Where in the world is Renderosity? Our first stop is Italy - the home of great food, timeless music and beautiful artwork! For the next two weeks, this is your stop for all things Italian. You will find all sorts of information - from recipes to the Renaissance.

We are also happy to announce that Italian is now one of the supported languages here at Renderosity! We would like to thank Renderosity member nirvy for translating the important parts of the site into Italian for us.

We will also spotlight some of our Italian members here at Renderosity, so that you can learn a little more about the diverse population that makes up our membership! If you are from Italy, or have ever been, feel free to share stories or experience right in the Opinions section on this page. Also, we welcome you to use the Video Center to upload any Italian related videos into the Spotlight section.

Congratulations to DaWaterRat, robrose and TheEvilCow. They were randomly selected from the correct entries in last week's Where in the World? Quiz. Keep an eye out for future quizes in the near future!

Human presence in Italy can be dated back some 200,000 years ago, but became a center of civilization with the rise of the Roman Empire. Many facets of the Roman culture are still seen throughout the world from architecture to philosophy. Today Italy is a republic, and has been a part of the European Union since its inception in 1957. The current population is almost 60 million people. It is the 71st largest country in the world by area. Italy is also the home of the Catholic Church, as well as the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Rome

The capital of Italy and also its largest city. Within Rome's borders was the center of Western civilization, and is the seat for the Roman Catholic Church. With centuries of history unfolding in this area, there are thousands of sites to see to get the complete Roman experience - from the Colosseum to the Sistine Chapel. It is no wonder that Rome was once the largest city in the entire world.

Venice

One of the most beautiful cities in the world, the "City of Water" is known for its famous canal structure throughout the city. The city was founded in a lagoon that was networked by several islands. It is said that Italians from the surrounding areas were fleeing the approaching armies of Attila the Hun, and chose the area due to the fact that the Huns' horses couldn't navigate the lagoon. Besides taking a ride through the canals, one can visit the many ancient landmarks that dot the city. Spots include the Venetian Arsenal, Piazza San Marco and (if you're in town at the right time) the Venice Film Festival.

Florence

A masterpiece for the masterpieces, beautiful Florence was the home of the Italian Renaissance. It was home to some of the giants of Literature, including Dante Alighieri and Niccolo Machiavelli. Some of the most recognizable names in art also stayed in Florence. Masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi and Donatello are just a few of the legendary artists that occupied the city. In more modern times, Florence was the birthplace of one the most famous names in fashion - Gucci. The abundance of art and architectural beauty led to the first case of Stendhal syndrome in 1817.

Enclaves

Italy is unique in that it has two sovereign nations completely within its borders: San Marino and Vatican City. San Marino is in northeast Italy, and is the oldest constitutional republic in the world, having been founded in 301. Vatican City, located entirely within the city of Rome, is the home of the Roman Catholic Church. This city-state is ruled entirely by the Pope.

Pisa

One of the most famous pieces of architecture "rests" here. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was constructed in 1173, and due to the loose rock the tower's foundation sits on, it slowly began to tilt to one side until it reached the 3.97 degree angle it sits at today. Beginning in 1990, Pisani authorities shored up the foundation and reinforced the tower to prevent it from tilting further and eventually toppling over.

Maranello

Where automotive beauty is born. Maranello is the home of Ferrari, maker of some of the world's top sports cars. The Fiorano Circuit - Ferrari's privately owned test track - is used for development and testing of Ferrari models. It is also for Ferrari customers to test drive new cars, and a crowd can sometimes form at the roadside as fans stop to view some of the most beautiful cars in the world being run.

It's not just spaghetti and pizza - a banquet table can be filled with different delicious Italian foods. From meats like beef, veal, chicken and seafood to pastas and sauces - you are guaranteed a culinary delight! Interested in some popular Italian recipes? Begin with this extensive list of fine Italian preparations. And don't forget dessert!

From Lamborghini to Leonardo da Vinci - Armani to Azzurri, Italy has brought beauty to anything it touches for centuries. Here are but a few famous examples of the fine work to come out of Italy over the generations:

Artwork
Mona Lisa	Sistine Chapel
Music
Pavarotti	Stradivarius
Automotive
Ferrari
Lamborghini
Fashion
Gucci	Armani
Sport
The Colosseum	Azzurri