Italy

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Why visit Italy?

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If you get it right, travelling to Italy is one of those rare experiences in life that cannot be overrated. The French may rightfully brag about Paris, but Italy's show-stopping cities include Venice, Florence and Rome. Epicenter of the Roman Empire and birthplace of the Renaissance, this sun-kissed overachiever moans under the weight of its cultural catalogue: it's in Italy that you will find Michelangelo's David and Sistine Chapel frescoes, Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Primavera, da Vinci's The Last Supper, and the classic villas of Andrea Palladio. And we haven't even mentioned the chariot-grooved streets of Pompeii, the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna, or Giotto's revolutionary frescoes in Padua.
In few places do art and life intermingle so effortlessly; this may be the land of Dante, Titian and Verdi, but it's also the home of Prada, Gualtiero Marchesi and Renzo Piano. Beauty, style and flair furnish every aspect of daily life, from those immaculately knotted ties and perfect espressos, to the flirtatious smiles of striking strangers.
From delicate tagliatelle al ragù to velvety cannoli, every bite feels like a revelation. The secret: superlative ingredients and strictly seasonal produce. Expect some of the world's top fine- dining destinations, from San Pellegrino 'world's best 50' hotspots to Michelin-starred musts.

What does Italy bring in mind?

A Gondola Ride

A unique part of the Venetian culture is the Gondola’s which circulate throughout the waterways within the city. Riding a Gondola is one of the most romantic things you can do in Venice and the peace and tranquility you can have from doing this is great. You can also see the city from an amazing vantage point unlike any other in the world.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa This massive monument has stood for hundreds of years on a sub-standard foundation which nearly caused it to be destroyed. The building itself is in a good condition; however, it is merely the poor foundation which has caused this beautiful structure to sink into the ground. It is amazing to think that it has even managed to last the test of time with it being sunk into the earth but low and behold it has managed to survive.

The Colosseum

The Colosseum A famous landmark in Italy, it is the largest of its type in the whole of Italy and was featured in many films, one such film being Gladiator with Russell Crowe. This building is magnificent and if you take a tour inside you can see how the Colosseum was set up for its daily battles and tournaments.

The Italian Alps The Italian Alps In winter month skiing is one of the best entertainments. Italian Alps is an economical and great place for by skiing lovers. There is plenty of natural snow but snow-making is also available. Weather is sunny after Mid-January making it the best place for skiing.

The Vatican

The Vatican City is actually the smallest country in the world, brought into independence from Italy in 1929 by the Pope and the government of Italy at the time, it is now seen as one of the most religious places on earth for the Catholics. The Vatican City is an amazing place to visit, and although it is small in terms of its size as a country, as a place to visit it is huge. There are monuments everywhere, statues of religious figures and of course the Vatican building itself where the Pope as well as other religious persons live.

The Bizarre Town Of Trulli Di Alberobello These are Bizarre limestone dwellings built without usage of mortar and whitewashed. These small grey buildings with cone shaped roof are truly the finest examples of which are to be found in the community of Alberobello. These gorgeous small buildings border the narrow winding streets, sending you straight into the realm of your fairytale-induced childhood dreams.

Rock Climbing In the Messina Area of Sicily Rock climbing in Sicily offers from big wall multi-pitch rock climbing to single pitch sports routes, with an additional bonus of visiting an island steeped thousands of years of civilization and culture. The rock climbing on Sicily is broken down into 3 main areas: Messina Area, Palermo - Trapani Area and Siracusa - Ragusa Area.

The Dinner In The Sky For A Unique Meal

Solo Per Due, Italy is the best choice of restaurant which is hanging above in the sky having a capacity of 22 people to the great experience of “Dinner in the sky”. This is one of the smallest but rather exclusive restaurants in the world to enjoy flying in the sky experience. It is suspended in the air with the help of a large crane at an approximate height of 50 meters in the sky. The only thing one needs is the diminishing of one’s fear of height so that one enjoys this meal.

Cinque Terre The Cinque Terre is a group of five beautiful hillside towns (Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Monterosso) on the west coast of Italy. They are famous for being momentous and beautiful architecture. This place is not just attractive, but also beautiful.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is one of the Europe’s most active and alive Volcanoes. It is a UNESCO cultural heritage site. It is located in the ancient city of Pompeii that was destroyed when the Mount Vesuvius Volcano erupted in 79 AD. To visit this site, tourists are required to travel through Naples Railway. This railway track leads along the base of Mount Vesuvius to the ancient city of Pompeii scavi. It is an interesting site, 2000 years old when volcano erupted, and preserved the city beneath it.

Bassona Beach, Italy’s Largest Nudist Beach Bassona beach in Italy is one the beaches where women are allowed to go topless and only wear their underwear. These beaches were made legal in the year 2006. There are also other beaches in Italy which also allow nudity but Bassona is exclusive to tourists and visitors from all over the world.

Things NOT to miss in Italy

• Attend Florence Carnival

• After dinner, take a night ride on the Vaporetto in Venice, or on a Venice gondola ride. This is preferably done with a serving of gelato in hand and someone to cuddle with in the dark. And be sure you can snag a spot with a view, so you can see the moonlit sights of Venice as you glide past.

• Spend 15 minutes with “The Last Supper” in Milan Most tourists skip Milan, and that’s probably fine, but this is the only city where you can see Leonardo’s masterpiece of “The Last Supper.” It’s a heavily regulated 15-minute time limit, and you will need to get your tickets well in advance, but it’s worth it.

• Overdose on Renaissance art at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence The Uffizi Gallery is on just about every must-do list for Italy. Nowhere else on earth will you see such an amazing collection of Italian Renaissance art, all contained in gorgeous buildings once roamed by Medicis. The artists on display here are like the rock stars of Florence.

• Get a guided tour of the Vatican Museums You could walk yourself through the Vatican Museums, but for everyone but the hardcore art historian, it is probably better to follow a guide who will point out the truly important pieces and keep you from spending too much time on the rest of it. You have to visit St. Peter’s Basilica as well.

• Go fashion shopping in Milan

• Climb Florence’s Duomo This is perhaps not for those with fear of heights or small spaces, but for a spectacular view of Florence’s historic center and an interesting lesson in architecture and engineering, you could climb to the top of the dome of Florence’s Duomo. If you do prefer to have the dome itself in your rooftop view, then climb Giotto’s bell tower instead.

• Eat pizza in Naples There is nothing like eating something as universally well-known as pizza in the place where it was born, and for that you have got to go to Naples.

• Visit the Greek ruins in Sicily When you think of Italy, you probably think mostly of Roman ruins. But on Sicily you can branch out a bit by touring both Roman and Greek ruins, and the stuff the Greeks left behind is even older than the stuff from ancient Rome. A walk through the Valley of the Temples is highly recommended.

• Tempt fate driving along the Amalfi Coast Whether you decide to do the driving or not, the road that snakes along this stretch of Italian coastline is well worth the trip. It’s precarious at best and dangerous at worst, but the Italians seem to make it work and the views are simply stunning.

• Sunbathe on Sardinia The Costa Smeralda boasts some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere on earth, let alone in Italy. Plus, while it’s wildly popular with Italians on vacation from the mainland, you are less likely to see hordes of other foreign tourists on Sardinia.

• See an opera in Verona Opera fan or no, there is nothing quite like sitting in a Roman amphitheatre, just as people have done for thousands of years, watching a show. Verona’s famous opera company fills the night air with music every summer in a spectacular way.

• Wander the Trastevere neighborhood in Rome When Rome wears you out, or you are tired of overpriced meals around all the tourist attractions, look no further than the Trastevere. This old neighborhood is full of twisting cobbled streets, peace and quiet during most days, cheap eats, and boisterous groups of young people at night.

• Go back in time at Pompeii Both Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum are well worth a visit, but don’t forget that much of what archaeologists have discovered is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

• Hike the Cinque Terre trail The hike between these five picturesque villages is a great way to spend half a day. If you plan well (here’s a Cinque Terre hiking guide) and go when it’s not quite as overrun.

• Eat two scoops of gelato This is easy to do no matter where you are in Italy, so I don’t want to hear any excuses for not accomplishing this task. Remember, Italian gelato is made with milk, not cream, so it is a lot less fattening than you think.

• Get lost in Venice Spend a day in the canal city.

• Take shelter from rain (or sun) inside the Pantheon in Rome No matter the season or the weather, there is always a good excuse to duck into the Pantheon in Rome. Although it has got a giant hole in the ceiling to let in the light, it is always cool in summer and dry when it is raining outside.

• Go for a drive in Tuscany The roads that connect the famous hill towns of Tuscany might get short shrift with all the talkative people do about the towns themselves, but the views out of a car window when you’re cruising along windy country roads are enough to make anyone understand why someone might drop everything and buy a rundown Italian farmhouse.

• Walk in Caesar’s footsteps in Rome History fan or not, it’s impossible not to marvel at a structure like the Colosseum. An afternoon spent surrounded by the ruins that once made up the center of the Roman Empire is an afternoon very well spent.

Best cities of Italy

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy. Rome is full of history everywhere you look. It has many ancient monuments, interesting medieval churches, beautiful fountains, museums, and Renaissance palaces. Modern Rome is a bustling and lively city and has some excellent restaurants and nightlife. Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican City are also easily visited when in Rome.

Venice

Venice is a unique city built on water in the middle of a lagoon. Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities as well as one of the most popular for visitors to Italy. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco with its magnificent church. There are many museums, palaces, and churches to visit and wandering along Venice's canals is interesting. Venice is in the northeast of Italy and historically was a bridge between East and West.

Florence

Florence is one of the most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Its Duomo and Baptistery are magnificent but crowded with tourists as is their large piazza. Florence has several interesting museums with many famous paintings and sculptures. There are also Medici palaces and gardens. Florence is in Tuscany.

Milan

One of Europe's richest cities is known for stylish shops, galleries, and restaurants and has a faster pace of life than most Italian cities. It also has a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Its Duomo, with its beautiful marble facade, is magnificent. La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses.

Naples

Naples is one of Italy's most vibrant cities. It lies on the coast south of Rome and is the most important city in southern Italy. Naples has recently undergone some renovation but still retains much of its old character. It holds many historical and artistic treasures.