Transport system of Italy. Characteristics of transport in Italy (modern)

By bus, train or ferry you can get to almost anywhere in Italy. For longer distances it is more convenient to fly by plane.

Owning a car gives you more freedom, but remember that petrol and motorway driving are very expensive in Italy. The optimal solution is to travel by public transport between big cities and drive a personal car only outside the city.

Water transport

Navi - large ferries of Sicily and Sardinia, traghetti - small ferries and aliscafi ply between small islands. The main passenger pick-up points in Sardinia are Livorno, Civitavecchia and; in Sicily – and Villa San Giovanni in Calabria. Arrival points in Sardinia are Cagliari, Arabatax, Olbia and Porto Torres; in Sicily - and Messina.

Detailed information about all ferry services in Italy can be found here. The website lists all routes, and also contains links to companies where you can book trips and buy tickets.

Tirrenia Navigazioni (0810 171 998; www.tirrenia.it) serves almost all Italian ports. There are also companies such as Grandi Navi Veloci, Superfast, Ventouris and Montenegro Lines.

Many ferry trips take place at night. You can choose your seat in a 2/3/4-seater cabin or even a separate Poltrona seat. Deck class means you can sit or sleep on the deck or in the common lounges. Almost all ferries carry cars.

Hitchhiking in Italy

In Italy it's quite a rare event. Public transport is quite reliable and most Italians prefer to use it rather than cars. Hitting a ride is unsafe, especially for women.

Buses and trams are popular public transport in Italy

Bus services in Italy are provided by many companies. They cover both local routes and intercity connections. Traveling by bus is not always cheaper than by train, but in terms of traveling to small town The bus is a very advantageous option.

Route schedules can be obtained from local tourist offices. IN major cities Most bus companies have ticket offices or offices. In some villages, bus tickets are sold on the buses themselves or in bars. Please note that buses always leave on time.

There is no need to book tickets at all. This is only relevant during peak times tourist season and for long trips.

Metro and bus tickets

You should buy a ticket before boarding the bus and have it checked. For violations, a fine is given on the spot (about 50 euros).

There is a metro in Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin. The situation with tickets here is the same as on buses.

Every city, big or small, has an efficient urban and intercity bus network that reaches even the most remote villages. Tickets can be purchased at tobacco shops, newsstands, ticket offices and vending machines at bus stations. One ticket costs about 1 euro. Also, almost everywhere there are promotions for one-day tourist tickets.

Cars and motorcycles

Italy has a network of motorways, which can be recognized by the white road sign A on a green background. North and south are connected by del Sole - this route extends from Milan to Reggio Calabria (A1 from Milan to, A2 from Rome to and A3 from Naples to Reggio Calabria).

Tolls apply to most highways. You can pay in cash or by credit card. To avoid queues, buy a prepaid card (Viacard). They are sold in banks and ACI offices. Denomination – 25, 50 and 75 euros. This card can be used throughout Italy. For detailed information on tolls, call 800 26 92 69 or visit www.autostrade.it

Strade statal - such roads are represented on maps with S or CC signs. This is a two- or four-lane highway on which traffic does not move quickly, especially in mountainous areas. Strade provinciali are rural roads connecting small villages. Strade locali are local roads that may not yet be built.

Trains are the fastest and most convenient form of transport in Italy

Trains in Italy are relatively inexpensive compared to others European countries. This is a fast and convenient form of transport.

The railways are almost entirely state-owned, operated by the partially privatized Trenitalia (800 89 20 21 in Italian; www.trenitalia.com). And there are also private railway lines.

There are several types of trains in Italy. Some stop at all stations, such as regional or interregional trains, while faster trains - Intercity (IC) or faster Eurostar Italia (ES) - stop only in major cities.

Almost every station has either luggage storage or lockers. The cells, which are guarded by guards, are usually open either from 6:00 to 00:00, or around the clock. Cost – 3 euros per seat.

Train classes and costs

Seats on most Italian trains are divided into first and second class. A 1st class ticket costs slightly less than two 2nd class tickets.

For intercity travel or on Eurostar trains, a surcharge of from 3 to 16 euros is charged, depending on the length of the distance. The cost of a Eurostar ticket includes a supplement and a booking fee. Current prices for routes can be found on the Trenitalia website.

To the cost of overnight travel, it is worth adding an additional payment for a sleeping place - about 20 euros.

It is not necessary to book tickets, but it is advisable, as tickets for popular routes sell out quickly. Pre-order will cost you 3 euros. It's always worth booking Eurostar train tickets.

You can book a train ticket in most travel agencies, in the Internet. You can also buy a ticket by arriving at the station in advance. To sell tickets for Eurostar trains, there are special ticket offices at some stations.

Carta Verde can be purchased at all major stations. This card costs 40 euros and is valid for a year. It entitles you to a 10% discount on domestic flights within Germany and 25% on intercity flights. The Carta d'Argento costs €30 and offers a 15% discount on domestic flights and 25% on intercity flights.

Public transport within the city

All major cities have well developed transport systems buses and metro. However, in Venice, for example, the only transportation options are by vaporetto (small passenger ferries) or on foot.

Taxi

There are taxi stands at train and bus stations. Voting" on the roads is illegal. If you called a taxi by phone, keep in mind that the meter started working when you called, and not when you got into the car. The minimum price for taxi driver services is from 2.33 to 4.91 euros, depending on the time of day, plus 0.78 euros per kilometer (in Rome this price is 1.29 euros), and as a result, the shortest trips around the city will cost from 10 to 15 euros. No more than 4-5 people can travel in one taxi.

Air Transport

Major local airlines are Air One (phone: 199 207 080; Alitalia (phone: 06 22 22; www.flyairone.it); and Meridiana (phone: 89 29 28; www.flyairone.it); Ryanair (phone: 899 678 910; www.flyairone.it); also has domestic flights within Italy.

The country's main airports are located in Rome, Pisa, Milan, Bologna, Genoa, Naples, Venice, Catania, and Cagliari.

Bicycles

The whole country rides bicycles. There are no special rules, but it is recommended to wear helmets and turn on headlights. Bicycles cannot be ridden on highways. If you plan to take your bike on holiday to Italy, check with your airline about any additional costs. For transportation, the bicycle must be disassembled and packed. Don't forget to also bring spare parts and tools for repairs.

If a train has a bicycle icon, it means it can carry “two-wheeled friends.” The cheapest way is to buy a separate ticket for the bicycle; it costs from 3.5 to 12 euros for intercity, Eurostar and Euronight trains. This ticket is valid for 24 hours, which is quite economical. Disassembled and packed bicycles can be accepted free of charge on night trains, and they can always be carried on ferries without additional fees.

Involuntarily, people begin to think about how the country’s transport network is organized. This issue is especially of concern to Russians who are accustomed to road difficulties.

Roads and transport services in Italy are at the proper level, as befits the status tourist country. Trains, buses, cars - movement around the country is organized, systematized and streamlined. So, tourists, feel free to plan your travel routes around Italy.

Rail transport in Italy

Trains in Italy, as elsewhere, run on a strict schedule in accordance with established routes. The railway connection connects all major cities into a single transport network. Traveling around Italy by train is chosen by people who, slowly and in comfortable conditions, want to admire the picturesque beauties of the Italian provinces and its amazing landscapes.

The level of comfort while traveling depends on the desires and capabilities of the traveler himself.

Train tickets in Italy are redeemed on the platform, not in the train carriage. The Italian railway has flexible tariffs and various discounts. Therefore, when purchasing a ticket, indicate the age of the children and present a student ID. In general, perhaps the most convenient way to travel around Italy is by rail.

If you want to ensure the most comfortable conditions for yourself, buy tickets for Eurostar Italia or TBiz class trains. Passengers on these trains can count on:
Exact compliance with the schedule, eliminating delays in the arrival and departure of trains.
High speed of movement.
Limited number of stops along the entire train route. Stops at intermediate stations are excluded. These trains have the green light on all lines.
Comfortable coupe. Dining car. High level of service. The carriages even have electrical outlets.

Traveling with friends or family? It will be more convenient for a group of travelers to take an Intercity class train. These intercity trains are equipped with six-seater compartments. Having a pleasant time in the company of friends will make the trip interesting and tireless.

When choosing trains of the “Regionale” and “Interregionale” classes, be prepared for the fact that the speed of movement may seem slow to you, and these trains often stop at insignificant stations and stand for a long time on station branches major cities. But the price of tickets for these trains is pleasantly surprising.

Do you have a long way to go? For example, traveling from Rome to Milan by train takes a long time. So why not combine your trip with a night's sleep? Having bought a ticket for a “Treni Notte” class train, you can board the train at the Rome railway station in the evening, sit comfortably in a comfortable compartment and sleep the whole way to the soothing sound of the wheels. In the morning, having rested and slept well, you are surprised to find that the train is already arriving in Milan. Many tourists, by the way, do just that.

In Italy (especially in tourist areas), buses may not stop at stops unless requested by a passenger. When at a bus stop, simply wave your hand to show the driver that you are about to board the bus. Bus interiors are equipped with special buttons.

Attention! Rail transport in Italy has its own characteristics. When planning to use it, you need to keep a few important points in mind.

1. It is better to book train tickets in advance. This can be done by phone or on the Railway Company website. If you decide to purchase a ticket immediately before the trip, at the ticket office, then arrive at the station in advance. There are sometimes a lot of travelers, the queues for tickets are long and move with at a snail's pace. It is possible that you may simply not get tickets for the planned flight.

2. When ordering a train ticket on the carrier company’s website, remember that, first of all, you will be offered only expensive tickets. If you don’t want to overpay for travel, click on the “other options” button - perhaps among them you will find cheaper trains and tickets. And one more thing: after paying for the purchase of a ticket remotely, do not forget to remember (write down) the code that will allow you to get your ticket from the ticket machine at the station.

3. If you do not put a special stamp on your ticket confirming the ticket, then, in fact, even though you have a ticket in your hands, you will find yourself in the position of a “hare” - a free rider. When checking tickets in this case, you will have to pay a fine (more than 50 euros). Tickets are stamped in small machines installed in the station building. It's easy to recognize them: they are bright yellow color and have the inscription “Convalida”.

4. If you have a lot of trips to do, then it makes sense to think about purchasing a travel ticket.

You should not argue with a traffic policeman in Italy; the fine for a violation may double. An attempt to “agree” may result in arrest for the offender.

Knowing about all the features of traveling around Italy by train, the trip will seem convenient and enjoyable. The main advantage railway transport– reliability and safety.

Road transport in Italy

Road transport is the choice of those travelers who independently plan their travel routes around the country. Italy's roads are unevenly distributed. The northern provinces are connected by an extensive network of highways, their quality meets European standards. And here southern cities and the provinces, unfortunately, cannot boast of this. The length of highways here is much shorter, and the quality of the road surface is not always pleasing to motorists.

The cost of renting a car starts from thirty euros per day. This amount includes unlimited mileage for the duration of use, car insurance, third party damage insurance, taxes. Don't forget to check the car's condition before picking it up from the rental company. Theft insurance is not always included in the daily price. Most gas stations in Italy are open until 19.00, with a break for siesta. Most gas stations are closed on Sunday. Gas stations on main highways are still open 24 hours a day.

When choosing to travel around Italian cities by car, you need to know:

Many highways in the country require tolls. You can pay for travel on the highway at special booths (they say “Viacard”). They are usually installed at the entrance to the highway, and in some cases at the exit. Sometimes you have to pay for travel only for a certain section, for example a bridge. You can pay for the trip with credit cards, cash, or buy a special prepaid card.

Italian roads are often crammed with modern road video surveillance devices. They record everything that happens on the section of road being monitored: who drove, at what speed he drove, what rules he violated. Fines for violations are sent to the violator's postal address. If a resident of another state violates the rules, he, in addition to the fine itself, will be forced to pay the cost of the measures taken by the Italian police to search for him. And this is not a small amount! Therefore, when traveling along the roads of Italy by road, be extremely attentive, careful and in no case violate the traffic rules. Needless to say, without knowing these rules, it is better not to drive at all!

Never drive while drunk. Driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol (drugs) is punishable very strictly, including imprisonment.

If you take a child with you on a trip, remember that children under 10 years old should only be in the back seat and only in car seats!

Seat belts must be fastened!

And finally, one more tip: buy a card highways Italy, or use the navigator. This way you will definitely not get lost in an unfamiliar country.

Bus transport in Italy

Illegally parked cars with rental plates are the first to attract the attention of the police. You can usually park near hotels for a short period of time. It is prohibited to park in parking lots limited by the yellow line. Parking limited by the white line is free, the blue line is paid through a meter (disco orario, time limit - 30, 60 or 90 minutes).

Traveling around Italy by bus is very popular among both local residents, and among tourists. Bus transport in Italy is represented by quite a few companies engaged in both urban and intercity transportation. The largest of them are united in a special alliance - “IBus”. Services for the transportation of goods and passengers provided by its member companies are systematically distributed and cover almost the entire territory of Italy. IBus also provides the opportunity to use bus routes when leaving Italy for another country.

You can find out the routes, departure and arrival times of buses, as well as order tickets online, on the official website of the IBus alliance.

Water transport in Italy

In order to come to Italy, you can use water transport. Motor ships, ferries, pleasure boats, gondolas constitute quite serious competition to railway and road transport. Their popularity among tourists (and the Italians themselves, too, for that matter) is due to the fact that Italy is washed by seas on three sides at once, and the country’s territory is completely dotted with large and small rivers and canals. In addition, Italy includes island provinces: Sardinia, Sicily and others. Ferry crossing- the most profitable and convenient way to communicate with the mainland. Ferries run along given routes periodically, sometimes making 4-5 trips a day, depending on the demand for this type transport. The ferry carries both passengers and ground transport: buses, cars; as well as cargo, including container cargo.

Italy is one of the most economically prosperous countries in Europe. And this can be seen not only by the level of well-being of its residents, but also by the quality of transport links within the country, which is a necessary factor for the development of business and tourism.

Road transport and roads in Italy

The road network in Italy is well developed and evenly distributed throughout the country, although there is a slight predominance of roads in the north of Italy compared to the south. However, this does not in any way affect the quality of road transport. Thanks to the dense road network, 80% of freight traffic and 90% passenger transportation carried out by cars.

Buses of large Italian companies Sita and Autostradale transport passengers in the northern part of Italy. Lazzi buses operate in the central regions of the country. Bus transportation is highly organized, but ticket prices are quite high. Traveling by train is much cheaper, in addition, buses do not always adhere to the schedule.

There is no central bus station in Rome. Cotral buses operate between Rome and many cities. Passengers are disembarked at the Tiburtina railway station or near nearby metro stations.

There are many highways in Italy. Their technical condition is constantly monitored. Expressways on maps are indicated by the symbol (A) - autostrade. Immediately after the symbol is the number designation of the motorway, for example: A1 - Autostrada del Sole (Milano - Napoli / Milan - Naples). Highways are toll roads, and the longer the travel section, the better the price.

Driving around the city

In contrast to well-maintained intercity routes, many streets in Italian cities are not so convenient for vehicles. They are not wide enough and have many turns, which often results in traffic jams.

Railway of Italy

There is also great demand for rail transportation. A dense network of railways connects cities and towns in Italy. Like roads, many railways were built directly on the slopes of mountains. This explains a large number of bridges and tunnels that exist on any road in all parts of the country. The railway network is not only well equipped technically, but is also expanding, which makes it possible to quickly and easily get to any city in Italy.

Maritime transport in Italy

Maritime transport also plays a big role in the country's external and internal transportation. This is due to the significant length coastline, general position in Italy sea ​​route, as well as the presence of islands that are part of the country. 144 ports - that’s how many there are on the shores of Italy. The largest is the port of Genoa, which is known throughout the world. The second largest port in terms of cargo turnover after Genoa is Trieste. The largest passenger port in Italy is Naples, which is the center of connections with Sardinia, Sicily and other islands. The Italian navy has more than a thousand ships.

Aviation

Due to lack large rivers in Italy river transport is poorly developed here. The same cannot be said about civil aviation. There are many daily flights from Italy to the most different countries peace. The most major airports countries are the Roman “Leonardo da Vinci” (L’aeroporto di Roma Fiumicino), the Milanese “Linate” and “Malpens”.

Most major Italian cities have public transport- metro, tram and trolleybus lines (ATAC), as well as buses and commuter trains(COTRAL). Transport routes are shown on special maps, which can be purchased at newspaper sales outlets, gas stations, railway stations and bus stations. To travel on municipal transport, you must purchase a ticket on which the date and time of the start of the trip and the last transfer are noted. You can use a tourist ticket, which gives you the right to unhindered movement on any type of public transport during the day.

Enough popular mode of transport in Italy is a taxi. You can simply stop him on the road or call him by phone. You should not use the services of private carriers, as they significantly inflate prices. Licensed taxis are equipped with communication equipment and meters.

Water transport in Italy

In Italy you can enjoy walks on water transport . For example, the airport can be reached by ships owned by the Cooperativa San Marco company, making a stop on the island of Lido.

Bicycles, mopeds and scooters

In large city authorities they promote riding bicycles as part of the program to fight for the environment. There are many bicycle rental points in such cities. Initially, they did not charge a fee for their use, but a little later it was introduced, but it was insignificant.

Besides, Riding mopeds or scooters is quite common in Italy. They can also be rented. This is done by organizations such as Scoot-a-Long, St. Peter's Moto or Happy Rent. When riding, you must wear a protective helmet.

Intercity transport in Italy

Travel from city to city in Italy most comfortable on company-owned trains Trenitalia. The train schedule is posted on the company's website. Please note that booking tickets on the website is not always convenient, as it does not always provide accurate information about the availability of seats.

It is best to use the ticket vending machines located at each railway station. When ordering a travel document, you have the opportunity to choose a seat in the carriage.

The fastest and expensive trains are the "Red Arrow" (Frecciarossa) and the "Silver Arrow" (Frecciargento), whose travel time from Florence is a little over an hour. If you travel along the same route on Intercity trains, the travel time will be twice as long.

"Red Arrow" (Frecciarossa)

"Silver Arrow" (Frecciargento)

If you need to travel with a transfer, then it is best to use trains called " regionale" Such trains usually carry large numbers of people, there are no toilets, and tickets do not indicate the carriage number and seat. The only advantage of "regionale" is the cost of travel to them. For example, in order to get to Napoli from Rome you need to pay 10 euros for a ticket.

Night trips are considered the most economical. For this purpose, seated compartments for 6 people are provided.

If you need to get to Sicily or Sardinia, it is best to use the services of Alitalia's local subsidiary, Air One. In this case, you will need to pay about 50 euros for a round trip ticket.

Not very convenient to travel to Italy for own car , since in all large cities there is a parking problem, highways are mostly toll roads and fuel is quite expensive. Please note that in some Italian cities, in order to fight for the environment, city authorities prohibit entering the city center by car without special permission. However, in Sicily, it makes sense to rent a car (cost about 300 euros for 7 days) for free movement along free mountain roads and stops on “wild” beaches.

To rent a car you need driver's license international standard, a passport indicating age (over 25 years), and the required amount of money. Please note that drunk driving is punishable by significant fines or jail time.

CONTENT:

1. The place of Italy and its transport in the modern world economy.

2. Natural conditions and natural resources of the country.

3. Development of transport.

4. General characteristics of the economy, characteristics of the industry, characteristics Agriculture

5. Economic relations in Italy carried out through

river and sea ports

6. Characteristics of transport (modern):

Ground modes and air transport.

River and sea.

Characteristics of ports.

7. Prospects for the development of transport in Italy and its ports.

8. Schematic maps

Physiographic conditions

Transport network and industry

9. List of used literature.

The place of Italy and its transport in the modern world economy.

Italy is a developed capitalist country, located in the center of the Mediterranean, in the south of Western Europe and focusing not only many typical features of nature, economic, political, cultural life, but also the most important problems of both regions. In terms of economic development, it is one of the most developed countries. Modern Italy, although not one of the great powers that have a decisive influence on the course of world events, is still one of the seven largest capitalist states in the world in terms of the scale of economic activity.

Italy occupies the Apennine Peninsula, which juts deep into the sea, the part of the mainland adjacent to it from the north - the Padana Plain, bordered by a powerful arc of the Alps, as well as the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia and a number of small archipelagos and islets. In terms of area (301 thousand sq. km), Italy belongs to the category of medium-sized countries, ranking third in Western Europe(after France and Spain). Administratively, Italy is divided into 20 historically established and constitutionally established regions, which are divided into 94 provinces, which in turn consist of communes with a total number of over 8 thousand. The capital of Italy is Rome.

A land border approximately 1,900 km long, approximately coinciding with the main watershed of the Alps, separates Italy from France, Switzerland, Austria, and Yugoslavia. It runs almost entirely along high mountain ranges. Among the mountains, however, there are depressions through which railways and trackless roads pass, connecting Italy with neighboring countries. Maritime boundaries separate the territorial waters of Italy from the territorial waters of France, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, Libya, Greece, Albania and Yugoslavia. The territory of Italy is interspersed with two independent miniature states - the Vatican and San Marino.

A major role in the life of Italy is played by the Mediterranean Sea that washes it and its individual parts: the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic and Ionian seas. ITS coastline stretches for 7500 km. The sea coast of Italy is the most densely populated; there are many industrial and port cities, resorts, the most important roads and railways stretch along the coasts, coastal shipping is developed, regular sea voyages connect Italy with the countries of Europe and other continents.

Italy's central position Mediterranean Sea, at the crossroads of trade routes between the West and the East, has always been extremely important for the country - both in ancient times, and in the Middle Ages, and in the Renaissance, and in more recent times. The significance of Italy's modern economic and geographical position is determined primarily by the fact that it is the first of the developed capitalist countries of Western Europe to encounter the flow of Middle Eastern oil that feeds Western European industry. In Italy, many of the most important air routes intersect, connecting the countries of Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

Italy's key strategic position in the Mediterranean basin attracts close attention from NATO leaders, who consider the country to be the centerpiece of their military system in southern Europe and the entire Mediterranean. Italy is an active member of NATO. On its territory there are dozens of main US bases and a number of airfields, training grounds and other military facilities of the US and NATO. Particularly important is the island of Sicily.

Closely linked economically with many European countries, Italy is part of most of the economic and political organizations that arose after the Second World War in the process of capitalist integration of Europe. In particular, it is a member of the European Economic Community and Euratom.

The geographical position of Italy is in many respects favorable for its economic development. The Mediterranean Sea provides Italy with convenient connections with European countries and North Africa, and after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, Italy found itself on trade routes leading to the countries of South and East Asia, to East Africa, Australia. Thus, Italy's geographical position allows it to widely use maritime transport for overseas and coastal transport and at the same time develop connections with its land neighbors.

Natural conditions and natural resources.

Italy is located in the temperate and - for the most part - subtropical zones. This explains the richness and diversity of its northernmost point - Betta d'Italia - located in the Tyrol mountains at 47 north latitude; the southernmost is Cape Isola delle Correnti at 36.5 north latitude. (Island of Sicily) not counting small islands.

Physiographically, the territory of Italy is divided into three parts: the mainland, which is the Padan lowland, bordered by a system of alpine ridges and peaks, occupying about 120 thousand km. The Apennine Peninsula, stretched in the shape of a boot for 900 km. into the central part of the Mediterranean Sea with a width of 125 to 230 km. with an area of ​​130 thousand km; the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and a number of smaller ones with an area of ​​about 59 thousand km.

Certain parts of the peninsular and island territory of the country are characterized by a significantly rugged coastline, the presence of bays, bays and convenient harbors. There are especially many of them on the western coast of the peninsula, washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea. These are the gulfs of Genoa, La Spezia, Gaeta, Neapolitan, Salerno, etc., the bays of Savona, Livorno, Civitavecchia. Major seaports are located here. The coastline washed by the Adriatic Sea is less indented. Its northern section from the state border to Rimini is replete with lagoons and wetlands; to the south, up to the Gargano Peninsula, the high and steep shores of the Adriatic are devoid of any convenient natural harbors and bays; only south coast The Adriatic Sea has separate convenient natural bays, the main of which are Bari and Brindisi.

Italy is a predominantly mountainous country. About 4/5 of its surface is occupied by folded mountains of Alpine age, their foothills and hills. The lowland part is represented by the Padan lowland along the Po River, which occupies over 1/7 of the country's territory, and small areas in the coastal strip of the peninsula. The relief of Italy, which is the result of complex geophysical processes, on the one hand, determines the variety of natural conditions that contribute to the development of agriculture, and on the other hand, it narrows the area of ​​land cultivated by humans, and also complicates and makes the development of transport links between individual parts of the country more expensive.

In the north, Italy is separated from the rest of the continent by the highest powerful arc of the Alps in Europe, which stretches from west to east for 1200 km, arching to the northwest. The Alps are a very complex system consisting of many mountain ranges and ridges separated by longitudinal and transverse valleys. The most high peaks- Mont Blanc (4807 m above sea level), Monte Rosa (4634 m), Cervino (4478 m) - concentrated in the western, most ancient part of the Alps. The Alps are a powerful barrier against the action of air masses from the north. In this powerful mountain belt there are, however, convenient passages that have long been used for economic relations. For example, in the Lepontine Alps the railway runs in the valley of the Ticino River, then heading through the Gotthard Tunnel (15 km) to Switzerland and the Simplon Tunnel (20 km) to France. Railway communication with Austria is carried out through the Brenner Passage in the Venetian Alps along the valley of the Izorco River, a tributary of the Adige. The Alps are actively involved in the economic life of the country; Large reserves of river energy are used here, construction materials, metal ores and other minerals are mined, and herds graze on mountain meadows. In recent decades, the construction of high-mountain hydroelectric power stations, roads, and the rapid development of mountain tourism have increased the avalanche danger.

The Maritime Alps turn into the Apennine Mountains, bordering the Ligurian Gulf and stretching further across the entire Apennine Peninsula. The Apennines are longer than the Alps (more than 1500 km), but cannot be compared with it in height. Their highest point, Monte Corno in the Gran Sasso d'Italia massif, reaches only 2914 m above sea level. seas. Relief and geological structure The Apennines are complex and varied. The mountains are sometimes arranged in curtains with valleys closed between them (in Tuscany), sometimes they stretch in long chains from northwest to southeast (in the Central Apennines), sometimes they break up into separate massifs (in Campania, Basilicata), sometimes they pass into the high plateaus of Calabria . The Apennines are composed mainly of conglomerates, sandstones, limestones, shales, marbles, individual massifs and plateaus of Southern Italy - ancient igneous and metamorphic rocks, also characteristic of the mountains of Sicily and Sardinia.

And in the Alps. and in the Apennines, limestone is widespread and, in connection with this, the most diverse manifestations of karst: sinkholes, wells, fields, grottoes, caves, rivers disappearing underground. The caves attract many tourists; some have constant air humidity, salt and healing mud and are used for medicinal purposes. At the same time, karst causes great damage to the economy, drying out and impoverishing the soil, preventing the construction of buildings and roads, causing landslides and landslides.

In Italy, both ancient and modern volcanic rocks of all types (basalts, liparites, tuffs) are widespread, especially characteristic of Tuscany, Lazio, Campania, Sicily, Sardinia. In Italy there are volcanoes of different types and in different stages of development: extinct (Euganean Hills, Alban Mountains), and active (Etna, Vesuvius, Stromboli). Nowadays, the highest (3296 m above sea level) and powerful of the Italian ones is the most active volcanoes - Etna. It erupts regularly every three to five years and even more often. To the southwest of Sicily, underwater eruptions occur from time to time, small islands appear, which are soon washed away by the sea. In a vast area from southern Tuscany to the coast of the Gulf of Naples, other natural phenomena associated with volcanism can be observed - emissions of water vapor under high pressure (Ischia Island), carbon dioxide (Grotto of Dogs in the Phlegrean Fields, near Naples), hot mineral springs in Tuscany, mud volcanoes in the Emilian Apennines.

The only extensive lowland in Italy is the Padana Plain, which occupies most of the Po River basin. It gradually decreases from 400-500 m in the west to sea level in the east. As it declines, not only the landscapes change, but also the nature of the agricultural use of the territory: from orchards and vineyards in the west to livestock, grain and beet-growing areas of the lower reaches of the Po River in the east. The Padana Plain is not only the main granary of Italy, but also the most urbanized and economically developed region of the country.

Despite a fairly large variety of mineral resources, Italy is very insufficiently and unevenly provided with raw materials and energy resources. Deposits of many minerals are small in reserves, scattered throughout the country, and are often located in an inconvenient location for development. Until now, the subsoil has not been sufficiently studied. At the same time, some deposits have been developed since such ancient times that they are now being depleted or have already been exhausted and abandoned. Thus, in 1982, iron ore mining was completely stopped in the country, including on the island of Elba, where iron was mined by the Etruscans.

Italy is much richer in lead-zinc ores with an admixture of silver and other metals. These deposits are associated with the crystalline and metamorphic massif of Sardinia and with the Triassic limestones of the Eastern Alps. The Tuscany region is rich in reserves of pyrites and mercury ore - cinnabar, the reserves of which Italy ranks second in the world; Antimony ores occur in the Devonian limestones of Sardinia. Sulfur deposits, known since the times of Ancient Rome, are concentrated mainly in the area of ​​​​Caltanissetta on the island of Sicily. The subsoil of Italy is rich in a variety of construction and finishing materials (marble, granite, tuff, etc.). Marble is quarried in a number of places, but especially in the Carrara area. In terms of reserves of other types of raw materials, Italy is poor. Anthracite occurs in small quantities in the Valle d'Aosta region, colloidal lignites in Tuscany, peat and peat-like lignites. There are small deposits of manganese in Central Italy and Liguria. Bauxite, long mined from the karst depressions of Apulia, is now almost exhausted. The island of Sicily has reserves of potash and rock salt, asphalt, and bitumen.

In the post-war years, quite significant (for Italy) oil resources were discovered - in the Padana Lowland, in the Alpine foothills, as well as on the island of Sicily. In addition to these are bituminous shales on the island of Sicily in the Ragusa region, near San Valentino in the Abruzzo e Molise region, and also in the Frosinone region (Lazio). In Sardinia, Tuscany, and Umbria there are small deposits of brown and low-quality coal. Italy's own energy resources satisfy no more than 15% of Italy's needs. Under these conditions, deposits of natural methane gas, usually dissolved in water, which permeates the loose tertiary and quaternary sediments of the Padan Lowland in the lower reaches of the Po River and its underwater continuation - the continental shelf of the Adriatic Sea, are very important for the country's economy. Gas has also been found in sandstones, marls, shales of the Northern, Central and Southern Apennines, in Sicily and off its coast and on the shelf of the Ionian Sea. The general lack of energy resources used in thermal power plants is to some extent compensated for by the presence of fairly rich hydropower reserves in the country.

Development of transport (highlighting maritime).

Transport.

The most important branch of the circulation sphere. Transportation of goods and work force constitutes that part of the sphere of circulation which is a continuation of the process of production in the sphere of circulation.

In Italy, transport is developing in accordance with the same trends as observed in other European countries - in particular, the share of road transport is increasing, mainly due to the reduction in the share of rail transport. This is because road transport is more mobile, requires lower costs for support services and minimizes transshipment work, since it delivers cargo directly to its destination (opportunities that sea and rail transport do not have).

The difference between Italy is that here and in domestic cargo transportation, road transport has acquired an exceptionally high share, while the share of all other modes of transport has fallen to an extremely low level.

This deeply specific situation in Italian transport is explained by the special impact that industry has on this sector. The fact is that such sectors of Italian industry as the automobile, rubber, oil refining and building materials industries are developing the fastest, developing the fastest. Industries producing railway rolling stock are slowly developing their production. Therefore, the first group of industries and the monopolies operating in it were able to give a road direction to the development of Italian transport without much difficulty.

Development of maritime transport in Italy.

In Italy, whose borders are washed by more than 90% of the seas and in which most of the territory is coastal areas, the coastal fleet is also important in the internal transportation of passengers and especially cargo. Among the sectors of Italian transport, it is of great interest navy, which is the largest international carrier and is important for the development of Italian foreign trade. 90% of goods imported into Italy and 55-60% of exports pass through seaports. The Italian merchant marine fleet performs the most important national economic functions. This is the main reason that it is overwhelmingly under state control.

In the 70s, the importance of maritime transport and shipping for the Italian economy and, first of all, for its foreign trade increased due to shifts in the country's energy balance (more than 86% of total energy needs are met through the import of oil and gas). Shifts that happened in last years in the structure of industry and foreign trade, caused changes in the ratio between different types of ships in the Italian fleet. The rapid development of the oil refining industry has caused rapid growth of the tank fleet. The decline in the importance of coal in the energy sector has caused a decline in the share of the dry cargo fleet. In addition, American coal used in Italy is usually delivered on American ships.

Italian Merchant Navy.

The Italian merchant fleet in the post-war years underwent significant quantitative and general structural changes. On the one hand, they were caused by the decommissioning of outdated and heavily worn-out vessels, and on the other hand, by the replenishment of the fleet with new, larger and more modern vessels. Changes in the composition and structure of the Italian merchant fleet for the period 1874 to 1983 are characterized by the following data.

years
total quantity
total capacity
V
volume
number
e

thousand reg. tons
tankers
bulk carriers and carts
rudo
etc. su ships
hogr

shaft.together reg.tons
%
%
shaft.together reg.tons
%

1974
1421,00
5708,00
1982,00
34,8
1027
17,6
2699
47,6

1975
1413,00
5701,00
1989,00
34,9
1091
19,3
2621
45,8

1976
1403,00
5851,00
2113,00
37
1191
20,4
2492
42,6

1977
1445,00
6219,00
2140,00
34,5
1506
24,2
2573
44,3

1978
1490,00
6624,00
2414,00
36,5
1674
25,3
2536
38,2

1979
1552,00
7038,00
2573,00
36,5
1900
27
2565
36,5

1980
1639,00
7448,00
2721,00
36,5
2089
28,1
2638
35,4

1981
1690,00
8139,00
3027,00
37,2
2455
30,1
2657
32,7

1982
1684,00
8187,00
3119,00
38
2510
30,7
2558
31,3

1983
1726,00
8867,00
3437,00
37,7
2866
32,4
2564
29,9

From the data presented it follows that over 10 years, the specific value of the tonnage of bulk carriers and ore carriers has increased especially sharply, and the share of all other dry cargo ships has decreased.

As of July 1, 1983, tankers, bulk carriers, ore carriers and combination vessels accounted for 70.1% of the total gross tonnage of all seagoing vessels available in Italy. Despite the above-mentioned replenishment of the merchant fleet with new, larger vessels, small and medium-tonnage vessels continue to predominate in its overall composition.

As of July 1, 1983, more than half (57.9%) of all seagoing vessels had a gross tonnage of up to 1,000 reg. tons, and their share accounted for only 4.45% of the total gross tonnage of the fleet. Many of these vessels have long service lives and are gradually being replaced by newer vessels. As of the same date, there were only 23 ships in the merchant fleet with a gross tonnage of more than 50 thousand tons. tons with a service life of less than 4 years.

Most of Italian ships had diesel and diesel-electric installations as main engines. Steam-powered ships account for 14.5% of the total number of seagoing ships.

Brief information on the characteristics of the main groups of transport vessels.

Available in Italy sea ​​vessels as of July 1, 1983, the main types and purposes were distributed as follows.

types of vessels
number of ships
total gross capacity, reg. tons
specific value RHV, %

1. Tankers for transporting oil and petroleum products
344
3449184
2,98

2.Gas carriers
26
133027
2,01

3.Tankers for liquid chemicals
17
21070
3,23

4.Combination vessels
21
1145231
5,86

5. Bulk carriers and ore carriers
93
1721040
3,24

6. Dry cargo ships for transportation. gene. cargo
663
1289842
1,84

7. Container ships and ro-ro
6
69661
1,9

8.Passenger ships
25
533288
17,77

9. Ferries, etc.
157
334784
7,99

10.Fishing
225
90847
1,3

11.Tugs
213
47199
4,34

12.Other vessels
33
30760
-

Total
1726
8867205
2,86

Tanker fleet. For the transportation of oil and petroleum products, there are a total of 320 tankers with a total gross tonnage of 3,437,391 reg. t (total deadweight 5,901,231 t). For coastal shipping and bunkering operations there were 24 small vessels with a total gross tonnage of 11,793 gross tonnage. More than half of the tanker fleet capacity is represented by vessels less than nine years old, incl. 11 tankers with a gross tonnage of 40-50 thousand tons. tons each and 10 tankers with a gross tonnage of 50-140 thousand reg. tons each less than 4 years old.

Gas carriers and vessels for transporting liquid chemicals. For the transportation of liquefied gas there were 26 small vessels with a total gross tonnage of 133,027 reg. tons Some of these ships are used for transportation from Algeria to the southern ports of Europe. For the transport of liquid chemicals there are 17 small vessels with a total gross tonnage of 21,070 tons. tons

Combined vessels, bulk carriers and ore carriers. This is the second largest and most important group of cargo ships. There are 114 ships with a total gross tonnage of 2,866,271 registered. tons (total deadweight 4,859,207 tons). This group includes: 21 combined vessels with a total gross tonnage of 1,145,231 reg. tons and 93 ore carriers, bulk carriers and bulk ore carriers sum. gross tonnage 1,721,040 reg. tons

The group of dry cargo ships (including cargo-passenger ships) is the largest, with 663 ships of various types and purposes with a total gross tonnage of 10,876 reg. tons Most of this group are small vessels with a gross tonnage of up to 2000 tons. tons each. This group is replenished with new ships on a limited scale and mainly with multi-purpose dry cargo ships, including those adapted for partial transportation of containers.

Container ships and container-trailer ships (ro-ro). On July 1, 1083, this group included 6 ships with a total gross tonnage of 69,661 reg. tons This group was replenished with container ships, which are used for transportation on the Far Eastern and Australian lines.

Passenger, ferry and other cargo-passenger ships. The Italian merchant fleet has 25 large passenger ships with a total gross tonnage of 533.3 thousand tons. tons This group includes 157 ferry and other cargo-passenger vessels with a total gross tonnage of 337.8 thousand reg. tons, which are mainly used to service domestic transport, and only a small part of them operate on short-term international lines in the Mediterranean Sea area.

The Italian merchant fleet was replenished with new ships, mainly Italian-built. Placement of orders abroad is allowed only for certain large-tonnage vessels, for the construction of which in Italy there is not sufficient equipment, experience and for other reasons. As of March 1983, Italy ranked 5th in the tonnage of ships built for its national fleet (after Great Britain, Liberia, Japan and Norway).

Economy of Italy.

Italy embarked on the path of capitalist development later than Great Britain and France - at the end of the 19th century, after political unification, which ended in 1870. However economic development the country, slowed down by strong remnants of feudalism, the poverty of the peasantry, and the weakness of the fuel and raw material base, progressed slowly.

On the eve of the First World War, Italy remained a backward agrarian country. Only Northern Italy stood out for its higher level of economic development: developed industry developed here, and agriculture was more intensive.

Despite economic weakness, the Italian bourgeoisie took an active part in the struggle for the redivision of the world. The arms race policy gave impetus to the development of heavy industry. New industries have received great development - automotive, aviation, electrical engineering, chemical (in particular, the production of rayon). The Second World War caused great damage to the Italian economy. Nevertheless, in the post-war period, Italian industry developed at a fairly high pace. The growth of industrial production is largely due to the influx of foreign capital.

Italy, in terms of its economic position, occupies an intermediate position between the most economically developed capitalist countries, led by the USA and Germany, and countries with an average level of development of the productive forces. In terms of its share in the capitalist industrial production of the world (5% in 1985), it ranks fifth after the USA, Japan, Germany and France. But in terms of national income per capita, Italy is inferior not only to these countries, but also to many others, surpassing only Greece, Spain and Ireland in Western Europe.

As in other highly developed countries, in Italy industry is the leading sector of the economy, although it employs a smaller part of the economically active population than the intensively and disproportionately growing service sector. The cost of industrial products is four times higher than the cost of agricultural products, in which 5.5 times less capital is invested annually than in industry. Industrial products dramatically dominate Italian exports.

A significant part of Italy's national wealth is in the hands of monopolies, 11 of which are among the largest concerns in the world. They dominate in the chemical and electrical industries (Montadison), the automotive industry (FIAT), and the rubber industry (Pirelli).

At the same time, there are a great many medium-sized, small and tiny firms in the country, mainly in the light and food industries, as well as in the production of household electrical appliances, equipment for processing synthetic materials, and in some sub-sectors of the machine tool industry. Since the 70s, there has been a noticeable trend towards a reduction in large and an increase in the role of small and medium-sized firms and enterprises.

The Italian state actively and in various forms intervenes in the country's economy: its specialized bodies participate in joint-stock companies as controlling shareholders, and industrial enterprises are created in accordance with various government programs. The state has become the largest entrepreneur in the country. Its positions are especially strong in energy, metallurgy, and shipbuilding. He owns many light industry enterprises. The largest banks were also nationalized. The pace of development of the public sector exceeds the development of the Italian economy as a whole. In modern conditions, state intervention in the economy is not limited to helping individual monopolistic associations develop the least profitable industries or those requiring particularly large capital investments. The main goal of government intervention is to ensure the continuity of the reproduction process, preserve and strengthen the capitalist system in the country.

A new important feature of the development of state-monopoly capitalism in Italy was the nationwide long-term programming of the economy, reflecting the increased degree of concentration and centralization of production and capital, increased monopolization and nationalization of the economy. Some industries (transport, communications, public Works etc.) are financed primarily on the basis of economic programs. Italy's largest and continuously operating program since 1950 is aimed at developing the economy of the South.

The Italian government encourages the influx of foreign capital, which plays an important role in the country's economy. Most of the investments are directed into mechanical engineering, chemistry and energy, and a significant share is invested in the service sector. The predominant capital is from the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

Many aspects of Italy's economic life are determined by its participation in the EEC. The specialization of production that emerged within the EEC forced the Italian economy to adapt to new market conditions and accelerated its structural transformations. In the common market system, Italy acts as an importing country of industrial products (mainly machinery and equipment) and minor food products (fruits, vegetables, wine) and at the same time as an importing country of basic food products and main types of mineral and agricultural raw materials for its industry.

As in other countries, in Italy the economy develops spontaneously and unevenly. The “economic miracle” of the 60s, when Italy was second only to Japan in terms of industrial development, turned out to be short-lived. It was followed by a recession and then the severe energy and general economic crisis of 1973-1975. In 1982, the country's economy again entered a period of crisis: the gross national product was declining (-1.2% in 1983), inflation was increasing, the volume of foreign trade was decreasing, the level of personal consumption of the population was decreasing, unemployment and the cost of living were growing. Industrial capacity utilization in 1983 was the lowest for the entire post-war period - 71%.

Since the crisis of the 70s, a new phenomenon has spread in Italy - the so-called hidden economy: in many industries, bypassing collective agreements, tax laws, etc. enterprises that are not registered anywhere operate. they employ the unemployed, women interested in part-time work or home work, students and pensioners in need of additional income. The age-old problem of disproportionate development remains acute individual parts countries, the contrast between the level of economic and social development of Northern and Southern Italy.

General characteristics of the industry.

The general condition, pace and nature of development of the Italian economy are determined by its most important sphere - industry, which accounts for about 2/5 of those employed in the economy and the same share of national income. Italy stands out for its extremely low share of mining and high share of manufacturing in the number of employees, fixed capital and especially in the total value of industrial output. This is explained by the lack of any significant reserves of the most important minerals in the country.

The Italian manufacturing industry relies mainly on imported raw materials. Heavy industry predominates, the main role in which belongs to mechanical engineering. Electric power, metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemistry have also developed significantly.

As a result of the radical restructuring of the energy base that has occurred in recent decades, the leading role in it has shifted from hydropower and imported coal to oil, which provides more than 60% of all energy consumed. It is followed by natural gas (15.5%), coal and lignites (8.5%), hydropower (7.6%) and nuclear energy (0.3%). At the same time, Italy is forced to import almost all of its oil consumption, 80% of solid fuel and 44% of natural gas.

The most powerful oil refining industry in Western Europe grew from oil imported by sea. Italy is one of the largest exporters of petroleum products in Western Europe. The energy crisis has forced us to look for ways to save energy resources in general and oil in particular. In the 80s, the total capacity of the Italian oil refining industry decreased from 206 million tons. crude oil per year in 1980 to 150 million tons. in 1983, several factories were closed.

Electric power plays a vital role in the country's economy. The total installed capacity of power plants is 49.4 million kW, of which 64.4% are thermal power plants, 32% are hydroelectric and pumped storage power plants, 2.6% are nuclear and 1% are geothermal. Every year the country produces 180-190 billion kWh of electricity. Most of the electricity is obtained at thermal power plants, operating mainly on fuel oil; the first place was given to them by hydroelectric power plants, since water resources almost completely exhausted. In recent years, Italy has preferred to build pumped storage stations. Italy was a pioneer in the construction of pumped storage power plants (1908). Almost simultaneously, the world's first geothermal power plants appeared (1905). In the 60s, Italy was one of the first to build large nuclear power plants. There are 4 nuclear power plants in the country with a total capacity of 1.4 million kW.

Dependence on imports of fuel and raw materials is very significant in the iron and steel industry. In 1986, 10.3 million tons were smelted in the country. cast iron and about 22 million tons. become. Italy ranks 5th in steel production. Metallurgical plants are located either near ports or gravitate towards sales markets - large mechanical engineering centers. It is in the port centers that the country's four largest full-cycle plants are located, owned by the Finsider state association (Genoa-Cornigliano, Piombino, Naples-Bagnoli and Taranto. Most steelmaking and steel rolling plants are concentrated in the old industrial cities of the North-West. In the foothills of the Alps and electrometallurgical enterprises are located in the Alpine valleys. The Italian ferrous metallurgy enters the world market mainly with thin cold-rolled steel and steel pipes. Italy ranks fourth in the world in pipe production. In recent years, the Italian ferrous metallurgy has experienced significant difficulties in its development due to the the fact that the “Common Market”, under pressure from the United States, decided to limit steel production in the “dozen” countries.

In the production of non-ferrous and light metals, those industries that are better provided with local ore reserves stand out - the smelting of aluminum, lead, zinc and mercury. During the crisis years, aluminum smelting decreased from 274 thousand tons in 1986 to 194 thousand tons in 1988. Most aluminum smelters are located in the energy-rich North-East.

The lead-zinc industry processes imported polymetallic ores and local ones. Energy-intensive zinc smelting is located near large power plants (in the cities of Porto Marghere, Monteponi, Porto Vesme, Crotone). Lead smelters are grouped mainly in Sardinia, close to deposits of polymetallic ores.

In recent years, Italy has lost the world lead in mercury production to Spain. This ancient production was rebuilt in accordance with environmental requirements and today about 2 thousand tons are produced. in year.

Using rich deposits of dolomite, Italy has become one of the first places in the world in the production of magnesium. In 1986, 85 thousand tons of magnesium ores were mined and 7.8 thousand tons were smelted. magnesium

The leading branch of Italian industry is mechanical engineering. It employs 2.2 million people, produces 1/4 of all manufacturing products and 2/5 of Italian exports. Italy is one of the largest suppliers of cars to the world market. In terms of production size it ranks 5th. Mechanical engineering is characterized by a high concentration of production and capital and is in the hands of a few large associations that produce complex and varied products. The most developed export mechanical engineering (production of automobiles, electric locomotives, carriages, shipbuilding). Most of the automobile production was monopolized by the FIAT concern, the most powerful private company in Italy and one of the largest monopolies in the world. The concern's factories are scattered throughout the country and produce small and mini-cars, trucks, buses, various engines, airplanes, ships, locomotives, tractors, equipment for the subway, power plants, and airports.

FIAT left little space in automobile production for other companies - Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia, and the state company Alfa Romeo. Almost all factories are located in the industrial centers of the North. Several factories produce motorcycles and scooters. Italy occupies one of the first places in the world in the production of bicycles and mopeds.

The origins of Italian shipbuilding are lost in the depths of centuries. The development of this traditional industry is determined by historical reasons and geographical conditions. In recent years, orders for tankers have fallen sharply, requiring more container ships, mixed-use vessels, and specialized vessels for underwater drilling and undersea exploration.

About 85% of all shipbuilding capacity belongs to the state group Fincantieri. The country's largest shipyards are located in Monfalcone on the Adriatic Sea, as well as in Trieste, Venice, and Ancona. Sta- The oldest area of ​​Italian shipbuilding is the Ligurian coast (Genoa, Livorno, La Spezia). In the South, the main shipbuilding centers are Naples, Taranto, Messina, Palermo, Castellammare di Stabia.

Etc.................