Some little curiosities about Italy:  the only peninsula that travels from north to south with a perfect latitude and surrounded by good seas and winds.

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The only geographic situation on the planet that covers 0.50% of the world surface with 0.83% of the world population.

Thanks to its position, surrounded by winds and "good" seas, it gives life to great Italian excellences, often exported all over the world. 

Just a few examples: in Pra 'near Genoa the best Basil in the world is born, Prosciutto San Daniele (from the Bora and the Dolomites), Prosciutto di Parma (Apuan Alps), it is said that the best Pasta is born in Gragnano, ( Naples) in the so-called "wind tunnel" where the fresh air of Castellamare di Stabia meets the breeze of Vesuvius creating a unique microclimate, in Abruzzo there is the best saffron in the world, in Calabria the licorice daughter of the Ionian and Apuan Alps, myrtle in Sardinia, cherry tomatoes in Sicily and so on ...

Thanks to the climate and geographical position (reaffirming with only 0.50% of the world surface), in Italy, there are 7,000 species of edible plants (first country in the world, Brazil in second place with 3,300), any Italian region, it has more variety than any state in Europe . There are 58,000 animal species: 42,000 of land or air, 10500 of salt water, 5500 of fresh water. The second country in the world (China), with 6% of the surface, has only 20,000 species of animals. In Italy there are still 1200 native vines (in France 222), for this reason there are over 500 Italian olive cultivars (to mention a few: Leccino, Frantoio, Moraiolo, Biancolilla, Coratina, Ogliarola, Moresca, Casaliva, Nocellara).

In Italy there are 140 durum wheat cultivars . The country that produces the most in the world is the USA but with only 6 species.

This wonder called biodiversity is called Italy the most biodiverse country in the world, the same biodiversity we have in the agri-food sector now transformed into food and wine.  

A story that starts 40,000 years ago tells that Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens left Africa but both following different paths, never meeting along the way if not only once they arrived in Italy ...

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Tens of thousands of years later Italy had the first great empire leading in the social and political; 1500 years later the Renaissance was born. Thanks to this biodiversity, in Italy today 70% of the physical and artistic heritage present in the world is encountered, all this only by exploring 0.5% of the earth's surface.

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Italian biodiversity which then turned into landscapes (sometimes ruined by those who do not appreciate them) for this reason, our landscapes are among the most beautiful in the world.

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In fact, the Belpaese has today reached 55 sites recognized as Unesco World Heritage Sites (click here to access the complete list of Unesco sites in Italy) .  The last to be recognized as such is located between the Prosecco hills of Conegliano Veneto and Valdobbiadene. The complete list includes archaeological sites, monuments, landscapes, villas and historic houses, cities and islands.

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All this gives life to Cultural Tourism - Food and Wine and Experiential Tourism .