The mighty Roman Empire grew from the Etruscan civilisation, whose name is recalled in Tuscany. Rome began flexing its muscles in the 3rd century BC as Greece and other regional powers faded. Land and sea victories over rivals saw Rome controlling Iberia, mainland Greece, most of North Africa and chunks of Asia Minor by the time Julius Caesar took power in 46BC. Power was extended north to Britain, France and Germany before beginning to fade in the 2nd century – finally descending into chaos after Rome was sacked by Visigoths in the 5th century. Regional kingdoms emerged a few centuries later around Genoa, Venice, Sicily, Lombardy and Naples – which flourished during medieval and Renaissance times. These laid the foundation for the 1860s unification that created the first Italian nation.

Italy fought with the Allies in WW1, being rewarded with the former Austrian region of Sud Tirol – now Alto Adige in the Dolomites. In WW2, however, Fascist dictator Mussolini fought - unsuccessfully – on the side of Nazi Germany. After abolishing its monarchy in 1946, Italy became one of the founding nations of the European Economic Community (precursor to the EU) in 1957.