Introduction to the Landscapes and Landforms of Italy

Abstract

Italian landscapes and landforms show an outstanding variety due to long-term geological processes and climate changes. Landscape diversity in many regions of the country is also deeply connected with human presence since ancient times, cultural and political diversity as well as highly varied customs and traditions. Also for these reasons, Italy has been a privileged destination for generations of travellers, intellectuals and artists attracted by fascinating landscapes which perfectly frame architecture and art masterpieces. Nowadays Italy is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, with more than 50 million international visitors every year.

Alle bellezze ed alle ricchezze scientifiche delle Alpi, noi aggiungiamo quelle così diverse dell’Appennino; e quando avremo descritto i nostri ghiacciai, le nostre rupi e le gole delle Alpi e delle Prealpi, troveremo altri nuovi mondi da descrivere; le emanazioni gazose, le fontane ardenti, le salse e i vulcani di fango, i veri vulcani o vivi o spenti, il Vesuvio, l’Etna, poi ancora il mare e le sue isole, i climi diversi, le diverse zone di vegetazione dalla subtropicale alla glaciale, e così discorrendo, chè l’Italia è quasi (non balbetto nel dirlo) la sintesi del mondo fisico.

To the beauty and scientific richness of the Alps, we add those so diverse of the Apennines; and when we have described our glaciers, our cliffs and gorges of the Alps and Prealps, we will find other new worlds to describe; the gaseous emissions, the fiery fountains, the mud volcanoes, the true volcanoes either alive or extinguished, the Vesuvius, the Etna, and again the sea and its islands, the different climates, the different vegetation zones from subtropical to glacial, and so on, because Italy is almost (I do not mumble in saying it) the synthesis of the physical world.

Antonio Stoppani 1876

II Bel Paese (The Beautiful Country)