The Country

Geography:
Italy forms a 'boot-shaped' peninsula stretching 800 km (496 miles) into the Mediterranean, in southern Europe. It's land borders are with France to the north west, Switzerland to the north, and Austria and Slovenia to the north east. To the east lies the Adriatic Sea, to the south the Ionian Sea and to the west the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. Italy also includes Sicily, Sardinia and about 70 smaller islands.

More than 75% of the land is hilly or mountainous. The northern borders are defined by the Italian Alps, where Monta Rosa reaches 4,634 m (15,203 ft). To the south of this lies a broad plain which features the water courses of several majors rivers, including the River Po and a number of ribbon-shaped lakes. A further mountain range called the Appennines rises in north west Italy and curves down the spine of the country to the tip of the Italian 'boot' and then continues in Sicily. Some points on this mountain chain are still actively volcanic. The total land area is 294,060 sq km (113,504 sq miles).
The Population of 57.2 million (2000 figure) comprises 94% of Italian origin, 2% Sardinian and 4% other ethnic groups. Some 83% of the people are Roman Catholic and 17% other faiths or non-religious. The capital city is Rome.

National History:

Summary Narrative History

Timeline - Key Dates in Italian History

Further National Information:
BBC News Profile: Italy
Yahoo Italy page
wikipedia: Italy
wikipedia: History of Italy

Civil Aircraft Registrations:
Italian civil aircraft have been registered in the series I-AAAA onwards since 1919. A historical I- register listing.

Military Air Arms:
Current military air arms-
Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana)
Naval Aviation (Aviazione per la Marina Militare)
Army Aviation (Aviazione dell'Esercito)

Historical military air arms-
Army Aviation (Aeronautica del Regio Esercito) [1911-1923]
Naval Aviation (Aviazione della Marina) [1912-1923]
National Republic Aviation (Aviazione Nazionale Repubblicana) [1943-1945]

Central Government Agencies:
Coast Guard Aviation (Guardia Costeria)
Customs Aviation (Guardia di Finanza)
Forestry Service (Corpo Forestale dello Stato)
Paramilitary Police (Arma dei Carabinieri)

Public Service Aviation:
Medical Aviation (118 Soccorso)
Civil Defence Aviation (Servizio Nazionale Portezione Civile)
Fire Service Aviation (Vigili di Fuoco)
Police Aviation (Polizia di Stato)

Commercial Aviation:
Air Dolomiti
Air Italy
Air One
Alitalia
Alpi Eagles [1996-2008]
Blu-Express
Club Air
Eurofly [1989-2008]
ItAli Airlines
Meridiana
MyAir
Volare

wikipedia: Airlines of Italy
The World's Airlines: Italy

Private Aviation:
To be added.

Aircraft Manufacturers:
Aermacchi
Alenia
Piaggio
Vulcanair
Italian Aircrafts 1939-1945
Aircraft Manufactured by Italy

Airports, Airfields and Air Bases:
Airports in Italy

Military Air Bases and Airfields-
Military Air Bases Listing - to be added.

Aviation Museums:
Deltaland - Parco Velivoli Storici
Museo Agusta
Museo Dell'Aria 'Nido Delle Aquile'
Museo Dell'Aviazione
Museo Dell'Aeronautica Gianni Gaproni
Museo Nazionale Della Scienza e Della Tecnica
Museo Storico Dell'Aeronautica Militare Italiana

Airshow Dates:
Key Airshow Dates

Aviation-Related Magazines:
Magazines Guide

Magazine Dealers:
Recommended second hand magazine dealers

Aviation Bibliography:
Italian Aviation Bibliography - to be added

Aviation Bookshops:
On-line bookshops

Web Links:
Aviation in Italy

Aviation Museums Italy

David Cenciotti's Weblog

Italian Aviation