Italian peninsula

Three smaller peninsulas contribute to this characteristic shape, namely Calabria ("the Toe"), Salento ("the Heel") and Gargano ("the Spur").

[1] The backbone of the Italian peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains, from which it takes one of its names.

The peninsula comprises much of Italy and also includes the enclaved microstates of San Marino and Vatican City.

Geographically, the minimum extent of the Italian peninsula consists of the land south of a line extending from the Magra to the Rubicon rivers, north of the Tuscan–Emilian Apennines.

[2][3] The Italian peninsula has the only active volcano on continental Europe, Mount Vesuvius.

Satellite view of the peninsula in March 2003
Minimum extent (excluding Northern Italy ) of the Italian peninsula in dark green and maximum extent (including Northern Italy) in light green