Travel Guides

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Because the quality of life achievable in Australia is considered to be the best in the world, Australia’s immigration department is inundated with applications for residency visas every year. This article looks at the appeal of Australia and the immigration options available to anyone wishing to start a new life down under.

Australia,immigration,emigration,Sydney,living abroad,travel,down under,work abroad,quality of life,visa

According to the 2005 IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook, Australia is the best place in the world to live! That’s probably why so many people dream of starting a new life down under and apply for immigration to the Australian authorities annually.

The desirability of Australia stems from so many factors ?it is a country where the quality of life achievable is very high, the employment prospects are plentiful, the education available is world class and the health care facilities are very good ?but to achieve permanent residence status in Australia can be very tricky because the amount of competition for the limited number of visas granted each year is intense.

Those who are serious about starting a new life down under in Australia have a number of ways they can apply for residency.

Those who have a specific skill set that is in demand in Australia can apply for immigration for their entire family via the Skilled Visa Program. Ironically, despite the fact that demand for visas to live, study and work in Australia is so intense, in 2004 not enough people applied for immigration under this particular scheme!

Those who are initially put off at the thought of having to prove their background experience in a given profession and demonstrate their skills should actually take confidence in the fact that if they genuinely DO have the skills they say they do and their profession appears on the Skilled Program list of in-demand skills, they stand an excellent chance of acceptance if they just apply yourself to the immigration process associated with this visa type.

People who find the thought of having to fill in a million forms and attend lots of interviews to be accepted for immigration frightening need to prepare themselves, because whichever program you apply under you will be subjected to a series of interviews, you will have to fill in a plethora of paperwork but the end result, if you’re granted a visa, will be so well worth it.

Cities like Sydney and Melbourne in Australia are some of the most exciting, interesting and fun cities in the whole world. The lifestyle is laid back and informal and yet the cities are sophisticated and chic. If you’re serious about wanting to start a new life in Australia, taking a trip to Sydney or Melbourne or Brisbane, Perth or Cairns will only make your desire even more intense. Australia is a country blessed with fine weather, fun people and of course a stunning and diverse natural landscape.

If you already have family living in Australia you could apply for a visa to reside in Australia permanently via the Partner, Child, Parent or Other Family Migration schemes. Other alternatives are available for those who already have a business they wish to relocate to Australia or those who intend to establish a business down under and employ local people. Refugees have a special visa type they can apply for and the final option available to anyone with plenty of money is to invest a fixed sum into a bank in Australia for a given period of time.

Whichever method suits your personal circumstances best, make sure you do everything within your power to make your dream of a new life down under come true. Seeing as Australia has been voted the best place in the world to live, demand for residency is only likely to intensify as we all move to Australia to get the best quality of life possible!

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Mention Austria and everyone thinks of Vienna and Salzburg. In addition to great names, Zell am See, Innsbruck and Bad Gastein are great locations off the beaten path.

austria, innsbruck, bad gastein, olympics, zell am see, austria skiing, off the beaten path

Mention Austria and everyone thinks of Vienna and Salzburg. In addition to great names, Zell am See, Innsbruck and Bad Gastein are great locations off the beaten path.

Zell am See

Zell…am…See. The name just rolls off the tongue, but it pails in comparison to the place. Often described as heaven on earth, Zell am See is a dream location in the mountains of Austria. With towering mountains on one side and a lake on the other, the town looks like something out of a postcard. If you pull up photographs of the town, you’ll swear they have been touched up with a software program. This town is simply that beautiful. In the winter, Zell am See is all about skiing with numerous resorts for glacier skiing. In the summer, one can lounge on a boat on the lake or hit the mountains for hiking, camping and rock climbing. The Krimml Waterfalls are extremely impressive. Zell am See isn’t the cheapest of travel destinations, but it should top the list if money isn’t a concern. The best month to go is December when skiing is good and winter festivals occur in the town.

Innsbruck

Built on the Inn River, Innsbruck was the home to the 1976 Winter Olympics. And for good reason. As with much of Austria, the town is picturesquely set against mountains and ripe with street cafes and surrounding areas that look like something out of the movie Heidi. As the Olympic designation would suggest, the town is a good launching point for hitting the slopes, but there is much more to it. The historic district has the cobblestone atmosphere you’ve come to expect from town in the Alps. In addition to atmosphere, you can visit historic locations such as the tomb of Emperor Maximilian 1.

My only gripe with Innsbruck is the boring, modern developments around the core of the town that were brought on by the Olympics. They sort of kill the mood, which brings us to Bad Gastein.

Bad Gastein

Bad Gastein definitely gets a nomination for name of the year. It just sounds like a town where bikers would hang out. Admittedly, it is hard to image Austrian Hells Angels, but you get my drift.

Bad Gastein is an old Austrian village without the droll modern fixtures of Innsbruck. Built overlooking a valley, the town has some incredible views. Historically, Bad Gastein is the spa town of Austria with emperors and other VIPs taking in treatment. For atmosphere, the town feels like it hasn’t changed since the 19th century. If you’re looking for old world Austria, this is the place. Make sure to hurry though as the town is supposedly grabbing the attention of developers who are thinking hotels and casinos are a must.

If you visit Austria, Vienna and Salzburg are definite destinations. Just make sure you get out to the incredible towns in the mountains.

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This article discusses the new gondola being built at Breckenridge Ski Resort.

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After twenty years of wishful thinking, Breckenridge will finally move forward and build the Gondola in Spring of 2006. This project should be completed by Christmas of 2006. The Breckenridge Gondola will fit up to 8 people and will load right in the free skier parking lots. The path of the Gondola will travel through the Shock Hill neighborhood and on to both Peak 7 and Peak 8 base areas.

The Gondola Project is part of a much larger plan that started last year when they built the Imperial Express ski lift and extended a skiing trail directly to the free skier parking lots. Next on the list will be an expansion of the Peak 7 base area to include a restaurant and other facilities.

The town of Breckenridge also plans on diverting traffic off of Main St. with a hope to preserve the old town main street look and feel. There is a lot going on in Breckenridge right now and next year at this time, you will see a complete transformation.

The new Breckenridge Gondola will have a capacity of 3,000 riders per hour, 143 cabins, 7,843 ft. in length, 25 towers, 2 mid stations at Shock Hill and Peak 7 base area, 7.5 minute ride from the transit center to Peak 8 terminal.

We can’t wait to see you out here!
Enjoy your ski vacation in Breckenridge, CO.

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Afghanistan is a country located in Central Asia. Afghanistan is often considered to be part of the Middle East due to its location on the Iranian plateau. In the west it is borders Iran, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north. Afghans a population is ranked 38th in the world, just shy of 30 million. The capital city is Kabul with an estimated 1.5 million people.

A breif look at Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a country located in Central Asia. Afghanistan is often considered to be part of the Middle East due to its location on the Iranian plateau. In the west it is borders Iran, Pakistan in the south and east, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north. Afghans a population is ranked 38th in the world, just shy of 30 million. The capital city is Kabul with an estimated 1.5 million people.

In its long history, Afghanistan has gone through a number of name changes. According to Afghan scholars, one of the first ancient names, was Ariana (“Land of the Aryan”). This name was shared with eastern contemporary Iran. In the 19th centurey the British gave the country the name Afghanistan. When the Taliban fell in 2003, after the invasion of the U.S., Afghanistan was officially renamed to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. After the fall of the Taliban an Islamic Republic Government was established with Hamid Karzai as the leader.

The Economy in Afghanistan is highly dependent on farming and livestock raising. This has made Afghanistan an extremely poor country. Due to the recent political and military unrest the economy in Afghanistan has suffered greatly. The majority Afghans continues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, medical care, and other problems exacerbated by military operations and political uncertainties. None of these things are helping the rising problem of inflation.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the following caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

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Poland has a unique history in Europe, often pulled between Russian and Western interests. It you are planning a trip to Poland, here is some background information your should know.

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Poland has a unique history in Europe, often pulled between Russian and Western interests. It you are planning a trip to Poland, here is some background information your should know.

An Overview of Poland for Travelers

The official name of the country is the Republic of Poland. It covers an area of roughly 120,000 square miles, about the same size as the State of New Mexico in the United States. The capital of the country is Warsaw, which is also the biggest city by population with nearly 1.7 million residents calling it home. Other cities of significance include Lodz with a population of just fewer than 800,000, Krakow with 760,000 residents and Gdansk with 460,000 people. The terrain of Poland is primarily flat although mountains can be found in the region along the southern border of the country.

Citizens of the Republic of Poland are known as Polish. The most recent census found there 36.8 million people living in the country, though some are undocumented aliens. The annual growth rate for the population is stagnant, neither growing nor declining sufficiently to be considered to be changing from a statistical point of view. Unlike many European countries, Poland is primarily populated by its own people with Polish people making up 98 percent of the ethnicity. A smattering of German, Ukrainian, Belorussian and Lithuanian people also live in the country.

Poland is a predominantly uniform religious country. Over 90 percent of Poles subscribe to the Roman Catholic faith. Followers of Eastern Orthodox, Uniate, Protestant and Judaism can also be found.

The literacy rate in Poland is over 98 percent, on par with rates throughout much of Europe. The official language is Polish, which is also the dominant language actually used by the citizens of Poland. Life expectancy for Polish men is 70 years of age, while women life an extra nine years on average, a marked difference.

Poland is often overshadowed by Hungary and Czech as a travel destination in the former bloc countries of the Soviet Union. This gives you an opportunity to experience it before the fast food joints of the west start taking over the quaint country.

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Is Venice the most romantic city in the world? It’s certainly hard to beat, especially when you’re staying right in the centre of things.

Where is it?

Venice is a city built on water – just off the north east coast of Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea – and is famed for its canal network, opulent palazzos and beautiful religious buildings and art. It has an airport on the mainland but from there, you need to take a water bus to reach the city.

Where can I stay?

The b…

Is Venice the most romantic city in the world? It’s certainly hard to beat, especially when you’re staying right in the centre of things.

Where is it?

Venice is a city built on water – just off the north east coast of Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea – and is famed for its canal network, opulent palazzos and beautiful religious buildings and art. It has an airport on the mainland but from there, you need to take a water bus to reach the city.

Where can I stay?

The best way to experience Venice is in a cool, quiet and sophisticated hotel. These small but beautifully designed hotels offer you respite from the tourist throng and the sort of service you would expect from much more expensive locations. Try Ca?Pisani, a small palazzo that has been sympathetically renovated and decorated to provide a haven of tranquillity, or the Ca Maria Adele, an eclectic boutique hotel in one of Venice’s most exclusive quarters.

What can I see?

For a relatively small city, there’s a lot to pack into a short visit. The central area of St. Mark’s Square with the Doge’s Palace and the Campanile is a great place to hang out and soak up the atmosphere, although bars and cafes here can be expensive. Instead, visit the churches, galleries and restaurants that are slightly off the beaten track, where atmosphere and tradition are still rich. If you have time, visit the nearby islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, all historically and culturally worth a visit.

How do I get around?

One of the beauties of Venice is that it has no road network. Most tourists use the waterbus (Vaporetto) system, which is regular and fairly cheap. Those who are looking for romantic Venice can hire a gondola at a greater cost. By far the best way to explore the city, however, is on foot. This way, you can reach the parts of the city that most waterbuses don’t travel to and discover architectural and shopping delights along the way.

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Branson is known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World and boasts 49 live performance theaters performing 120 shows a day. With a reputation built on love of God and Country, this all-American town of just over 6,000 dazzles tourists each year with its brand of music, humor and down home appeal.

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Branson is known as the Live Entertainment Capital of the World and boasts 49 live performance theaters performing 120 shows a day. With a reputation built on love of God and Country, this all-American town of just over 6,000 dazzles tourists each year with its brand of music, humor and down home appeal.

The citys performers are known world wide for their talent and appeal, but also have a reputation for family dynasties. Performers like Shoji Tabuchi, the violinist, and Utahs Lowe Family bring a whole other dimension to keeping it in the family.

Branson Theater Links

Visitors typically spend 3-4 days in town, sometimes seeing as many as eight shows during their trip. Since there is no airport in town, many elect to drive in and get around on the motorcoach. Having that isolation has done nothing to hurt the success of the city, though. In fact, many choose to include day trips to Springfield and other nearby destinations in their trip, which helps the surrounding communities economies as well.

Heres an overview of what Branson has to offer, giving you an idea of how it came to be the Live Entertainment Capital of the World!

Branson History

With a history of failed or shortly lived industries like lead mining and mussel shell collection for the button industry, the people of southwestern Missouri struggled to make a living. Families barely survived, leaving them vulnerable to manipulation and outlaws.

During the Civil War, the area surrounding Branson was considered a no-mans-land. Lacking law and any men to enforce it, women and families were terrorized and attacked by bushwhackers, men who would rape the women and then pillage the house for food, supplies and valuables. In 1865, what is generally considered to be the very first street shootout occurred in nearby Springfield, when Wild Bill Hickock killed a man named David Tutt in a quarrel over a watch.

After the chaos of the 19th century, the city of Branson was founded in 1903. In 1907, Shepherd of the Hills was written, the immensely popular novel depicting life in the Ozark Mountains. The book, like the Da Vinci Code of today, spawned a generation of people to visit the Ozark Mountains and the actual farm where the novel was written.

In 1959, the first run of the Shepherd of the Hills play was performed in the Old Mill Theater on the farm. The farm has since come under ownership of one of the plays former actors, Gary Snadon, who vowed to keep the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead and Outdoor Theater true to the novel and the time.

Population

6050 permanent residents (2000 U.S. Census)

Weather

Average highs per season: Spring: 59o-85o Summer: 82o-90o Fall: 47o-82o Winter: 44o-59o

Indian Summer lasts well into October, leaving plenty of warm weather for those wanting an escape from the shortening days and ever chillier wind.

Precipitation (monthly average): 3.59 inches

Like many Midwestern cities, precipitation in Branson is slightly higher in the spring and in November, with an average of 4.25.

This article is sponsored by: www.leisuregrouptravel.com , www.grouptravelblog.com , www.grouptraveldirectory.com

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Six Flags Marine World is known as not just an amusement park, but also an animal park. The park offers a wide variety of roller coasters as well as some more traditional amusement rides. When visitors are done with the rides they can then enjoy animal exhibits as well as shows that feature the parks animals. Six Flags Marine World is in a league of its own, partially because there is great care and attention paid to ensure this, but also because there is simply nothing to co…

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Six Flags Marine World is known as not just an amusement park, but also an animal park. The park offers a wide variety of roller coasters as well as some more traditional amusement rides. When visitors are done with the rides they can then enjoy animal exhibits as well as shows that feature the parks animals. Six Flags Marine World is in a league of its own, partially because there is great care and attention paid to ensure this, but also because there is simply nothing to compare the theme park to. Marine World is in the business of entertaining, providing a fun environment, and putting together a little bit of everything that people love to see.

Marine World began as a nonprofit animal park in Redwood City, California in 1968. In 1985 the park relocated about 55 miles away to Vallejo, California and thought the move necessitated a name change to Marine World Africa USA. The old location became known as Redwood Shores. In 1996 after losing money and poor profits since it’s move in 1985, Six Flags purchased the park at which time the park attendance grew. Six Flags added some theme park attractions that were not related to animals such as the roller coasters to draw in bigger crowds. Over the first few years Six Flags Inc. added several major roller coasters, putting the park more in like with the Six Flags line of parks and so the parks name was then changed to Six Flags Marine World. Premier, now known as Six Flags owned the park for several years before adding the Six Flags name to the park name.

The park has not abandoned its animal roots. The park continues to add animals, exhibits, and improve existing exhibits to make the park more attractive and visitor friendly. It’s true that the park has become not just an animal park, but also an amusement park. Six Flags added huge roller coasters such as Medusa, Vertical Velocity, and Roar. The park is a haven for the Looney Tunes characters that entertain old and young alike. Medusa draws in many customers because it is the parks biggest ride and is the only floorless roller coaster in the regional area. Medusa is also notable because the first drop is 150 feet and the ride lasts over four minutes. The newest ride is known as the V2 and has been responsible for bringing in a lot of traffic to the park, as well. The Roar roller coaster is popular because it is the only wooden roller coaster in the park. With all of the additions of great exhibits, awesome rides, and a one of kind atmosphere the Marine World theme park brings in major revenue to the city of Vallejo. Not only is the park popular in and around Vallejo, the park is a competitor with the other big amusement park in the area, which is San Francisco Bay’s Paramount Great American that is located in Santa Clara.

The park has been a huge success because it is one of a kind. No other park has been able to combine animals and amusement rides the way that Marine World has been able to. The great thing about the park is that it truly offers something for everyone. Even if members of the family do not like roller coasters, they can enjoy other amusement park rides and the animal exhibits some family fun attractions are the White Water Safari, Monkey Business, and Wave Jumper. Marine World also features many live shows and special events that will have the old and young alike excited and entertained for their entire visit. The park is considered the only one of its kind in the United States, offering more rides and attractions than any other theme park in California and perhaps even in the United States!

Not only does the park offer one of a kind experiences, it also offers great prices for families to enjoy themselves without breaking the bank. When you purchase your tickets online you can get a one-day admission for $39.99, when you buy a kid online pass you’ll pay just $29.99, otherwise general admission is $49.99 for adults and $29.99 for children 48 inches and under. While these aren’t admission prices that you would want to pay if you were going to visit every day, they are well worth the price of family entertainment every now and again.

If you’ll be traveling to the area to visit Six Flags Marine World, you’ll also want to think about where you will stay during your trip to Vallejo. There are many affordable options right nearby so that you will not have to worry about finding your way to the theme park or your hotel after a long day of fun and entertainment. Whether you’re old or young or have a little of both in your group you’ll find your lodging options in and around Vallejo comfortable and affordable. Some great lodging choices may be:

The Holiday Inn Napa Valley Gateway
1000 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, California 94589
(800) 533-5733
(707) 644-1200

Best Western
1596 Fairgrounds Dr.
Vallejo, California 94589
(877) 544-9655

Quality Inn
44 Admiral Callaghan Lane
Vallejo, California 94591
(866) 643-1061
(707) 643-1061

Hilton Concord
1970 Diamond Boulevard
Concord, California 94520
(925) 827-2000

A trip to Six Flags Marine World will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family. If you live around the area you’ll definitely make time to visit the park every year to visit your favorite attractions and see if there is anything new to entertain and delight you. Even if you don’t live in the area you’ll find yourself wanting to return again and again because you just can’t find this type of theme park anywhere else in the world. If you love roller coasters and classic amusement park rides and you also have a love of animals big and small, you’ll find that the Six Flags Marine World is your favorite theme park to visit.

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A New England Christmas is glistening snow on village homes with blazing fires?a holiday train ride with cookies and Santa?and a trip to Boston for an exciting Christmas show. Here are six popular attractions to take this Christmas in New England.

new england christmas, holiday season

What image does a New England Christmas conjure up in your mind?

A Currier and Ives scenes of a snow-bound village with festive decorations?skating on a frozen pond?or taking in an exciting holiday show in Boston? And if you have kids?no Christmas is complete without a ride on the Polar Express ?New England style.

Here’s where you can experience six holiday magic events this season?

BRIGHT NIGHTS AT FOREST PARK

Billed as New England’s single most popular holiday destination, “Bright Nights at Forest Park?is entering its ninth season. Located in the Forest Park area of downtown Springfield, Western Massachusetts, it’s a wonderland of marvelous displays such as this year?lost in time display where eight mammoth dinosaurs come to light along side an exploding volcano with flowing lava.

Entrance fee is $12 per car and the show begins on November 23, 2005 at 6:00pm and operates through January 1, 2006.

CHRISTMAS AT THE NEWPORT MANSIONS

Each holiday season the Newport Mansions of The Elms, The Breakers, and Marble House put on a stunning show of spectacular evergreens, trees, thousands of poinsettia plants, fresh flowers and wreaths. The great entrances and hallways display magnificently decorated trees. The dining tables are set with period silver and china, and mannequins are dressed in authentic costumes.

You can see this stunning display of seasonal decorations at these Newport Mansions yourself November 12 through to January 1, 2006.

NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS AT OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE

Between December 1, 2005 and January 1, 2005 Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts will be transformed so you can experience a 19th century New England Christmas.

Old Sturbridge Village has always been one of my favorite places to visit and discover about life in 19th century New England. Now with the holiday season upon us, the village once again displays its ability to provide a discovery experience in a fun and entertaining way, and with a New England Christmas flavor.

THE BOSTON CHRISTMAS SEASON

Whether you delight in taking in the seasonal favorite of Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker?or soaking up “glad tidings of joy?at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops Holiday Series, Boston knows how to celebrate the season with special shows and concerts. And of course there’s always the Candlelight Carol Concerts at Trinity Church in the Back Bay area, and the famous “First Night?celebration.

The Boston Pops kicks off on Friday, December 9th at 8:00pm and continues through to their annual New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31st at 10:15pm. The Boston Ballet performs “The Nutcracker?at The Opera House, and the season starts on November 25th with performances through December 30th.

POLAR EXPRESS ?CONNECTICUT STYLE

The North Pole Express is a popular nighttime steam train ride with live readings of Christmas stories, hot chocolate and cookies, sing-along, and holiday surprises. Special guest Santa Claus has a treat for all children, and you’re guaranteed lots of fun and lots of extras.

Essex Steam Train’s North Pole Express operates Fridays through Sundays December 2 through December 23, with special early trips on November 25-27. Tickets are sold at the Essex Train Station in Essex, Connecticut – call (860) 767-0103 or toll free 800 377-3987.

NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS TIME AT SANTA’S VILLAGE

Way up north is the village of Santa. You can visit him in the summer, and you can visit him in the fall, but the best to time visit him is?Christmastime! Santa’s Village is located in Jefferson, New Hampshire – a spot deep in the White Mountains. Santa is preparing for his world tour on Christmas Eve, but you can take a peek for a brief time if you hurry.

The village opens for the Christmas season on Friday November 25th from 11:00am to 7:00pm. Then every Saturday from November 26th through December 17th from 11:00am to 7:00pm, and every Sunday from November 27th through December 18th from 11:00am to 6:00pm.

Make your New England Christmas magical this year by experiencing one or more of these attractions. It is after all the season to create unforgettable memories.

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Rome, the Winter Olympics, Wine, Ferrari, beautiful beaches ?Italy has it all. If you are considering traveling to Italy, here are some things you should know.

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Rome, the Winter Olympics, Wine, Ferrari, beautiful beaches ?Italy has it all. If you are considering traveling to Italy, here are some things you should know.

An Overview of Italy for Travelers

From a European perspective, there is little doubt that Italy is the foundation of modern society in the West. This is conclusion is primarily due to two facts, the reign of the Romans and the Roman Catholic Church.

In more modern times, 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 the European Economic Community. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared to the prosperous north.

If you are going to Italy, here are some basic things you need to know.

1. Northern Italy is wealthy while the south is not.

2. Italy is slightly larger than the state of Arizona.

3. Italy’s climate is predominantly Mediterranean with Alpine in far north and hot, dry areas in the south.

4. Vatican City in Rome is considered an independent country.

5. You cannot get into any area of the Vatican wearing shorts.

6. Rome had the first paved streets in the world in 170 B.C. Vehicles had to be banned because of traffic jams!

7. Roman gladiators were the first athletes to endorse products.

8. Considered one of the oddest Emperors, Caligula appointed his horse to a senate position among other more infamous actions.

9. Roman statutes were very utilitarian. The heads could be removed and replaced to reflect the changes in political climate.

10. When the Roman army lost a battle, they really took it hard. Commanders would kill every tenth soldier under their command. This act is the root of the word “decimate.?
11. Surprising to many is the fact there were significant time periods where ancient Rome had no Emperor. The senate would rule. In times of threat, the senate would elect a person as Emperor. He had absolute power, giving rise to the term dictator.

12. Vast percentages of Romans died from lead poisoning. They used is as a sweetener!

13. In the early 1900′s, Prince Piero Ginori Conti invented the geothermal pump. He is considered the father of modern geothermal power.

14. 20 Italians have won the Nobel Prize.

15. Michelangelo’s real name is Michelangelo Buonarroti.

16. The population of Italy as of 2005 was 58,103,033 people.

17. The flag of Italy was inspired by the French flag brought in 1797 by Napoleon.

18. Lehman Brothers owns seven percent of Ferrari.

19. Italy trails only Brazil in World Cup wins.

Italy is an amazing country with colorful, animated people. From ancient culture to a bustling modern country, a trip to Italy is hard to beat.