 1059 and 1128.

The east doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of Saint John) in Florence, referred to as "The Gates of Paradise." The gilded bronze doors took the artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti, 27 years to complete.

The facade of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flowers) in Florence. Begun in 1296, the magnificent structure was not finished until 1436. The entire cathedral complex consists of the church itself, the free-standing campanile (bell tower), and the Baptistery, which stands across the square (portion seen in upper left).

A look up at the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) in Florence. Until modern times the dome - engineered by Brunelleschi - was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. The campanile - designed by Giotto - appears on the left.

The dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of St. Mary of the Flower), also referred to as the Duomo (Cathedral), in Florence. Work on the Duomo began in 1296. The dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, was built between 1420 and 1436.

The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John) in Pisa dates to 1153. The building on the left is the Camposanto or walled cemetery. To the right is the Duomo (Cathedral) and the Campanile (Leaning Tower).

The facade of the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Assumption in the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Plaza) or - since the 20th century - the Plaza del Miracoli (Plaza of Miracles) in Pisa. The Cathedral dates from 1064.

Side view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Assumption in Cathedral Plaza in Pisa. It was built in Pisan Romanesque style by the master Rainaldo using gray marble and white stone.

The Duomo (Cathedral) and Campanile (Leaning Bell Tower) in the Cathedral Plaza in Pisa. Because of a poorly laid foundation, the leaning began almost as soon as the start of the tower's construction in 1173.

Construction began on the 55.9 (183.3 ft) high Campanile (Bell Tower) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Pisa, popularly known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on August 9, 1173. Because of an unstable subsoil and a shallow foundation, the tower began to lean five years after the start of construction. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, medieval engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other side so the tower is actually curved. There have been three attempts to keep the tower from leaning further, the third attempt in 1990 being the most successful. The process involved siphoning earth from underneath the foundations, thus decreasing the lean by 44cm (17 in) to 4.1m (13.5 ft) from the perpendicular. After the project’s completion in 2001, the tower continued to straighten, without further excavation, until May 2008, when sensors showed that the motion had finally stopped. Overall the lean decreased by 48 cm (19 in).

The famous Leaning Tower at Pisa. A statue of the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, being suckled by a she-wolf appears in the foreground.

Construction began on the 55.9 (183.3 ft) high Campanile (Bell Tower) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Pisa, popularly known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on August 9, 1173. Because of an unstable subsoil and a shallow foundation, the tower began to lean five years after the start of construction. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, medieval engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other side so the tower is actually curved. There have been three attempts to keep the tower from leaning further, the third attempt in 1990 being the most successful. The process involved siphoning earth from underneath the foundations, thus decreasing the lean by 44cm (17 in) to 4.1m (13.5 ft) from the perpendicular. After the project’s completion in 2001, the tower continued to straighten, without further excavation, until May 2008, when sensors showed that the motion had finally stopped. Overall the lean decreased by 48 cm (19 in).

Fortrezza Nuova at the harbor in Livorno, on the west coast of Tuscany. The fortress was built for the Medici family in the late 16th Century.

The main street (Via Grande) in Livorno. The city also was known in history as "Leghorn."

The Palazzo Pamphilj (also spelled Pamphili) in the Plaza Navona in Rome. The palace was built in the 17th Century for Pope Innocent X; it is now the Embassy of Brazil.

Facade of the Palazzo Pamphilj in the Piazza Navona in Rome.

Fontana del Nettuna (Fountain of Neptune) in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The fountain was constructed in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta. The statue of Neptune by Antonio della Porta was added in 1878.

View of Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) in Rome. The 240 m (787 ft) elliptical space was laid out by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1657 to 1667.

Obelisk in Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) in Rome. It is 25.3 m high and dates from 1835 BC. It was brought from Egypt by the Emperor Caligula for his circus. It was moved to Saint Peter's Square by Pope Sixtus V in 1586.

The Papal Apartment occupies the top floor of the Apostolic Palace. The two right windows facing front are the study and bedroom of the pope. Sundays at noon, the pope usually appears at the second window from the right to pray the Angelus and to bless the crowd in Saint Peter's Square.

Decorated doors leading into Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Trajan's Column, a distinctive triumphal column in Rome, commemorates Roman Emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars (A.D. 101-102, 105-106).

Fountain of a sinking boat in the Plaza di Spagna in Rome close to the Spanish Steps. The fountain is believed to be by Pietro Bernini.

The Spanish Steps in the Plaza di Spagna in Rome. The steps were built with a legacy from France in 1725 and lead to a French church, Trinita del Monti.

La Fontana del Moro (The Fountain of the Moor) at the south end of the Plaza Navona in Rome shows a Moor wrestling with a dolphin surrounded by four tritons. The fountain and tritons were executed by Giacomo della Porta in 1575. The statue of the Moor by Gian Lorenzo Bernini was added in 1653. The originals of the figures were moved to the Villa Borghese in 1871.

The obelisk presently in the Plaza Navona in Rome was created in Aswan, Egypt at the request of Emperor Domitian in the 1st century A.D. At one time it stood in the Circus Maximus. The obelisk is surrounded by the Fountain of Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651. The fountain shows four river gods representing four continents under papal authority. The gods stand for the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Platte.

The Pantheon in the Plaza della Rotonda in Rome. Its current form dates from about A.D. 126 when the Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it over Marcus Agrippa's original temple dating from 27 B.C. The temple was dedicated to the classical gods. The name comes from the Greek words pan (all) and theos (god). The Pantheon has been a Christian church since about 608.

Interior of the Pantheon in Rome. The dome was one of the most important Roman architectural achievements. It is the largest masonry vault built is a perfect semi sphere (the diameter is equal to the interior height - 43.3 m (142 ft)). Light is provided by an oculus, a 9 m (29.5 ft) opening in the dome.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome. The baroque fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732. It depicts Neptune's chariot being led by Tritons with sea horses - one wild and one docile - representing the various moods of the sea.

The mild eruptions of Italy's Stromboli volcano are so frequent and numerous that an entire style of volcanism - strombolian - is named after the volcano. Characteristics of strombolian eruptions are nearly continous lava fountaining and emissions of gas, ash, and volcanic bombs. The sight of lava spraying into the night sky has led folks to nickname Stromboli the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." This natural-color satellite image shows the island of Stromboli, the volcano's cloud-covered summit (about 924 m; 3,030 ft above sea level), and a thin volcanic plume on 13 January 2011. The current eruption has continued uninterrupted since 1932. Image courtesy of NASA.

Located on the Italian island of Sicily, Mt. Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes. In this false-color satellite image of the volcano in 2001, a plume of steam and smoke rising from the crater drifts over some of the many dark lava flows that cover its slopes. Due to summit eruptions, Mt. Etna's elevation of 3,329 m (10,922 ft) is 21 m (69 ft) lower than it was in 1981. Because of its recent activity and proximity to nearby population centers, it has been designated as a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior. For other active volcanoes in Italy, see the Natural hazards-volcanism subfield in the Geography section. Image courtesy of USGS.

A view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St. Mary of Health) in Venice, a church constructed as a votive offering for the city's deliverance from a particularly devastating plague in 1630. Construction began in 1631 but was not completed until five decades later, in 1681.

Looking down on St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice from the campanile (bell tower).

One of the four gilded lunettes on the facade of St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice.

A view of the Cathedral of St. Mark's in Venice showing some of the saints adorning its roof, and a peek at its bell tower.

View of St. Mark's Square in Venice showing the famous Greek horses and the astronomical clock. The bronze horses were originally installed at the Hippodrome in Constantinople and so date back to at least the 4th century. In 1254 they came to Venice where they remained until 1797 when they were brought to Paris by Napoleon. In 1815 they were returned to Venice. The originals are now in St. Mark's Museum. The original astronomical clock was built between 1496-99. It has been renovated many times, most recently in 1996.

The gondolas of Venice, Italy, have been city icons since they first were introduced in the 11th century. A gondola is a flat-bottomed rowing boat, perfect for navigating the canals of Venice and is made of 280 handmade pieces using eight types of wood (lime, oak, mahogany, walnut, cherry, fir, larch, and elm). The ornament on the front of the boat, the “fèrro” (Italian for iron), is brass, stainless steel, or aluminum and is a counterweight for the gondolier, who stands near the stern. The boats measure 11 m long (36 ft) and 1.6 m (5.2 ft) wide and weigh 350 kg (770 lbs). The gondolier propels the boat with a rowing oar that also acts a rudder. For centuries, approximately 10,000 gondolas plied Venetian waters. Today, approximately 400 gondolas are in use, primarily for tourists.

A view of San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice showing the Benedictine monastery established in 982 and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore (St. George the Great) designed by Palladio, which was begun in 1566 and completed in 1610.

San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice viewed from St. Mark's campanile.

A view of San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice across the sparkling waters of the lagoon with gondolas in the foreground.

The Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore (St. George the Great) on the eponymous island in Venice.

A gondola winds its way through a Venice canal.

The Rialto Bridge was one of the first bridges to span the Grand Canal in Venice allowing residents to access the Rialto Market. The structure was originally constructed of wood, but after it collapsed twice under the weight of residents watching boat races, it was replaced by a stone bridge in 1591.

The Grand Canal, one of the major water-traffic corridors in Venice, as seen from the Rialto Bridge.

Colorfully painted houses on the island of Burano in Venice.

Moored boats along a quiet Venetian canal.

Gondola on a Venetian canal approaching the Bridge of Sighs.

The Bridge of Sighs over one of many canals in Venice was built in 1602 and connects the old prisons with the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The name was applied by Lord Byron.

Carnivale is a yearly holiday that starts two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). It has been banned at certain times in Venice's history, but after 1979 it became a growing tourist attraction. Many of the masks worn at Carnavale are considered works of art.

The Alps march across this image of Autumnal (early October) southern Europe. On either side of and above the Alps are the countries of (from left to right) France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, while below the Alps is Italy. The Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas sit to the west of Italy, while to the right is the Adriatic Sea. As the season progresses, snow begins to whiten the Alps. Image courtesy of NASA.

The brightly lit metropolitan areas of Torino (Italy), Lyon, and Marseille (both in France) stand out amidst numerous smaller urban areas in this dramatic photo from the international space station. The image captures the nighttime appearance of the France-Italy border. The southwestern end of the Alps Mountains separates the two countries. The island of Corsica is visible in the Ligurian Sea to the south (image top). The full moon reflects brightly on the water surface and also illuminates the tops of low patchy clouds over the border (center). Image courtesy of NASA.

The village of San Pietro (Saint Peter) is at the entrance of Val Gardena (Gardena Valley) in the Dolomites.

The residents of Ortisei, a town in the Val Gardena, speak Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language. Their economy is based on tourism.

Val Gardena is one of the top ski locales in Italy.

Cross-country skiing in Val Gardena. During the summer, tourists enjoy hiking in the area.

The building of Castle Tyrol began in the 11th century; further construction took place during the following two centuries. The fortress was the residence of the Counts of Tyrol until 1363 when the Hapsburgs took possession. It is now home to the South Tyrol Museum of History, and is also known for its castle chapel frescoes and two distinctive Romanesque portals.

View of the town of Meran from Castle Tyrol. The town is renowned for its spa resorts.

A view of Tyrol Castle and its surrounding rugged mountains.

A scenic view of the town of Meran nestled in the mountains.

Malcesine is an old medieval town on the eastern shore of Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake.

Castello Scaligero, which has 13th century fortifications and an even older medieval tower, was home to the della Scala family who ruled the region in the 13th century. An Etruscan tomb has been found in the castle walls.

The Church of Sts. Philip and James in Cortina was completed in 1775; its tower was built between 1851 and 1858.

Val Gardena in the Dolomites is one of five valleys in northern Italy with a majority of Ladin speakers. Nestled in the valley are three towns: Ortisei, the main settlement; Selva, the best known ski resort; and Santa Cristina, which lies between the other two towns.

The Dolomites around Cortina are part of the Italian-speaking center of the Alps.

Street scene in Ortesei, the main town in the ski resort of Val Gardena in the Dolomites. In the center of the photo is St. Anthony's Chapel, built in 1673 on the main square.

Mountain scene in the Dolomites near Val Gardena.

Looking out over the Dolomites.

Italian cattle in the Dolomites.

A foal and mare in the Dolomites.

Sunset in the Dolomites.

A view of a vineyard in Tuscany.

A farmhouse at a winery in Siena.

A grapevine at a vineyard in the town of San Giovanni.

Dawn in Assisi reveals the dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels).

This southerly-looking view taken from onboard the space shuttle, shows the triangular-shaped island of Sicily. With only very limited coastal plains, the island's topography consists of rugged hills and low mountains. Snow-capped Mt. Etna is visible near the northeast point of the island. Some other distinctive features in this image are the lighter-colored zone of suspended sediment in the water along the southern coast, in the middle distance, the smaller islands of Malta, and off to the south, across the Mediterranean, the north African shore. Image courtesy of NASA.

The Strait of Messina separates Sicily (left-west) from the mainland of Italy (right-east) and also provides a water passage, connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea. The landscape on both sides of the strait is characterized by rugged mountainous terrain, short-flowing rivers, and clustered urban areas along the narrow coastline. The concentration of lighter colored areas along the shoreline identifies the location of Messina (Sicily) and Reggio di Calabria (Italy). Image courtesy of NASA.

With a name that ironically translates into “I burn” from the Greek Aitne, Mount Etna in Sicily is Europe’s most-active volcano (erupting for 500,00 years) and one of the largest volcanoes in the world. Its fiery lava flows have created fertile soils that support extensive agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain. At 3,357 m (11,014 ft), Mount Etna is the tallest Mediterranean island mountain and, in 2013, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site.

A Sicilian windmill.

The Santuario di Cristo Re (Sanctuary of Christ the King) in Messina, Sicily was built in 1937 after previous constructions on the same site were destroyed by two earthquakes. The edifice has a commanding view of the city and the port.

The Greek Theater at Taormina on the east coast of Sicily.

The city of Naxos in Sicily lies at the foot of Mount Etna. The resort city of Taormina is 7 km (4.5 mi) in the distance.

Closer view of the city of Naxos in Sicily on the slopes of Mount Etna.

View of the town of Savoca in northeast Sicily.

The Church of Saint Nicholas in Savoca in northeast Sicily. The wedding scene in the movie "The Godfather" was filmed in front of this church.

View of the town of Savoca from the Church of Saint Nicholas.

Street scene in Savoca with an Arab watch tower in the background.

Arab watch tower outside the town of Savoca in Sicily.

The Church of Saint Francis (or Saint Catherine) in Forza d'Agro, Sicily where scenes from the Godfather Trilogy were filmed. Built in the 15th century by Franciscan friars, the church faces the town hall square; it was restored in 1991.

Steps leading to the Church of the Holy Trinity and to the Convento Agostiniano (Augustinian Convent) in Forza d'Agro in Sicily. The arch is named the Porta Durazzo.

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Forza d'Agro, Sicily is also referred to as Saint Augustine's Church, because of the adjacent Augustinian Convent (Convento Agostiniano). The church was built in the 15th century and restored in 1576; the convent was constructed between 1559 and 1591.

The Colosseum ruins from the outside in Rome. Despite its run-down state, the building remains an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world.

A view of the upper portions of the Roman Colosseum showing many of its arches.

Close-up of some of the arches of the Roman Colosseum.

The Colosseum in Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, could seat 50,000 (some estimates go as high as 80,000). Begun in A.D. 72 and completed in A.D. 80, it accommodated gladiatorial contests, games, and spectacles. This is a view of its ruins from the inside.

A nighttime view of the Roman Colosseum.

A close-up of the Pantheon in Rome.

Part of the inscription on the facade of the Pantheon in Rome naming Marcus Agrippa as the builder. The structure was dedicated in 27 B.C. as a temple to all the gods.

The main altar of the Pantheon in Rome. Originally constructed in 27 B.C., the Pantheon was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 126; it became a Roman Catholic church in the 7th century. The tombs of Raphael, two Italian kings, and various other notables are located in the Pantheon. It is considered one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings. Its dome, 43.3 m (142 ft) wide and constructed of unreinforced concrete, sets it apart from other structures of the time.

A view of the Forum in Rome.

The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as seen through the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome. The Arch was constructed in A.D. 203.

The Arch of Septimius Severus, located in the Roman Forum, is a triumphal arch built by the Emperor Septimius Severus to commemorate his victory over the Parthian Empire. Completed in A.D. 203, the monument is almost 21 meters high, over 23 meters wide, and faced with white marble. Four reliefs show scenes of the war against the Parthians.

Evening at the Forum in Rome. Note the Colosseum in the distance.

A nighttime view of Trajan's Market in Rome. Now a complex of ruins, it was built in A.D. 100-110. Its upper floor was filled by offices; a road divided it from the lower floor, which held shops.

Piazza della Republica (Plaza of the Republic) looking down Via Nazionale in Rome. The Fountain of the Naiads was construced in 1901.

The Piazza Navona in Rome is surrounded by Baroque Era buildings and has been used for markets, theatrical shows, and horse races. Its Fountain of the Four Rivers was sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651.

The Altare della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) honors the first King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II. Designed by Giuseppe Sacconi, the monument was built between 1895 and 1911 and contains a museum dedicated to the history of the unification of Italy, as well as a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with an eternal flame and guarded by two soldiers.

One of the alegorical statues at the foot of the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II) in Rome. Victor Emmanuel was the first king of a unified Italy, ruling from 1861-1878.

A view of Canopus, a sanctuary to the god Serapis, located in Tivoli at the Villa of Emperor Hadrian (also known as Villa Adriana). The villa complex was created as a retreat for the emperor.

Another view of Canopus, sanctuary of the god Serapis, at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli.

Statue of St. Benedict at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Rome. Benedict established his first monastery here in about 529; it became the source for the Benedictine Order.

The Salentino Peninsula (bottom of image), also known as "the heel of Italy," is the elongated promontory that juts southeasterly from the larger Italian Peninsula. This peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the northeast (bottom of image) and the Gulf of Taranto to the southwest (center of image). The peninsula consists of gently rolling hills and coastal plains, thereby promoting an agrarian economy. The numerous, light-colored spots seen throughout the peninsula show the location of small agricultural towns and villages. Photo courtesy of NASA.

The "boot" of Italy is visible running diagonally southward from the horizon across the center of the frame, with the night lights of Rome and Naples being visible on the coast near the center. Sardinia and Corsica are just above left center of the photo, and Sicily is at lower left. The Adriatic Sea is on the other side of Italy, and beyond it to the east and north can be seen parts of several other European nations. Image courtesy of NASA.

Rich in antiquities and picturesque landscapes, the island provinces of Corsica, France, (top) and Sardinia, Italy, (bottom) have captured the imaginations of historians and poets alike for centuries. Corsica, crowned with snow-capped mountains, jeweled with shimmering lakes, and cloaked in misty emerald forests, is situated in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of mainland France. The island has almost 1,700 hills and mountains, and is carved by an extensive network of rivers. Across the Strait of Bonifacio to the south is Sardinia, the Mediterranean's second largest island. Stretching across the central, eastern part of Sardinia is the rugged terrain of Gennargentu - mountainous, thickly vegetated, and mostly uninhabited. The port city of Cagliari sits on the large bay on Sardinia's southern coast. Photo courtesy of NASA.

For more than 240 million years the region now known as Italy has been the scene of episodic volcanic activity. East-southeast of Napoli (Naples) stands the imposing cone of Vesuvius, which erupted explosively in A.D. 79 to bury Pompeii and Herculaneum. The Appenine ranges extend from northern Italy, down the boot of the peninsula and westward into Sicily. This photograph shows the Appenino Napoletano part of the mountain chain. Image courtesy of NASA.

Steam venting inside the crater on Mount Vesuvius.

View inside the caldera of Mount Vesuvius.

Inside the caldera on Mount Vesuvius.

Countryside view from the top of Mount Vesuvius.

A view of the Bay of Naples from Sorrento.

Christmas decorations in Piazza Tasso, Sorrento.

The Farnese Bull at the Archeological Museum in Naples.

A view of some of the ruins at Pompeii, buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and not rediscovered until the 18th century.

The forum at Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the background.

Floor mosaic in Pompeii, the Roman town buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Pompeii is a short distance from the Gulf of Naples and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Part of a Roman home buried in Pompeii by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. The ancient tragedy proved a boon for historians and archaeologists, since it provided a snapshot of Roman life from the 1st century.

A view of some of the remarkably well-preserved buildings in Herculaneum.

Ancient Roman mosaic in the House of Neptune and Amphitrite in Herculaneum.

A mosaic of Neptune and Amphitrite in the eponymous house in Herculaneum.

Columns at the House of Argos in Herculaneum.

The interior of a Roman bath house in Herculaneum.

Funerary altar and statue of Marcus Nonium Balbus in Herculaneum.

House of the Skeleton in Herculaneum.

A thermopolium (hot food shop) in Herculaneum.

A fresco at the College of Augustales in Herculaneum.

The First Greek Temple of Hera at Paestum in southern Italy. Paestum was a major ancient Greek city on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Magna Graecia (southern Italy). The ruins of Paestum are famous for their well-preserved ancient Greek temples - including two dedicated to Hera - dating from about 550 to 450 B.C.

The Second Greek Temple of Hera at Paestum in southern Italy dates to circa 450 B.C.

The Greek Temple of Athena at Paestum in southern Italy dates to circa 500 B.C.

Another view of the Greek Temple of Athena at Paestum, which dates to circa 500 B.C.

La Scala (Teatro Alla Scala), one of the most famous theaters in the world, is known as the "Temple of Opera." Located in Milan, the theater was built in 1778 on the former site of the Church of Santa Maria alla Scala from which it draws its name. Besides its reputation for opera, La Scala is also a leading theater for ballet and has an associate school offering professional training in music, dance, stagecraft, and stage management.

In 1872, this monument honoring Leonardo da Vinci was erected in the Piazza della Scala in front of the La Scala Theater in Milan. Designed and sculpted by Pietro Magni, the statue depicts da Vinci on a pedestal along with statues of four of his favorite students at his feet. The bas relief on the pedestal pays tribute to Leonardo’s mastery of painting, architecture, sculpture, and engineering.

This statue of Galileo Galilei, "the father of observational astronomy, modern physics, the scientific method, and modern science," is one of 28 statues found in the niches in front of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The statues honor famous people in the arts, politics, science, and religion. Among his discoveries were the confirmation of the phases of Venus, the discovery of the moons of Jupiter (later named the Galilean moons in his honor), his observation of the Milky Way, and his observation and analysis of sunspots, all done using a telescope of his design and construction.

View of the east side of the Piazza de Ferrari, the main square of Genoa. The huge plaza is renowned for its beautiful fountain, behind which is the Palace of the New Stock Exchange. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.

Stromboli Volcano in the Aeolian Islands. Mount Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for more than 2,000 years; its last serious discharge occurred in 1921. The volcano’s eruption pattern consists of summit crater explosions, with mild to moderate eruptions of incandescent volcanic bombs, a type of tephra, at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. This pattern of emission is referred to as Strombolian eruption and is also observed at other volcanoes worldwide. Photo courtesy of NOAA / Michael Theberge.