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'''Italy''' is a country in [[Europe]], and was the center of the [[Roman Empire]] until its collapse.  Italian cities led the [[Renaissance]], with world-class artists such as [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Donatello]], [[Michelangelo]], [[Titian]], [[Tintoretto]], [[Caravaggio]], and [[Giotto]]. Major cities today include [[Rome]], [[Milan]], [[Naples]] (Napoli), [[Turin]] (Torino), [[Palermo]], [[Genoa]] (Genova), [[Bologna]], [[Florence]] (Firenze) and [[Venice]] (Venezia).<ref>The [[Vatican City]], the governmental center of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], lies entirely within the boundaries of the capital city, Rome. The equally tiny sovereign state of [[San Marino]] is also entirely within Italy.</ref>  

'''Italy''' is a country in [[Europe]], and was the center of the [[Roman Empire]] until its collapse.  Italian cities led the [[Renaissance]], with world-class artists such as [[Leonardo da Vinci]], [[Donatello]], [[Michelangelo]], [[Titian]], [[Tintoretto]], [[Caravaggio]], and [[Giotto]]. Major cities today include [[Rome]], [[Milan]], [[Naples]] (Napoli), [[Turin]] (Torino), [[Palermo]], [[Genoa]] (Genova), [[Bologna]], [[Florence]] (Firenze) and [[Venice]] (Venezia).<ref>The [[Vatican City]], the governmental center of the [[Roman Catholic Church]], lies entirely within the boundaries of the capital city, Rome. The equally tiny sovereign state of [[San Marino]] is also entirely within Italy.</ref>  

Italy relies on [[socialized medicine]] and "is known for its enormous morbidity in respiratory problems, more than three times any other European country."<ref>https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-lockdown-lunacy-1001322696</ref>  In 2020, Italy had a far higher mortality from the [[coronavirus]] known as [[COVID-19]] than any country other than [[Spain]].

Italy relies on [[socialized medicine]] and "is known for its enormous morbidity in respiratory problems, more than three times any other European country."<ref>https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-lockdown-lunacy-1001322696</ref>  In 2020, Italy had a far higher mortality from the [[coronavirus]] known as [[COVID-19]] than any country other than [[Spain]], requiring the assistance of American humanitarian organization [[Samaritan's Purse]] to provide a mobile hospital (though, unlike the chilly and hateful reception the organization got from providing a similar hospital to [[New York City]], the Italians were far more grateful).

 

==Geography==

==Geography==

Italy, slightly larger than [[Arizona]], is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Austria]], and [[Slovenia]] to the north. The [[Apennine Mountains]] form the peninsula's backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its many northern lakes is Garda (143 sq mi; 370 km²); the Po, its principal river, flows from the [[Alps]] on Italy's western border and crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are [[Sicily]] (9,926 sq mi; 25,708 km²) and [[Sardinia]] (9,301 sq mi; 24,090 km²).

Italy, slightly larger than [[Arizona]], is a long peninsula shaped like a boot, surrounded on the west by the Tyrrhenian Sea and on the east by the Adriatic. It is bounded by [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Austria]], and [[Slovenia]] to the north. The [[Apennine Mountains]] form the peninsula's backbone; the Alps form its northern boundary. The largest of its many northern lakes is Garda (143 sq mi; 370 km²); the Po, its principal river, flows from the [[Alps]] on Italy's western border and crosses the Lombard plain to the Adriatic Sea. Several islands form part of Italy; the largest are [[Sicily]] (9,926 sq mi; 25,708 km²) and [[Sardinia]] (9,301 sq mi; 24,090 km²).