The Alps: The highest and the most fascinating mountains in Europe, the Alps separate Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Almost all of the sunny southern slopes are in Italian territory. The highest peaks include Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, the Cervino and the Gran Paradiso. These giants are all found in the Valle d'Aosta, which is not only unique, but perhaps the most beautiful in the whole Alpine range. It is a magic realm for the tourist with mountain climbing, holiday and winter sports centres. Among the most famous of which are Cervinia and Courmayeur. The Valle d'Aosta is rich in magnificent natural scenery, monuments and castles.
The Dolomites: To the east between the valleys of the Adige and Piave rivers lie the Dolomites - the most fantastic and spectacular mountains of the entire alpine range. A happy combination of factors has made the whole region - Trentino, Alto Adige, an immense park of natural beauty. And although it's the northernmost zone of Italy, it is one of the most favoured for its constant good weather and the frequency of its warm and sunny days. As a consequence, the fame of the Dolomites is worldwide. Around such centres of international renown such as Merano, Madonna di Campiglio, Canazei, Ortisei and Cortina d'Ampezzo have sprung up a host of smaller summer holiday and winter sports centres, health resorts and spas. These resorts can be found in the valleys, on the gentle uplands and beside the famous Alpine Lakes. Thanks to up-to-date transport facilities, cable cars and chair lifts, tourists can reach the highest and most celebrated viewpoints with ease.
The Apennines: "The backbone of Italy" runs the full length of the peninsula, from the hills of Cadibona (near Savona) down into Calabria. The Apennines reach their highest point in the Gran Sasso (9,558 feet) which, along with the Maiella (9,151 feet), forms a magnificent winter sports area. Variously named from north to south - the Apennines in Emilia and Tuscany, the Apuan Alps north of Lucca, the Lattari Mountains between the Gulf of Naples and Salerno, the Matese Mountains also in Campania, the Sila in Calabria and Aspromonte, the southern tip of the Apennines. The mountains of Sicily and Sardinia repeat the natural beauties of the Alps and the Apennines, Etna, an active volcano on Sicily's eastern coast and snow-capped most of the year, epitomises the incomparable contrast of nature, which is the miracle of Italy.
