Italy From Heel To Toe
Italy is possibly the most beautiful, intriguing, culturally challenging country on Earth. There is evidence of human habitation in Italy for more than 200,000 years. The country has a diverse landscape and retains a broad cultural influence of old world charm and new world renaissance. With a national population of nearly 61 million residents Italy is steeped with a vast history and a trendy, contemporary presence.
Experiencing Italy for the first time can be an overwhelming venture. It is the home of more than 100,000 monuments including; museums, palaces, statues, churches, art galleries, fountains, historic houses and archaeological remains. A prudent traveler may book a tour to gain the maximum opportunity to appreciate the most important highlights of the country.
Tours are abundant and as versatile as Italy itself. A visitor will have no problem finding an excursion that features journeys by boat, bus, train, car or bicycle. There is no better way to experience the boot shaped country than heel to toe, so plan to walk as much as possible!
The local, Italian Tourist Board can help you find reputable tourist guides and/or suggest various itineraries and also offer general information and guidelines for travelling in Italy http://www.italia.it/it/home.html
Seeing Italy, by car is an obvious choice (unless staying in one of the major cities) a drive through rural Italy, with breathtaking scenery, ancient hamlets and laid back towns is an experience which is second to none. Go at your own pace, travel through the countryside, stop off at the wineries, or park up at the station and take a train ride to Florence or Rome.
Don't be tempted into dashing around trying to see everything which could mean that you will end up totally exhausted. It's always a good idea to have a base; www.italianview.com offer a range of exceptional villas in idyllic locations and within easy travelling distance of major attraction. A villa rental will give you freedom of choice, a place to chill out after daily excursions, no clock watching for meal times. Just relaxation and a heavenly swimming pool to to wash all your cares away, getting the best of both worlds.
Many visitors will want to explore the capital city of Rome, the undisputed birthplace of western civilization and the oldest city in Europe. Founded in 753 BC, Rome is more than 2,500 years old. It is the 11th most visited city in the world and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. While moving through the ageless city tourists become quickly captivated by world famous ancient sites; the Roman Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon.
The six major piazzas (town squares) are popular gathering spots. Favourites include the Piazza del Popolo Peoples Square where the obelisk Flaminio has stood for more than 2,000 years and Michelangelos Piazza del Campidoglio, the headquarters of Italian Government. Travellers from all walks of life toss coins in Trevi Fountain and admire the Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna.
No visit to Rome can be complete without crossing the Bridge of Angels and visiting Vatican City. Religious affiliations aside, the Vatican is the home of some of the most significant and spectacular art and architecture on Earth.
From Rome travel north to Tuscany. Visit the medieval, walled, pedestrian city of Siena considered one of the most important culinary centres in the world. Throughout Italy visitors will notice many statues of the mythical Capitoline, the she-wolf suckling of the human twins Remus and Romulus (after which Rome was named) although it is Siena that adopted the image as the towns emblem.
The capital of Tuscany is Florence. Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and visitors have an abundance of options to enjoy the many museums, sculptures, frescos and architectural wonders that are among the most influential in the world.
Heading north, the rolling hills of the country side become fragrant with the produce of prominent culinary delights. The north west regions of Italy are famous for cheese, prosciutto, olive oil, wine, salami and pasta. Among the non-edible-but no less decadent delights of this region are the eminent 'automobile icons': Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati all headquartered in the Tuscan city of Modena.
Located in the north west is the Piedmont region. This mountainous area is bordered on three sides by the majestic Alps. For the outdoor enthusiast Piedmont boasts 56 different national or regional parks. A fertile agricultural region, here visitors may choose to follow a pack of eager Lagotto Romagnolo dogs through the forest hunting for rare, white truffles buried in the rich loam of the woods. Piedmont boasts 170,000 acres of vineyards and therefore the top class wineries and more.
A trip to Italy would not be complete without a visit to the celebrated Italian Rivera tucked in the far north western corner of the country on the French border. The picturesque Genoa, Portofino and the Five Villages of the Cinque Terre make travelling this area most challenging and rewarding.
Following along the border of the Alps towards the North east regions of Italy you will hit the romantic Canals of Venice and the gastronomic capitals of the world-Bologna, Parma and Trieste which will tempt the taste buds and test the waistline.
Travelling the east coastline of the country going south is one of the most breathtaking journeys imaginable. The southern regions are Naples, Pompeii, Salerno, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia and the magical Almafi Coast.
Italy beckons her children on a pilgrimage to the bella patria (beautiful motherland). Here, travellers lacking the good fortune of an Italian heritage are equally welcomed with open arms. One cursory visit is never enough and visitors yearn to come back, slow down and practice the art of the La bella vita - Italian style!
Experiencing Italy for the first time can be an overwhelming venture. It is the home of more than 100,000 monuments including; museums, palaces, statues, churches, art galleries, fountains, historic houses and archaeological remains. A prudent traveler may book a tour to gain the maximum opportunity to appreciate the most important highlights of the country.
Tours are abundant and as versatile as Italy itself. A visitor will have no problem finding an excursion that features journeys by boat, bus, train, car or bicycle. There is no better way to experience the boot shaped country than heel to toe, so plan to walk as much as possible!
The local, Italian Tourist Board can help you find reputable tourist guides and/or suggest various itineraries and also offer general information and guidelines for travelling in Italy http://www.italia.it/it/home.html
Seeing Italy, by car is an obvious choice (unless staying in one of the major cities) a drive through rural Italy, with breathtaking scenery, ancient hamlets and laid back towns is an experience which is second to none. Go at your own pace, travel through the countryside, stop off at the wineries, or park up at the station and take a train ride to Florence or Rome.
Don't be tempted into dashing around trying to see everything which could mean that you will end up totally exhausted. It's always a good idea to have a base; www.italianview.com offer a range of exceptional villas in idyllic locations and within easy travelling distance of major attraction. A villa rental will give you freedom of choice, a place to chill out after daily excursions, no clock watching for meal times. Just relaxation and a heavenly swimming pool to to wash all your cares away, getting the best of both worlds.
Many visitors will want to explore the capital city of Rome, the undisputed birthplace of western civilization and the oldest city in Europe. Founded in 753 BC, Rome is more than 2,500 years old. It is the 11th most visited city in the world and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. While moving through the ageless city tourists become quickly captivated by world famous ancient sites; the Roman Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, the Castel Sant'Angelo and the Pantheon.
The six major piazzas (town squares) are popular gathering spots. Favourites include the Piazza del Popolo Peoples Square where the obelisk Flaminio has stood for more than 2,000 years and Michelangelos Piazza del Campidoglio, the headquarters of Italian Government. Travellers from all walks of life toss coins in Trevi Fountain and admire the Spanish Steps in the Piazza di Spagna.
No visit to Rome can be complete without crossing the Bridge of Angels and visiting Vatican City. Religious affiliations aside, the Vatican is the home of some of the most significant and spectacular art and architecture on Earth.
From Rome travel north to Tuscany. Visit the medieval, walled, pedestrian city of Siena considered one of the most important culinary centres in the world. Throughout Italy visitors will notice many statues of the mythical Capitoline, the she-wolf suckling of the human twins Remus and Romulus (after which Rome was named) although it is Siena that adopted the image as the towns emblem.
The capital of Tuscany is Florence. Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance and visitors have an abundance of options to enjoy the many museums, sculptures, frescos and architectural wonders that are among the most influential in the world.
Heading north, the rolling hills of the country side become fragrant with the produce of prominent culinary delights. The north west regions of Italy are famous for cheese, prosciutto, olive oil, wine, salami and pasta. Among the non-edible-but no less decadent delights of this region are the eminent 'automobile icons': Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati all headquartered in the Tuscan city of Modena.
Located in the north west is the Piedmont region. This mountainous area is bordered on three sides by the majestic Alps. For the outdoor enthusiast Piedmont boasts 56 different national or regional parks. A fertile agricultural region, here visitors may choose to follow a pack of eager Lagotto Romagnolo dogs through the forest hunting for rare, white truffles buried in the rich loam of the woods. Piedmont boasts 170,000 acres of vineyards and therefore the top class wineries and more.
A trip to Italy would not be complete without a visit to the celebrated Italian Rivera tucked in the far north western corner of the country on the French border. The picturesque Genoa, Portofino and the Five Villages of the Cinque Terre make travelling this area most challenging and rewarding.
Following along the border of the Alps towards the North east regions of Italy you will hit the romantic Canals of Venice and the gastronomic capitals of the world-Bologna, Parma and Trieste which will tempt the taste buds and test the waistline.
Travelling the east coastline of the country going south is one of the most breathtaking journeys imaginable. The southern regions are Naples, Pompeii, Salerno, the islands of Sicily and Sardinia and the magical Almafi Coast.
Italy beckons her children on a pilgrimage to the bella patria (beautiful motherland). Here, travellers lacking the good fortune of an Italian heritage are equally welcomed with open arms. One cursory visit is never enough and visitors yearn to come back, slow down and practice the art of the La bella vita - Italian style!
