important strategic
Italy
Italy is a large state in the south of Europe. Here is a huge number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites – historical monuments and works of art are located throughout the country. The country is also famous all over the world for its national cuisine, fashion, sports cars and luxury motorcycles, as well as its beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains with numerous ski resorts. In Italy there are two independent dwarf states: San Marino and the Vatican. Although formally they are not members of the European Union, both countries are part of the Schengen area and the European Monetary Union. Italy is located in the Mediterranean part of Europe and borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The boot-shaped peninsula on which it is located is washed by the Ligurian, Sardinian and Tyrrhenian seas in the east, the Sicilian and Ionian seas in the south, and the Adriatic sea in the east. Continue reading
Portugal
Portugal is the westernmost state in continental Eurasia. Located in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. On land, it borders only with Spain. Portugal is also governed by the Azores and Madeira, which occupy an important strategic position in the west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The largest and most important city in Portugal is Lisbon (2.1 million inhabitants with suburbs, 1996). It is the capital and main port of the country. Porto is the main city of the North, the second most populous country in the country (302.5 thousand in 1991; about 1.2 million people in the entire agglomeration). Porto, located on the right bank of the Douro River, the former capital of Portugal and the country’s largest port, is famous for its port. On the opposite bank of the Douro River is the city of Vila Nova di Gaya (31.5 thousand inhabitants in 1991), where many wine company warehouses are concentrated. Continue reading
