Italy

Italy is a country in Southern Europe, occupying the Italian Peninsula, which extends into the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia, while also surrounding the independent states of Vatican City and San Marino. Italy includes two large islands, Sicily and Sardinia, as well as numerous smaller islands in the Mediterranean. Its central location in the Mediterranean has made it an important crossroads of trade, culture, and political power for thousands of years. The capital, Rome, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities and has served as a centre of political, religious, and cultural influence since ancient times.

Geographically, Italy is one of Europe's most diverse countries. The Alps form a natural barrier along the northern border, separating Italy from the rest of Europe. South of the Alps, the fertile Po Valley stretches across northern Italy and is the country's most productive agricultural and industrial region. The Apennine Mountains run the length of the peninsula, creating varied landscapes of hills, valleys, and mountain plateaus. Italy is also known for its volcanic activity, with Mount Etna in Sicily being Europe's highest active volcano, while Mount Vesuvius near Naples and Stromboli in the Aeolian Islands remain active. Major rivers include the Po, Italy's longest river, as well as the Arno and the Tiber. The country experiences a range of climates, from alpine conditions in the north to a Mediterranean climate in central and southern regions, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Italy has one of the richest historical legacies in the world. The Italian Peninsula was home to several ancient civilizations, including the Etruscans, before the rise of Rome. The Roman Republic, established in the 6th century BCE, evolved into the Roman Empire, which became one of the largest and most influential empires in history. Roman achievements in law, engineering, architecture, literature, and government continue to shape modern civilization. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, Italy was divided among various kingdoms and city-states.

During the Renaissance, beginning in the 14th century, Italian cities such as Florence, Venice, Milan, and Rome became centres of art, science, and learning. Figures including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Galileo Galilei transformed European culture and scientific thought. Italy remained politically fragmented until the 19th century, when the movement known as the Risorgimento led to national unification in 1861 under King Victor Emmanuel II. During the 20th century, Italy participated in both World Wars and experienced a period of Fascist rule under Benito Mussolini before becoming a democratic republic in 1946. Today, Italy is a founding member of the European Union, NATO, and the G7, and it is one of the world's largest economies.

Agriculture has been an important part of Italy's economy and culture for centuries. The country's varied climate and fertile soils allow for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. Northern Italy's Po Valley produces wheat, maize, rice, sugar beet, and soybeans, while central and southern regions are renowned for olives, grapes, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and vegetables. Italy is one of the world's leading producers of wine and olive oil, with famous wine regions including Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, and Sicily. Fruit production includes apples, peaches, pears, cherries, and lemons. Livestock farming is concentrated mainly in the north, where cattle support dairy production for internationally renowned cheeses such as Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano), Grana Padano, Gorgonzola, and Mozzarella. Pig farming also supports the production of famous cured meats such as Parma ham and prosciutto.

Fishery has long been important because of Italy's extensive Mediterranean coastline, which stretches for over 7,500 kilometres. Commercial fishing targets species such as anchovies, sardines, tuna, swordfish, hake, octopus, squid, and shellfish. Italy also has a well-developed aquaculture industry, producing mussels, clams, sea bass, sea bream, and trout. Coastal fishing communities remain economically and culturally significant, although sustainable fisheries management has become increasingly necessary due to overfishing and environmental pressures in the Mediterranean Sea.

Forestry plays a smaller but important role in Italy's economy and environmental management. Approximately one-third of the country's land area is covered by forests, which include deciduous species such as oak, beech, and chestnut, as well as coniferous forests in the Alps and Apennines. Italian forests provide timber, fuelwood, cork, mushrooms, and other non-timber forest products while also protecting watersheds, preventing soil erosion, conserving biodiversity, and storing carbon. National parks such as Gran Paradiso, Stelvio, and Abruzzo protect large forested ecosystems and provide habitats for wildlife including wolves, brown bears, chamois, deer, and numerous bird species.

Overall, Italy is a country of exceptional geographical diversity, historical significance, and cultural influence. Its fertile plains, mountainous landscapes, and extensive coastline have supported productive agriculture, fisheries, and forestry for centuries, while its remarkable historical legacy—from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance and modern Europe—has made Italy one of the world's most influential nations.
Gerold first visited Italy in 1983, travelling through the spectacular Dolomites. From the 1990s onwards, he returned frequently, exploring much of the country by car, from the mountains to the coast. Italy became one of his favourite destinations, combining professional commitments with family holidays.

Rome was the city he visited most often—around six times—for meetings at the FAO, project work, and collaborations with ENEA. He considers Rome the most beautiful city he knows, impressed by its unique atmosphere and the deep sense of history found everywhere. In 2007, he spent the period between Christmas and New Year there with Klaudia and the children, creating lasting family memories.
Gerold visited Pisa three times for project meetings with Gianluca and travelled to Florence twice—once in transit and once for a week-long conference in 2001. Family holidays with Klaudia and the children also took him to Venice, the Italian mountains, and the Mediterranean coast. In 2004, he visited Trieste, another city he remembers fondly.

His professional activities continued to bring him to Italy. In 2008, he attended an IFOAM conference in Modena, with additional meetings in Bologna. In June 2009, he spent two days at the FAO in Rome discussing organic farming. In 2015 and 2016, he returned to Rome for ISOFAR meetings, giving lectures while enjoying long walks through the city with Klaudia. In 2018, during his 206th international trip, he chaired the ISOFAR World Board meeting on the island of Capri, staying five days and also visiting Naples. In 2019, he spent another four days at the FAO in Rome.

More recent visits have been for leisure. In 2022, Gerold and Klaudia spent three relaxing autumn days in Merano, enjoying hiking in the South Tyrolean mountains. In 2023, on their journey to Monaco, they travelled through Italy together, spending a warm night in Vernazza in the Cinque Terre, where temperatures reached 36°C, before returning via the Alps and enjoying two days of hiking around Madesimo.