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Molise Map Political Regions

Molise faces for a short distance north-east of the Adriatic Sea, bordered to the north-west, Abruzzo, Lazio to the west, south with Campania, Puglia to the east. It is distributed in the provinces of Campobasso and Isernia, the regional capital is Campobasso. The region corresponds roughly to the ancient Sannio, the land inhabited by the Samnites, the Romans came into contact with in the sixth century BC Today's designation, which is the medieval equivalent to that of a small fortified town, located near Campobasso, however, between the eleventh and twelfth centuries, the Duchy of Molise was already well attested.
The territory, whose shape resembles an irregular rectangle, which stretches from the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea to the north, is 55.4% for the rest mountainous and hilly. The mountainous area does not form a separate section of the Apennines: the tract to the north includes the southern Abruzzi Apennines (2247 m Petroso), south to northern Apennine of Campania (Miletto 2050 m), both rough and steep . However, except for a few remarks Frontier, in general the morphology of the mountain of Molise is less harsh and imposing than the nearby Abruzzo: the peaks are maintained 1000-1500 m. and have rounded edges. They are also a few easy crossings and isolation has been a constant in the history of the region. To the north of the Mouth of Forlì, named as conventional limit between the central and southern Apennines, is located to 998 m. share, but down only 515 m. Sella Vincentia, which connects the Molise Campania. The hills go right to the coast, which is low and free ports.

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Marche Map Political Regions

The region of Marche to the east overlooking the Adriatic Sea, bordering Emilia-Romagna and the Republic of San Marino in the north, Tuscany and Umbria to the west, Abruzzo and for a short distance with Lazio to the south. It is distributed in the provinces of Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata and Pesaro-Urbino, the regional capital is Ancona. The name of the historical region of origin, derived from the German Mark and to a collection of frontier territories, "brand" in fact, established in the Middle Ages, long remained divided over time and aggregated into a single administrative unit.
The coast, almost everywhere right and not suitable for ports, extends for 175 km. In some places the width of the narrow coastal strip is even a few tens of meters. The rivers are numerous, steep descend to the Adriatic, almost parallel to each other and sometimes with recessed grooves. They all have a small catchment area, as well as modest is the length of their course, usually less than 100 km. and have a torrential. It is reminiscent of the Leaf (90 km.), Which flows near the town of Pesaro, Metauro (110 km.), Which reaches the sea at the town of Fano, and Tronto (115 km.), Which marks some distance the border with Abruzzo.
The natural environment, which once boasted beautiful forest expanses, has been transformed from almost anywhere crops and pastures, most recently, on the coast, the mass seaside tourism has surrounded the shoreline of a single bead construction, leaving only a few traces of the original landscape. Among the protected areas, is reminiscent of the Natural Park of Monte Conero, Monti Sibillini National Park, established in 1994 and shared with Umbria, the National Park of Monti della Laga shared with Abruzzo and Reserve caves Frasassi , a complex karst Apennines, located just north of Fabriano (Ancona).

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Lombardia Map Political Regions

Lombardy borders Switzerland to the north and west is bounded by Piedmont, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto and Emilia-Romagna to the east to the south. The regional capital is Milan and the provinces are Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Lecco, Lodi, Mantova, Milan, Monza, Pavia, Sondrio, Varese.
The Lombardy region of Italy is the fourth area, after Sicily, Piedmont and Sardinia, and has a relatively simple morphological structure. The northern part, with 40% consists of mountains, including the central section of the Alps (Alpine Lepontine and Rhaetian), culminating in the Bernina massif (4050 m), bordering with Switzerland Adamello (3,554 m.) and the border with Trentino-Alto Adige the Ortler Alps (3899 m). Followed by the Alps in the south central part of the Alps and, farther south, the hills of Brianza, the Varese etc. .. With more than 47% of the territory, the remaining southern half of the region is flat and extends in the central part of the Po Valley with the exception of the south-west, ie the Oltrepò Pavese, where they push the reliefs of the Emilia, which in Lombardy touch 1724 m. with the peak of Mount Lesima.
The Alps of Lombardy, less harsh than those of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta are crossed, starting from the Valtellina and Valcamonica by wide valleys. Almost all of these valleys are traversed by some of the left tributaries of the Po and lead to crossings, although they are at high altitudes, quite easily. One of the steps is the most important international Spluga (2118 m) on the border with Switzerland, then do not remember off the Maloja Pass (1815 m) and Bernina (2323 m), which are found instead in Switzerland. Among the national border crossings, the main ones are the Stelvio (2759 m) and Tonale (1883 m), which connect the Lombardy Trentino-Alto Adige. These crossings have always been of great importance in the development of the region, because they have facilitated communications, both regional and international.

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Liguria Map Political Regions

Liguria is overlooking the Ligurian Sea to the south and is bordered by France to the west, Piedmont to the north-west, Emilia-Romagna to the north-east and east of Tuscany. It is distributed in the provinces of Imperia, La Spezia, Savona and Genoa, which is also the regional capital
The region occupies the Tyrrhenian side of the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines, which are welded to the hill of Cadibona and form, the basin of Roia west to the east of the Magra, a large arch that encloses the Gulf of Genoa. There are no flat areas, because the findings come down to the sea, on which almost everywhere are thrown sheer. There are only two small plains, formed by alluvial deposits at the mouth of two rivers, respectively Centa and Entella: that of Albenga, in the province of Savona, and that of Chiavari, near Genoa. To the west of Genoa extends the so-called Riviera di Ponente, in many places bordered by narrow, sandy beaches, the coastal strip east of the city is called for against the Riviera di Levante, and is characterized by numerous headlands and accented with rare and small beaches.
The territory of Liguria is two-thirds mountainous and hilly for the rest. The alpine section proper, which covers the western part of the region, is represented by the Maritime Alps, which affect the 2200 m. with Saccarello; conventionally Colle di Cadibona, located just 435 m. share, is listed as a connection point between the Alps and the Ligurian Apennines. It is therefore the entire Apennine section of Central and East of Liguria, and covers the 1799 m. Maggiorasca with Mount, near the border with Emilia-Romagna. Several passes are usually easier in the winter months because, given their low elevation, are rarely blocked by snow. The passage of Jupiter, with a height of 472 m, is of particular importance because it connects Genoa to Milan and the main cities of the Po Valley.

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Lazio Map Political Regions

Lazio overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west and borders with Umbria, Tuscany and Marche to the north, east Abruzzo and Molise, Campania to the south is divided into the provinces of Frosinone, Latina (including the 'Pontine archipelago), Rieti, Rome (the regional capital and the capital of Italy), and Viterbo.

The territory consists of areas that are very different in appearance and natural conditions. In the far north-east stand the mountains Reatini (Terminillo 2213 ms), and the adjacent group of Laga (Gorzano 2455 m) along the border with Abruzzo develop Simbruini (2014 m Glad ) and, beyond the high valley of the chain of Ernici (2037 m). Also on the border with the Abruzzi mountains rise of Meta (Petroso 2247 m.), to which it links, on the border with Molise, the massive Mainarde (Knight 2039 m.).
Characteristic of the so-called Antiappennino Lazio is a fertile, pleasant, represented by four-era Quaternary volcanic districts, aligned to the coast, formed by the seams of extinct volcanoes, whose craters are often filled by lakes. The Volsini (639 m) around Lake Bolsena, the Cimini (1053 m) with the lake of Vico and Sabatini (612 m) around Lake Bracciano. To the south of the valley of the Tiber are the Alban Hills, a very complex system, also called Latium Volcano, now largely demolished, which includes Lake Albano and Lake Nemi.
The coastal plains, swamps and malaria for centuries crossed by rivers whose course changed easily have been, in centuries past, some remediation. To the north lies the Maremma Lazio, a continuation of that of Tuscany, followed by the Agro Romano, or Roman countryside, focusing on the lower course and delta of the Tiber, and then the sour Pontino.

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Friuli Venezia Giulia Map Political Regions

Friuli-Venezia Giulia is located in the far north-east of the country, bordering Austria to the north, east, Slovenia, the Veneto to the west and overlooks the Adriatic Sea to the south. It is divided into the provinces of Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste (regional capital) and Udine. Due to its geographical position of the border, but also to protect its unique cultural characteristics, including the Slovenian and Friulian, Friuli-Venezia Giulia is as Trentino-Alto Adige, Valle d'Aosta, Sicily and Sardinia, an autonomous administrative region.
The low density of the region is also the result of a morphology in principle not very favorable to settlement and economic exploitation, especially in the past, when production is based on agriculture. Over 42% of land area is occupied by mountains, the rest is made up of hills and a plain. The section of the mountainous region, young and not yet stabilized orogenic (severe and devastating earthquakes, the last in 1976), includes the Carnian Alps and part of the Julian Alps. Here the Alpine system is presented as a series of peaks and ridges mostly limestone, which affect the 2700 m. (Coglians, 2780 m in the Alps Carnian, and Jôf Montasio, 2754 m in the Julian Alps).
From the Alps Carnian named a vast and picturesque mountain region, located south of the Tagliamento, the meats, which are major centers and Tolmezzo Ampezzo. Some crossings, relatively easy and not very high, to allow connections across the border: the Monte Croce Carnico pass (1360 m) and the seat of Camporosso, better known as a step in Tarvisio (813 m), both of which connect the region with Austria, and the Predel pass (1156 m) with Slovenia. To the south of the same field from the Tagliamento and its main tributary, the Fella, lie the Alps, rugged and barren, high on average between 1500 and 2000 m.

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Emilia Romagna Map Political Regions

Emilia Romagna to the east overlooking the Adriatic Sea and is bordered to the west, Piedmont and Liguria, Lombardy to the north and the Veneto region, south of Tuscany, the Marches and the Republic of San Marino. It is distributed in the provinces of Bologna (including the regional capital), Ferrara, Forlì, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, Rimini.

The physical boundaries of the region are well defined: to the south are represented by the mountains of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and a section of the Ligurian Sea to the east by the Adriatic Sea to the north in large part from the middle and lower course of the river Po 48% of the territory is occupied by a large section of the Po Valley, and the remaining area includes, in almost equal, a mountain range and hills.
At the western region occupies only a small sector of the Ligurian Apennines, wedged, with some massive of over 1700 m. altitude (mountains Lesima, Pen, Maggiorasca), between Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, with whom is shared, it ends by convention at the Cisa pass (1041m.). The northern side of the Tuscan-Emilian not only rugged peaks and in some cases (Cimon 2165 m) over 2000 m. Are characteristic of this stretch of the Apennines the many ridges that branch off from the main ridge line, the mountain ridges follows a band of modest hills hills (Subappennino). The trans-border crossings include, in addition to the aforementioned Cisa pass, no less important than those which connect the region of Tuscany, including the steps of Porretta (932 m), the Abetone (1388 m) and Futa ( 903 m).
The Rhine (211 km.) Is the longest river in the Emilia-Romagna, has its source in Mount Cimone and flows into the Adriatic just south of the Valli di Comacchio. The Po, which marks the border with Lombardy, except at the province of Mantua, it receives all rivers north of the Rhine Emilia are the main Taro (125 km.), Which comes from the mountain Pen Ligurian Apennines, Bucket (172 km.) and Panaro (148 km.), who were both born in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.
Emilia-Romagna has many environmental problems and protection of nature is still limited to a few areas. Among these, there are the Po Delta Regional Park (shared with Veneto), the Casentino Forest Park (shared with Tuscany) and Mesola Forest, near Ferrara.

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Campania Map Political Regions

Campania faces west and south-west on the Tyrrhenian Sea and borders with Lazio and Molise to the north, Puglia to the east, Basilicata to the east and southeast. Regional capital is Naples and that together with the provinces of Avellino, Benevento, Caserta and Salerno are the backbone of the Campania region depend administratively by the Neapolitan islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida (province of Naples).
It overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea between the Garigliano River and the Gulf of Policastro, bounded in the interior of an irregular line that separates it from Lazio, Molise, Puglia and Basilicata. The coast, from very mild climate, friendly ports and mostly flat and very fertile land for the Romans was the region's wealth and happiness. Today's borders, however, include a bell is much wider and very different, very similar to the lands of central and southern Apennines, with its rugged mountains and barren, deserted landscapes and difficult crossings. The Campanian Apennines began in Molise, in Bocca di Forlì (998 m), and ends in the Saddle Conza (700 m) on the border with Basilicata, here begins the Appennino Lucano, part of which exceeds the boundaries, drawn by man, and enters the territory of Basilicata Campania. In Campania prevail throughout the limestone, with a marked and striking karst underground hydrography, in particular caves are famous both in the mainland, "Emerald Cave" near Amalfi and islands, the "Blue Grotto" in the island of Capri.
The plains, which cover less than one sixth of the territory are all coastal and alluvial origin, made from particularly fertile volcanic soil. To the north lies the plain and the wider meaningful name, the Terra di Lavoro, crossed the Volturno River to the south lies the plain of the Sele river, crossed by the river itself.

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Calabria Map Political Regions

Calabria facing the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, the Ionian Sea to the east and south, north, marked by the massif of Pollino, Basilicata and borders, separated by the Strait of Messina to Sicily. It includes the provinces of Catanzaro (regional capital), Cosenza, Crotone, Reggio Calabria and Vibo Valentia.
The location was favorable for Calabria at the dawn of its history when, over two thousand years ago, the Greeks dominated the commerce of the Mediterranean Sea, after which the region became essentially a land of conquest. Unlike other maritime regions such as Liguria, Calabria was never able to benefit from its seas, is confirmed by the fact that four of its five main cities are located inland.
Surely the physical characteristics of Calabria are not particularly favorable. More than 90% of its territory consists of mountains and hills, the highest peak of the reliefs is that of Monte Pollino (2267 m). The few plains are restricted to coastal areas, long and narrow, sometimes swampy. At the Strait of Messina, the Sicilian and Calabrian coasts are just 3 km.
The two massifs are the most important and high Silas (1928 m) and the Aspromonte (1955 m), respectively located on the eastern side of the peninsula and southern Calabria. On the western front is edged Sila, Vallo beyond the crater, from the craggy crest of the Coast Mountains, about seventy miles long, culminates in Mount Cocuzzo (1544 m) but is a kind of wall that keeps the compact 1100 -1300 m share.

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Basilicata Map Political Regions

Basilicata overlooking the Ionian Sea to the south-east and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the south-west, and borders with Campania to the west, Puglia to the north and east and Calabria to the south. The regional capital is power and that, by Matera, are the only two provinces. He almost everywhere conventional boundaries, which often varied over the centuries, those marked by the morphology is more significantly, with Puglia, rivers and some Ofanto and Bradano Lucania Apennine massifs, including the Pollino with Calabria .

To the west, a band formed by the Apennine mountains of Lucania, in the east area of hills which essentially forms the province of Matera and which gradually slopes down towards the Ionian Sea, along which lies the only real plains of the region. The Apennines in Campania Lucania begins, the seat of Conza (700 m), and ends in Calabria, the pace of the staircase (740 m). It consists of several isolated massifs, including those of the Cilento, so that further emphasize the lack of unity on which the region from the point of view of the area. The share rises with the Lucan Apennines proceed south, but you always retain the elevations average between 1200 and 2000 meters. Rounded by the lava flows of Mount Vulture, an ancient extinct volcano located on the northern border with Campania and that touches the 1327m., Appennino rugged and precipitous contrasts aspects elsewhere, particularly in the subset of Sirino (2005 m upstream of the Pope .), with ridges and peaks that recall the glorious Alpine landscapes, culminating in the extreme south of the Pollino massif, the southern Apennines mountain range, separated with Calabria.

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Abruzzo Map Political Regions

The Abruzzo region on the east overlooking the Adriatic Sea and bordering Marche to the north, Lazio to the west and south of Molise. The provinces are Chieti, L'Aquila (regional capital), Pescara and Teramo. The physical limits are well defined: to the north by the river Tronto, from the Adriatic to the east, south from the river and west by the majestic Trigno Abruzzi Apennines.

The system is manifested in the Abruzzi Apennines, with its most impressive. It begins with the group of the Laga mountains (Mount Gorzano, 2455 m) on the border with Marche and Lazio, and here the pace of Montereale (1015 m) that separates the valley of the river Velino from that of 'Aterno-Pescara, which marks the border between the Umbria-Marche Apennines of Abruzzo and the Apennines. Further south, beyond the marked depression from Vomano river, stands the imposing mass of the Gran Sasso of Italy, and extended the highest of the Apennines, which reaches 2912 m. high in the top of the Big Horn, and almost equally impressive, is the southernmost massive external alignment, the Maiella (Mount Amaro, 2795 m).
The valley of the river Aterno, separates the outer alignment of the beam central mountainous and includes Mount Velino (2487 m) on the border with Lazio, the most isolated mountain Sirente (2349 m) and the mountains of the Goal (Petroso mountain, 2247 m.) on their side of the Mouth of Forlì (998 m). La Conca Fucino was originally occupied by a large lake (155 km ²) but was completely drained in the second half of the nineteenth century. Impressive are the underground karst events, evidenced by extensive movement of resurgent waters and the presence of numerous caves.

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