Italy is a land of extremes. In geographical terms alone, it is one of Europe’s most disaster-prone countries. Italy’s Civil Protection service works in a constant state of readiness to cope with the country's active volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, avalanches, forest fires... A large proportion of the country is hilly, and modern Italy is shaped by its natural geography as well as by millennia of turbulent history. Over the last three thousand years, Italy has had a consistently rich culture, producing fine buildings, works of art, and a mythologized history with timeless appeal. The bright and colorful festivals in Italy all year round, attract a considerable amount of tourists. Many Italian weekends are spent celebrating food, art, and culture of Italy. Festivals are a way to get in tune with Italian culture. The various carnivals, food and wine tasting, Jazz, football, all are parts of the festivities. Italy even hosts a number of international events like, Film Festivals, Dance Festivals and Art Festivals. Towns and cities around the country celebrate with a carnival leading up to the beginning of the religious period of Lent, normally within early February to early March. Well renowned is the Venetian carnival, which is held in the watery city for ten days preceding Ash Wednesday. Tourists can rent a car at Rome airport and drive to Venice and then to Sicily. There are so many options to see the attractions if you are traveling by car. Portofino and the Tigullio Gulf are emblems representing Italy throughout the world. The coast is a serie of fashionable resorts with their marinas, colorful houses, first-rate sports facilities and the attractive atmosphere of the Dolce Vita. But perhaps the most spectacular thing for the traveler is the beauty of the seascapes, with some of the most celebrated views in Italy, suspended between the intense blue of the sea and the green mountains.