Geography

The geographical feature that most distinguishes Italy is its boot-shaped peninsula that cuts out into the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has over 2,000 kilometers of coastline thanks to its advantageous location, which promotes maritime trade. Italy is part of the South Europe region, which is part of Europe’s megaregion (Larner, 2024). The country has a variety of landscapes, including mountains, valleys, and charming beaches. It is bordered by Switzerland, France, Austria, and Slovenia, among other countries. Italy is located in a temperate region of the world. Italy is a part of the “Group of Seven” also consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States (Lecture 1 Retail Management, Dr. Adomaitis). The G7 represents the seven most developed countries in the world that all follow similar retailing practices. Italy is also home to two of Europe’s largest active volcanoes, Mount Etna and Mount Vesuvius, which contribute to the country’s varied geography (Miller, 2023).

Figure 1: Map of Italy