Italy is a country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands and is located in south-central Europe, and is part of western Europe. Italy is considered to be one of the world's most culturally and economically advanced countries, with the world's eighth-largest economy by nominal GDP (third in the European Union), sixth-largest national wealth and third-largest central bank gold reserve. It ranks very highly in life expectancy, quality of life, healthcare and education. The country has long been a global center of art, music, literature, philosophy, science and technology, and has greatly influenced and contributed to diverse fields including fashion, cinema, cuisine and design. As a reflection of its cultural wealth, Italy is home to the 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking top in the world tied with China and is the fifth-most visited country. Italy preserves the highest number of important sites and monuments in the world.