Italy

Italy

The Inexplicable beauty of Europe

Italy is a favorite tourist destination for all honeymooners and romantic souls. It is a fascinating country, attracting millions of visitors every year from destinations world wide.  Among most popular Italy attractions, there are amazing architectural masterpieces, museums and art galleries with excellent collections of art and artifacts, beautiful cities and serene and picturesque countryside throughout the country. It is quite difficult to choose what to see in a limited time period, since the tourist attractions are diverse and endless.

Italy is also famous for its innumerable number of World Heritage Sites, and the nation is known for its cuisine and wonderful coasts, mountains and lakes, and world of fashion as well. You are sure to be mesmerized by all this wonderful country offers…Take time to savor the moments!

Quick Facts:

• Rome is the capital city of Italy and is also known as the Eternal city and the Caput Mundi, which means, the capital of the world


• Italy is also home to one of the wonders of the world, the Leaning tower that is in Pisa.


• The total area of Italy is around 301,230 sq. km. Most of the region is rocky and mountainous.


• The highest mountain of Europe, the Monte Bianco is in Italy.


• The official language is Italian.


• Football is the popular sport of the country and the national team has won the World Cup four times.


• Italy is a fashion paradise with Milan as the hub.


• The national cuisine of Italy is Pasta.


• The official currency of Italy is the euro which replaced the lira.

Location:

Located in southern Europe, Italy is a peninsula extending into the Central Mediterranean Sea. It is shaped like a high-heeled boot kicking a "triangle"—the island of Sicily. Italy borders France to the west, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the east.

Best time to Visit:     April to June and Late September to October.

 Route Map:

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How to Reach:

By Air:   When starting a tour of Italy from north to south or vice-versa, there are main Airports like Milan, Venice, Rome with directs or indirects flights, depends of wich Airline you use. Many other cities are well served from all of Europe, and they are also connected with the rest of the world.

By Train:   Italy is well served by Intercity and local trains and there are also high speed train lines serving the main cities.

By Sea:  Traveling by sea is definitely a memorable way to get here. You could reach Italy by cruise line, by ferry to and from the islands or via an european sea network, shortsea shipping.

By Bus:    Routes to Italy run through Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland and most routes use the tunnels under the Alps and Apennines. Trenitalia runs regular daily services called auto al seguito (trains carrying cars), especially during the summer holiday season, covering national and international routes. These services operate from special railway stations and are generally bookable at the departure station. Owners must travel on the same train.

Sightseeing : Italy

Rome:

Rome is the capital of modern 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. The Vatican and St. Peter's are also found in Rome.

Milan:
Italy’s most sophisticated city, Milan is a financial and commercial center of world importance and a rival to Paris in the spheres of modern art and fashion. Its international character is marked by a concentration of skyscrapers found nowhere else in Italy, Milan is famous for the world’s largest churches. The whole fabric of the city – its many palaces, piazzas and churches – speaks of centuries of continuous prosperity. magnificent opulence.

Venice:
Venice must be counted as one of the highlights of any tour of Italy.
The city’s main monuments – St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace overlooking St Mark’s Square – have gained fame through innumerable paintings by such artists as Canaletto, but the whole city is in many ways a work of art. The city’s most important thoroughfare is the Grand Canal. Venice is also known for its wonderful sweets, so you'll want to include a stop at a patisserie or two while exploring this breathtaking city.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa:
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, once one of the seven wonders in the world, is perhaps the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Its one of the most famous monuments and most remarkable bell towers in Europe. All throughout its construction years and to this day the tower's inclination has been and still remains a source of tremendous fascination, attracting visitors and tourists from all over the globe.

Sardinia:
Sardinia, has long been a popular vacation destination. The island is full of great hiking trails, and being surrounded by water makes it an ideal spot for things like kayaking and snorkeling. Public transportation is notoriously challenging on Sardinia, and people here speak only Sardinian language.

Grand Canal:
Its located in Venice and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. The Grand Canal is the major thoroughfare of Venice, connecting all parts of the city directly or through minor canals. You can find the most spectacular buildings and all kinds of boats along the Grande that never fail to mesmerize the visitors.

The Roman amphitheatre (Colosseum)
It is one of the top tourist attraction of Italy. The Roman Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome. It is  the largest ever built in the Roman Empire.  It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture  and Roman engineering.

Florence:
Birthplace of the renaissance and home to the David, Florence is Italy’s second obvious stop. For art lovers and foodies, Florence offers an array of goodies. Just try the galetto. And another bonus: it’s right in Tuscany, home of Italy’s premier wine country.

Turin:
Turin is a major city in northern Italy. Turin is well-known as the home of the Shroud of Turin and host of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Located right near the alps, with the Po River flowing through the city, and villas dotting the surrounding area.

The city of Pompeii:
The buried city of Pompeii has been described as one of the most intriguing archaeological sites on the planet. It all happened long ago in August 24, 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius volcano erupted so violently that it literally blew its top off. The massive explosion sent huge amounts of volcanic stream, cinders and ash high into the sky, which then showered down on Pompeii completely burying the city.

Today, most of Pompeii's streets and buildings (including temples, theatres, shops etc) have been uncovered. Uncovering Pompeii has given us unique insight into daily Roman life back in 79 AD.

Where to Stay:

From north to south, Italy's regions contain a variety of climates, traditions and tastes, as well as globally renowned hotels in stunning locations. These Italian hotels offer some of the world's best views, whether they are perched on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean or the Grand Canal. Some of the best hotels are

• St Regis Grand Rome


• Principe Di Savoia


• Carlton Hotel Baglioni


• Hotel Hassler


• Villa La Massa


• Hotel Splendide Royal Rome


• Villa D'Este


• Hotel Gritti Palace


• Relais Santa Croce


• Luna Hotel Baglioni

Where to Eat:

Italian food is one of the world's most recognizable cuisines. Along with the numerous food chains and fast food restaurants, there is plenty of dining choices for travelers in Italy, where they can relish some of the delicious foods in some of the best dining rooms. Some of the best restaurants are

• Don Alfonso 1890


• Cibrèo


• Ristorante Cracco


• De Pisis


• Enoteca Pinchiorri


• Gambero Rosso


• Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia


• La Pergola


• Le Calandre


• Ristorante Sadler

Shopping in Italy:

Many Italian products, especially clothes, shoes and bags, are world-famous for their style and quality. Florence, Milan and Rome are important fashion centers. Some places are known for particular products, such as Carrara (Tuscany) for marble. In several parts of Sardinia, writing paper made of cork is produced. Cremona (Lombardy) is famous for its handmade violins. Valenza (Piemonte) has a large number of goldsmiths and Sulmona (Abruzzo) produces ’confetti’ (sugar-coated almonds) used all over Italy for wedding celebrations. Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) is famous for mosaics and Volterra (Tuscany) is famous for alabaster goods.

Travel Tips:

Regarding food, many restaurants offer a reasonable set menu at noon. Eat your big meal then and have pizza or a picnic in the evening.

Shopping at local food markets helps you save money.

Casual dress suits the best for most places and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, transport and cinemas.

Wishing you an interesting, unique and memorable vacation..!

Thank You!