LOCATION
Switzerland is a federal state in Central and Western Europe, made up of 26 cantons. It is bordered by Germany to the north, Austria and Liechtenstein to the east-northeast, Italy to the south and southeast, and France to the west. It is a landlocked country, geographically divided between the Alps, which occupy 60% of the territory, the Swiss Plateau, and the Jura Mountains.

AREA
Total: 41,291 square kilometers.

POPULATION
Total: 9,002,763 (2024).

CLIMATE
The Italian climate is Mediterranean on the peninsula, humid subtropical with sometimes cold winters in the north, and mountainous inland. In the north and along the central axis of the country, the terrain is mountainous. Average temperatures in mountainous areas range from -5°C in winter to 20°C in summer. The coasts enjoy a milder climate thanks to the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea. Temperatures range from 1°C in winter to 30°C in summer. In the south of the peninsula, Sicily is the warmest region in the country. Winter temperatures range from -2°C at Mount Etna to 11°C on the Sicilian coast. In summer, temperatures on the island range from 17 to 34°C.

CAPITAL
Rome officially became the capital of Italy in 1871.