Italy is the European country often described as boot-shaped.
The outline of Italy’s peninsula resembles a tall boot extending into the Mediterranean Sea, giving rise to the familiar nickname “the Boot.” The comparison is especially clear on a map: the southern region of Calabria forms the toe, Apulia’s Salento peninsula forms the heel, and the Gargano Peninsula projects like a spur.
Italy’s distinctive shape is a geographical description rather than the shape of the entire state in a strict sense. The country also includes the large islands of Sicily and Sardinia, numerous smaller islands, and two enclaved sovereign states: Vatican City and San Marino. The Italian Peninsula itself stretches south from the Alps and is formed largely by the Apennine mountain chain.
The boot metaphor can cause a second mix-up. Sicily is not the boot’s toe; Calabria is the toe, while Sicily lies just offshore at the end of the peninsula. The narrow Strait of Messina separates them. Italy’s coastline and central Mediterranean position have also helped make the country’s outline one of the world’s most recognizable map shapes.