Italy The elements of Italian soft culture are its art, music, fashion, design, and food. Italy was the birthplace of opera,Kimbell, David R. B. Italian Opera. Cambridge University Press, 1994. p. 1. Web. 22 Jul. 2012. and for generations the language of opera was Italian. Popular tastes in drama in Italy have long favored comedy; the improvisational style known as the Commedia dell'arte began in Italy in the mid-16th century and is still performed today. Before being exported to France and Russia, Ballet also originated in Italy. The country boasts several world-famous cities: Rome was the ancient capital of the Roman Empire and seat of the Pope of the Catholic Church. Rome is generally considered one of the "cradles of Western civilization and Christian culture". Florence was the heart of the Renaissance, a period of great achievements in the artsZirpolo, Lilian H. The A to Z of Renaissance Art. Scarecrow Press, 2009. pp. 154-156. Web. 16 Jul. 2012. which marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. Other important cities include Turin, one of the world's great centers of automobile engineering. Milan is one of the "Big Four" fashion capitals. Venice, with its intricate canal system and history of seafaring, attracts tourists from all over the world especially during the Venetian Carnival and the Venice Biennale. Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (59) to date. In 2019, Italy had the ninth largest diplomatic network in the world. Italy is the fifth most visited country in the World.
Italy The elements of Italian soft culture are its art, music, fashion, design, and food. Italy was the birthplace of opera,Kimbell, David R. B. Italian Opera. Cambridge University Press, 1994. p. 1. Web. 22 Jul. 2012. and for generations the language of opera was Italian. Popular tastes in drama in Italy have long favored comedy; the improvisational style known as the Commedia dell'arte began in Italy in the mid-16th century and is still performed today. Before being exported to France and Russia, Ballet also originated in Italy. The country boasts several world-famous cities Rome was the ancient capital of the Roman Empire and seat of the Pope of the Catholic Church. Rome is generally considered one of the "cradles of Western civilization and Christian culture" Florence was the heart of the Renaissance, a period of great achievements in the artsZirpolo Lilian H. The A to Z of Renaissance Art. Scarecrow Press, 2009. pp. 154-156. Web. 16 Jul. 2012. which marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. Other important cities include Turin, one of the world's great centers of automobile engineering. Milan is one of the "Big Four" fashion capitals. Venice, with its intricate canal system and history of seafaring, attracts tourists from all over the world especially during the Venetian Carnival and the Venice Biennale. Italy is home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites (59) to date. In 2019, Italy had the ninth largest diplomatic network in the world. Italy is the fifth most visited country in the World.