Italy is located in southern Europe and shaped like a boot. It is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and home to the Alps and Apennine Mountains. The Po, Adige, Arno, and Tiber rivers flow through Italy, which has many lakes including Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Como. Italy has a long history dating back to the Etruscans and Romans, and was a center of the Renaissance. Some of Italy's most famous artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli. Italy is known for cuisine like pasta and pizza and landmarks like the Colosseum and Leaning Tower of Pisa. The current democratic republic has a population