Part 2/9:
Italy is not your average European country. Its geography — a boot-shaped peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean, from the Alps in the north to the Adriatic Sea in the east and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west — has created distinct cultural and economic divides. Regions in the northern part, such as Milan, Florence, and Venice, thrive on industry and trade, bolstered by fertile plains and rivers. In contrast, the southern regions face economic hardship, characterized by higher unemployment rates, poverty, and organized crime, particularly the mafia.