text: It is complex with several different regions. To simplify, it has a Mediterranean climate which means it is influenced by the North Atlantic Drift (from the Gulf Stream) in winter, like North-Western Europe, making it milder and wetter than places further east, while in summer it becomes climatically part of the Sahara system, a belt of high pressure hot dry air, so the rainfall is minimal.\n\nThe west is wetter than the east because of the way it sticks out south-eastwards into the sea; the prevailing winds, except in summer, pick up moisture from the western Mediterranean and the mountains running the length of Italy cause it to precipitate mainly on the western side. Because of the alignment in relation to the sea, and the mountains, it gets much more rain in winter than Spain and southern France, and so is much greener, more beautiful and fertile. In my view it's the most scenically lovely country in Europe, except maybe Croatia/Bosnia/Montenegro, which have a similar climate. (I'm British, by the way).\n\nThe northern plain, being circled by mountains, does not get much of the mild air from the sea in winter and is much colder than the peninsular area. The far north consists of the Alps which are extremely cold in winter, and the summits remain snow-covered all year round.