Stylish, cultured, good humoured and volatile – Italy, with its golden light, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Perhaps more than any other country, it has influenced the course of European development, particularly in culture and political thought.
The most important early settlers were the enigmatic Etruscans, who had established settlements in northern and central Italy by the sixth century BC. By the third century BC, their culture had been displaced by the mighty city state of Rome, which was intent on extending its influence.
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