The Apennine Mountains run the length of the peninsula. The Adriatic Sea borders the East , the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas the West, and the Ionian Sea the south. While the north of the country is more temperate, the south has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, especially in the south.
Southern winters are mild, while northern ones are milder but wetter.
The mountains usually have heavy snowfalls. Second only to Greece, Italy has one of the oldest histories in Europe, the evidence of this shown by ruined temples, medieval castles, classical sculptures and fine Renaissance churches and paintings. Pretty girls, pretty forward men, and pretty dramatic language. Elegance . . . My memories of Venice are dreamlike - as is the place.