Italy is nicknamed lo Stivale (the Boot), because the shape of the peninsula resembles a high-heeled boot. Three smaller peninsulas contribute to the distinctive shape, namely Calabria (the Toe), Salento (the Heel) and Gargano (the Spur).

The backbone of the Italian peninsula consists of the Apennine Mountains and the peninsula comprises much of Italy and includes the microstates of San Marino and Vatican City.

Italy has a rich gastronomic history dating back centuries, influenced by the many various civilizations and cultures that inhabited this peninsula with its 4,900 miles (7,900km) of coastline.

But it’s the wines of Italy that are celebrated in this striking menu cover showing a fiasco, a round-bodied bottle traditionally encased in a straw basket and used for Chianti.

The artist has cleverly decorated the two images in the colors of il tricolore – the Italian flag.

It consists of three vertical bands of green, white, and red. The green stripe is located on the left side, followed by white and then red. 

This menu image was for an Italian-themed dinner aboard the Royal Viking Sea, one of the ships in the luxury cruise line that operated from 1978 to 1998 and was headquartered in San Francisco, California.