About Italy
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Rome
Rome is a heady blend of artistic and architectural masterpieces, classical ruins and extravagant baroque churches and piazzas. The city’s 2,700 years of history are on display everywhere, the term “living museum” has never been more appropriately used than with Rome. Julius Caesar and Nero, the Vandals and the Borgias, Raphael and Caravaggio, Napoleon and Mussolini - they and countless other political, cultural, and spiritual luminaries have all left their mark on Rome. This is where a metropolis once bustled around the carved marble monuments of the Roman Forum, where centuries later Michelangelo Buonarroti painted Christian history in the Sistine Chapel, where Gian Lorenzo Bernini's nymphs and naiads dance in their fountains, and where an empire of gold was worked into the crowns of centuries of rulers. Nestled in the heart of Rome is the world’s smallest state, the Vatican City, home to the truly breathtaking Sistine Chapel.
Venice
Built entirely on water by men who dared defy the sea, Venice is like no other place in the world. This miraculous city imperturbably floating on its calm blue lagoon is often called La Serenissima, "the most serene," a reference to the monstrous power, majesty, and wisdom of this city that was for centuries the unrivaled leader in trade between Europe and the Orient, and the staunch bulwark of Christendom against the tides of Turkish expansion. Its most famous buildings, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale are delightfully idiosyncratic, an exotic mix of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. The pretty islands of Murano and Burano, famous for their glass workshops and linens, lie within a pleasant boat cruise across the lagoon, as does Torcello, known for the illustrious Locanda Cipriani Restaurant. Venice is a place full of secrets, inexpressibly romantic, and at times given over entirely to pleasure.
Milan
As well as being one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan is the business capital of Italy, and indeed arguably seen by many Italian’s as the heart of their country. As well as designer boutiques the streets are lined with lively bars and restaurants, traditional church buildings, the museums of the Castello Sforzesco and the relaxing and luxurious spas. Football enthusiasts will revel in being able to catch an AC Milan game or have a tour of the football ground, which is home to this world renowned club. Idroscalo, the cities man-made lake, is a great place to relax with the family, with leisurely walking and cycling routes as well as playgrounds and pedalos.
But if sampling the Mediterranean coast for real is a must then the beautiful region of Liguria is only a stones throw away. Known to pleasure-seekers as the Italian Riviera, this region has northern Italy's most attractive stretch of coastline. The most celebrated destination is tiny but glamorous Portofino, though these days it gets competition from the even tinier villages of the Cinque Terre – made up of Riomaggiore, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, famous for the hiking paths that run between them. For a more relaxed approach, a cruise along the Riviera is a fantastic way to experience the coastline.
North Italian Lake District
The Lake District is for those whose idea of heaven is palatial villas, rose-laden belvederes, hanging wisteria and bougainvillea, lanterns casting a glow over lakeshore restaurants and majestic Alpine vistas. This region is home to the magical lakes of Como, Maggiore and Garda. The majestic Dolomites dominate the north, straddling Trentino-Alto Adige and the Veneto, a region dotted with medieval castles and modern skiing resorts. On the plain, the elegant cities of Verona, Vicenza and Padua are all noted for outstanding architecture, history and museums, while the rural hinterland boasts beautiful villas.
Tuscany
Rolling hills, snow covered mountains and dramatic cypress trees provide breathtaking views seemingly whichever way you look. Tuscany lies in central Italy, midway down the peninsula, with miles of coastline on the Tyrrhenian Sea. The beauty of the Tuscan landscape and towns such as San Gimignano and Lucca prove a perfect foil for the abundance of superlative art and architecture found here. Local festivals and pageants are held with centuries old pomp and ceremony such as the Palio in Siena, held each July and August. The combination of unforgettable art, glorious views and eminently drinkable wines that pair beautifully with the simple food of the region makes a trip to Tuscany something beyond special.
Florence
Florence casts a spell in the way that few cities can. Perhaps because of its sublime art, perhaps because of the views at sunset over the Arno, perhaps because of the way Florentine food and wine delight the palate. Or maybe it's because the city has not changed much since the 16th century. A monument to the Renaissance, visitors will delight in the architectural masterpieces of the Piazza della Signoria, the Ponte Vecchio, Pitti Palace and Brunelleschi’s magnificent Duomo whilst for art lovers the Uffizi Gallery, the Accademia and the Bargello Gallery represent a cultural pilgrimage.
Umbria
Birthplace of saints, the heart of Italy, and home to some of the country's greatest artistic treasures, Umbria is at once ancient and timeless. Blessed with steep hills, deep valleys, and fast-flowing rivers, the region has not yet been swamped by tourism. Perugia, the capital of the region, and Assisi, resting place of St. Francis, are rich in art and architecture, as are Orvieto, Todi and Spoleto.
The Amalfi Coast
A journey down the fabled Amalfi Coast sweeps past rocky cliffs plunging into the sea and small boats lying in sandy coves like brightly coloured fish. Erosion has contorted the rocks into shapes resembling figures from mythology and hollowed out fairy grottoes where the air is turquoise and the water an icy blue. Lemon trees, loaded with blossom or fruit, line the road that must have a thousand turns, each with a different view, on its dizzying 43 mile journey from Sorrento to Salerno. Beautiful villages – Amalfi, Ravello and Positano – cling precariously to steep cliff sides facing the Mediterranean Sea whilst the islands of sophisticated Capri and its peaceful neighbour, Ischia, beckon.
Naples
Naples is extraordinary, permeated with a sense of doom from living in the shadow of Vesuvius. Despite this, Naples remains one of the most vibrant cities in Italy. A steaming, bubbling, reverberating minestrone in which each block is a village, every street the setting for a Punch and Judy show, and everything seems to be a backdrop for an opera not yet composed. Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum reveal towns frozen in time since their burial in AD79 under the molten ash of Vesuvius. The excavations reveal everyday life held transfixed – the villas, the brothels, the marketplaces, temples and even its people.
Sicily
Sicily has beckoned seafaring wanderers since the trials of Odysseus were first sung in Homer's Odyssey. The island has been a melting pot of great Mediterranean cultures: first Greek and Roman; then Arab and Norman; and finally French, Spanish, and Italian. The evidence lies in the temples of Agrigento and Syracuse, the Monreale Cathedral near Palermo and the theatre at Taormina. A culture shock to some, Sicily presents an old world charm that has long since left the mainland. Nothing can beat the feeling of enjoying a sundowner on a warm Taormina evening with the Mediterranean lapping far below you, and the natural light show of Mount Etna playing in front of you as lava continues to roll down, as it has done for millennia.
