Europe's kinky over-the-knee boot has it all: popes, painters, polenta, paramours, poets, political puerility and potentates. Its three millennia of history, culture and cuisine seduce just about everyone. In Italy you can visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance art, stay in tiny medieval hill towns, go skiing in the Alps, explore the canals of Venice and see more beautiful churches than you imagined could exist in one country. Naturally you can also indulge in the more elementary pleasures of enjoying good food and wine, improving your wardrobe and seeking out la dolce vita.

Full name : Italian Republic
Capital : Rome (pop 3.6 million)
Area : 301,340 sq km
Population : 58 million
People : Italian
Language : standard Italian and numerous dialects, German, French, Slovene
Religion : 85% Roman Catholic, 5% Jewish and Protestant
Government : Republic
President : Giorgio Napolitano
Prime Minister : Romano Prodi

GDP : US$1.66 trillion
GDP per head : US$28,700
Growth rate : 1.6%
Inflation rate : 2%
Major industries : tourism, engineering, textiles, chemicals, food processing, motor vehicles, clothing & footwear
Trading partners : EU (esp. Germany, France, UK, Spain, Netherlands), USA
EU member : yes
Euro-zone member : yes