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	<image place="Abruzzo" region="1" info="One of Italy's less densely populated regions, Abruzzo is abundant in natural attractions. Four national parks, some containing the highest peaks in the Appennines Mountain Range, occupy nearly one third of the province's land area. The region's cultural treasures include the birthplaces of Ovid and nineteenth-century poet, Gabrielle D'anunzi."/>
	<image place="Valle D'Aosta" region="2" info="This mountainous region in Italy's northeast corner contains several of the highest peaks in the Alps. Ruins dating from the Bronze Age through the era of the Middle Ages are scattered throughout its valleys and testify to its historical importance as key alpine trade routes. Officially bilingual, the region today retains its status as a cultural crossroads."/>
	<image place="Apulia (Puglia)" region="3" info="Throughout its history this 'boot-heel' of the Italian peninsula answered to a plethora of foreign invaders including the Goths, Lombards, Byzantines, Germans, French, Spanish, Austrians, Neapolitan, and Bourbons. Predominately agricultural, it is one of the few places in Italy where nomadic sheepherding still occurs. Key crops that its farmers grow include wheat, barley, oats, olives, almonds, figs, vegetables, and grapes, from which are produced some of Italy's strongest wines."/>
	<image place="Basilicata" region="4" info="Mountains dominate Basilicata's east, while low hills and wide valleys cross its western portions. Basilicata ranks among Italy's least-developed administrative regions. Despite a 1996 discovery of Western Europe's largest oil field 30km south of Potenza, the region's capital, agriculture continues to dominate Basilicata's economy. Carlo Levi's popular 1945 novel, Christ Stopped at Eboli, revealed to the world the region's poverty."/>
	<image place="Calabria" region="5" info="This region in Italy has always had a unique population since the beginning.  In ancient times, it was once a part of a successful Greek civilization before Roman dominated and conquered strategic townships and ports. By the 3rd century A.D., it was under the control of the Byzantines who referred to the area as Calabria. Now known commonly as the 'toe' of the Italian boot, the region is also home to a large minority population-Albanians. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Albanians fleeing from Turkish conquerors settled in the area today the people still speak an Albanian language. With a rugged terrain, the area has often struggled to develop economically and has for the most part been agricultural with a few resorts along the shore."/>
	<image place="Campania" region="6" info="Home to a plethora of iconic places that includes Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Campania annually welcomes a large number of tourists. Though visually spectacular, its mountainous countryside contains many active volcanoes, including the famed Vesuvius. Campania's economy differs from that of other southern Italian regions through its greater reliance on non-agricultural sectors. Industrial facilities for textiles, chemicals, machinery, shipbuilding, and metal-works are located in Naples and Salerno."/>
	<image place="Emilia-Romagna" region="7" info="Emilia-Romagna's land area contains two distinct physical geographies. The floodplain of the Po River extends across the north and east. In the south and west, the Apennine Mountains dominate. The region serves as an important agricultural center and is also an important center of manufacturing and commerce - a role it owes to its well-developed transportation infrastructure. The region's important cities include Bologna, Ravenna, Ferrara, Parma, and Modena."/>
	<image place="Friuli-Venezia Giulia" region="8" info="Italian, Slavic, and Germanic cultures mix here. Architectural styles in many of the region's cities show a mixture of Byzantine, Venetian, and Habsburg Influences. The port of Trieste, the region's capital and largest city, once rivaled Venice as the Adriatic key maritime power. While under the control of the Habsburgs throughout the nineteenth century, the city became an important center of Italian nationalism. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is one of the Mediterranean's centers of seismic activity. An earthquake in May of 1976 killed more than 1,000 people."/>
	<image place="Lazio" region="9" info="The administrative region of Lazio includes Rome and all surrounding provinces. A coastal plane dominates the topography of the province's western half. The Reatini, Sabini, Simbruini, and Ernici ranges of the central Apennines span its eastern portions. Considering Rome's status as the country's political and cultural center, it is not surprising that a large number of Lazio's residents work for the government or in tourism services. Pharmaceutical manufacturing, papermaking, and food production are several other key industries."/>
	<image place="Liguria" region="10" info="Liguria's land area forms a narrow crescent stretching from France in the west to Tuscany in east. It is flanked in the south by the Italian Riviera, in the northwest by the Maritime Alps, and in the northeast by the Apennines. Surrounded on three sides by difficult-to-cross mountain ranges, Ligurians historically used the sea rather than land for trade and communication. Genoa, the region's capital and the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, has served as an important Mediterranean's maritime centers since the era of the Roman Empire. Today it is Italy's largest port."/>
	<image place="Lombardy" region="11" info="Located in north central Italy, the Lombardy region is perhaps most famous for its position as a stronghold for commerce and trade. Milan, population 1.3 million, is the largest city in the region and the second largest in Italy. Milan has long functioned as an epicenter for business and politics. In early medieval times Roman Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity from within the city's walls. Today, fashion is big business in the city with numerous designers calling the city home."/>
	<image place="Marche" region="12" info="The Apennine Range separates the Marche from the hustle and bustle of more modern central Italy. Largely rural in nature, the Marche is best known for its scenic hill country and a number of resorts located along the beaches of the Adriatic Sea. The economy relies heavily on agriculture including the production of wheat and wine, and the raising of livestock."/>
	<image place="Molise" region="13" info="In 1965, this predominantly rural region gained autonomy from the neighboring region of Abruzzo. The population of Molise has experienced very little growth since the state was first recognized in 1861, with much of its stability being associated with emigration."/>
	<image place="Piedmont" region="14" info="The Piedmont is one of three regions, and three unique geographies, located in northwest Italy. Unlike, Liguria and the Valle d'Aosta - a coastline and alpine foothills, respectively - the Peidmont region rests largely in the Po River Valley. An incredibly fertile area, the Peidmont supports some of the most productive farm and viticulture land in Italy."/>
	<image place="Sardinia" region="15" info="Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and it is its coastline that draws attention. The nuraghic civilization was once prevalent on the island, and its remains are still present in the form of 7,000 stone towers placed across the landscape."/>
	<image place="Sicily" region="16" info="The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is only about 100 miles northeast from Tunisia, Africa. Sicily is dominated by mountainous terrain, and its active geology can be seen at Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano. Control of Sicily has shifted throughout history. The Greeks, Romans, Normans, Arabs, Spanish and others have all ruled, or sought to rule the island, and this mixed history can be seen in Sicily's landscape and culture."/>
	<image place="Tuscany" region="17" info="Located along Italy's western shores, Tuscany is a large producer of olives, olive oil, and wine, among other agricultural commodities. It is also rich culturally with the towns of Florence and Sienna providing ample evidence of Italy's leadership and success in the arts and architecture during the Renaissance period. The famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, which leans about 13.5 feet off of center, is located in the city of Pisa near Tuscany's northern coast line."/>
	<image place="Trentino-Alto Adige" region="18" info="The Trentino-Alto Adige region is one of three provinces that make up northeast Italy. The majority of theTrentino is mountainous, with much of the region located at elevations greater than 3,000 feet. The Dolomites, a limestone mountain range known for its sharp eroded features, frame the region and bring mountaineers from across the globe to the area."/>
	<image place="Umbria" region="19" info="Umbria sits in Italy's center, and has been called the heart of country. It is the birthplace of several Roman Catholic saints, including Saint Francis of Assisi. Umbria is similar in many ways both culturally and physically to neighboring Tuscany. The region contains many wide basins suitable for intensive agriculture, including the growing of wine grapes. The Tiber River flows through the middle and upper valleys of the region."/>
	<image place="Veneto" region="20" info="Located in the northeast part of the country, Veneto has a culturally rich history. Art and architecture from a range of eras are prevalent throughout the region, notably in the cities of Verona, Padua, Vicenza, and Treviso. Agriculture is also successful in the region thanks to the success of irrigation in the Po River delta where corn, wheat, and hemp dominate. Venice is the capital of Veneto and though there are problems with the infrastructure of the city, built upon multple islands and lagoons, it still attracts thousands of tourist a year."/>
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