Do you plan to work, study or travel in Italy? Does your child need background material for a school assignment on Italian culture, government, history or foreign policy? Are you curious about Italy's role at the United Nations? A trove of information on these topics and more is just a few clicks away at the bilingual Web site, esteri.it.

Estero means "foreign" in Italian, and the Ministero degli Esteri is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The American equivalent is the State Department. The Ministero is charged with implementing and maintaining the Italian government's foreign policies.

We see U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice daily in the news, yet how many Americans would recognize her Italian counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema? Esteri.it is an ideal vehicle for learning about him and his department. Archives of D'Alema's speeches, press releases, interviews and photos are housed on the site along with his resumé and links to Deputy Foreign Ministers and Undersecretaries of State. Details such as the Ministry's location, tasks, news, structure, history and associations are provided. Telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses for Italian Embassies, Consulates, Cultural Institutes and other offices are posted. A virtual tour of places where Italian foreign policy is created is offered.

The Italian Republic and its composition are explained on the site in easily understandable terms, including definitions of the Parliament, president, constitution, electoral system and political parties. Histories of the flag and national anthem are given appropriate space, including the anthem's lyrics. There are links to more than twenty Italian newspapers and magazines such as La Stampa, Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica, as well as a selection of articles on international policy, Ministry activities and economic and domestic policy issues.

You can obtain answers to visa questions through the MFA site if you are planning to work or travel in Italy. The site lists which documents are required for application, fees charged, Consulate addresses and whether your permanenza requires a visa or passport to enter and remain in Italy. Planning your stay will be facilitated if you follow the links for airports, railways, ferries, roads, hotels, bed and breakfasts, agriturismo, camping, parks, museums and more.

There are a multitude of opportunities for study, apprenticeship and employment in Italy, thanks to national, European and international projects and programs. The majority of possibilities offered through the MFA are for young people pursuing a diplomatic career path or looking to work in European and international organizations. Candidates for those posts and foreigners wishing to study in Italy or improve their knowledge of the Italian language can discover possible avenues by contacting the MFA.

More than half of the world's historic and artistic heritage is found in Italy's antiquities and over 3,000 museums, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The MFA site whets your appetite for further research and sightseeing with its overview of Italian treasures, including Palladian villas in the Veneto region; the Forum, Colosseum and Pantheon in Roma; Greek temples in the South; the Renaissance and Baroque periods and more. You can glide through the history of Italy from pre-Roman times to the present in succinct chapters. Each region's history and contemporary status are outlined, stocked with facts and links on places and events, such as celebrations, nature- and art-related itineraries and religious festivals.

Need an icebreaker for your next party? How about one of several impressive statistics sprinkled throughout esteri.it, such as the following: Approximately 69% of Italy's Gross Domestic Product comes from the service industry, with tourism the leading force producing over a million jobs. Italy is the sixth largest contributor to the United Nations' budget and occupies a current seat on the Security Council. The number of foreigners living in Italy has almost tripled since 1991.

Esteri.it is brimming with official, pertinent and fascinating material, but like many Web sites lacks visual punch. What it fails to deliver in color and graphics is more than compensated for in meaningful depth and ease of navigation. I was enlightened and entertained for hours as I surfed the site -- and bet you will be too. Buona ricerca!